Acid rain is one of the severest environmental issues globally. Relative to other global changes (e.g., warming, elevated atmospheric [CO2], and nitrogen deposition), however, acid rain has received less attention than its due. Soil fauna play important roles in multiple ecological processes, but how soil fauna community responds to acid rain remains less studied. This microcosm experiment was conducted using latosol with simulated acid rain (SAR) manipulations to observe potential changes in soil fauna community under acid rain stress. Four pH levels, i.e., pH 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5, and a neutral control of pH 7.0 were set according to the current pH condition and acidification trend of precipitation in southern China. As expected, we observed that the SAR treatments induced changes in soil fauna community composition and their ecological niches in the tested soil; the treatment effects tended to increase as acidity increased. This could be attributable to the environmental stresses (such as acidity, porosity and oxygen supply) induced by the SAR treatments. In addition to direct acidity effect, we propose that potential changes in permeability and movability of water and oxygen in soils induced by acid rain could also give rise to the observed shifts in soil fauna community composition. These are most likely indirect pathways of acid rain to affect belowground community. Moreover, we found that nematodes, the dominating soil fauna group in this study, moved downwards to mitigate the stress of acid rain. This is probably detrimental to soil fauna in the long term, due to the relatively severer soil conditions in the deep than surface soil layer. Our results suggest that acid rain could change soil fauna community and the vertical distribution of soil fauna groups, consequently changing the underground ecosystem functions such as organic matter decomposition and greenhouse gas emissions.

Acid mine drainage (AMD),characterized by strong acidity and high metal concentrations, generates from the oxidative dissolution of metal sulfides, and acidophiles can accelerate the process significantly. Despite extensive research in microbial diversity and community composition, little is known about seasonal variations of microbial community structure (especially micro eukaryotes) in response to environmental conditions in AMD ecosystem. To this end, AMD samples were collected from Nanshan AMD lake, Anhui Province, China, over a full seasonal cycle from 2013 to 2014, and water chemistry and microbial composition were studied. pH of lake water was stable (∼3.0) across the sampling period, while the concentrations of ions varied dramatically. The highest metal concentrations in the lake were found for Mg and Al, not commonly found Fe. Unexpectedly, ultrahigh concentration of chlorophyll a was measured in the extremely acidic lake, reaching 226.43–280.95 μg/L in winter, even higher than those in most eutrophic freshwater lakes. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities showed a strong seasonal variation. Among the prokaryotes, “Ferrovum”, a chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacterium was predominant in most sampling seasons, although it was a minor member prior to September, 2012. Fe2+ was the initial geochemical factor that drove the variation of the prokaryotic community. The eukaryotic community was simple but varied more drastically than the prokaryotic community. Photoautotrophic algae (primary producers) formed a food web with protozoa or flagellate (top consumers) across all four seasons, and temperature appeared to be responsible for the observed seasonal variation. Ochromonas and Chlamydomonas (responsible for high algal bloom in winter) occurred in autumn/summer and winter/spring seasons, respectively, because of their distinct growth temperatures. The closest phylogenetic relationship between Chlamydomonas species in the lake and those in Arctic and Alpine suggested that the native Chlamydomonas species may have been both acidophilic and psychrophilic after a long acclimation time in this extreme environment.

In this study, solid acid amorphous Fe3O4/SiO2 ceramic coating decorated with sulfur on Q235 carbon steel as Fenton-like catalyst for phenol degradation was successfully prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) in silicate electrolyte containing Na2S2O8 as sulfur source. The surface morphology and phase composition were characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD and XPS analyses. NH3-TPD was used to evaluate surface acidity of PEO coating. The results indicated that sulfur decorated amorphous Fe3O4/SiO2 ceramic coatings with porous structure and higher acid strength had the similar pore size and the surface became more and more uneven with the increase of Na2S2O8 in the silicate electrolyte. The Fenton-like catalytic activity of sulfur decorated PEO coatings was also evaluated. In contrast to negligible catalytic activity of sulfur undecorated PEO coating, catalytic activity of sulfur decorated PEO coating was excellent and PEO coating prepared with 3.0 g Na2S2O8 had the highest catalytic activity which could degrade 99% of phenol within 8 min under circumneutral pH. The outstanding performance of sulfur decorated PEO coating was attributed to strong acidic microenvironment and more Fe²⁺ on the surface. The strong acid sites played a key factor in determining catalytic activity of catalyst. In conclusion, rapid phenol removal under circumneutral pH and easier separation endowed it potential application in wastewater treatment. In addition, this strategy of preparing immobilized solid acid coating could provide guidance for designing Fenton-like catalyst with excellent catalytic activity and easier separation.

Nonlinear sorption of substituted phenols (degradation products of several pesticides) onto soils was often observed. This sorption nonlinearity at low solute concentration ranges could result in higher soil organic carbon-water distribution coefficient (K ₒc) values than those predicted by their hydrophobicity (K ₒw). In this study, nonlinear sorption characteristic of four substituted phenols (2,6-dimethylphenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, and 2,4-dichlorophenol) onto two agricultural soils was investigated. The sorption nonlinearity gradually approached apparent saturation at low solute activity ranges (e.g., a ᵢ < 0.01). At high a ᵢ ranges, linear sorption was observed. Thus, partition and adsorption of solutes were successfully evaluated by a dual-mode sorption model. The concentrations of substituted phenols in the environment are pretty low (e.g., usually lower than 1 mg/L). According to our results, nonlinear adsorption is dominant in such low concentration ranges in the environment. To predict varied log K ₒc values resulted from nonlinear adsorption, especially for low a ᵢ range, an expanded polyparameter linear free energy relationship (pp-LFER) is established: log K ₒc = [(1.829 ± 0.488) + (3.481 ± 0.462) log a ᵢ)]E+ [(− 4.307 ± 0.466) log a ᵢ]S+ [(− 0.876 ± 0.138) log a ᵢ]A+ [(− 0.086 ± 0.529) + (1.209 ± 0.218) log a ᵢ]B+ (6.280 ± 0.649)V – (6.814 ± 0.917) (E, the excess molar refraction; S, the dipolarity/polarizability parameter; A, the solute H-bond acidity; B, the solute H-bond basicity; and V, the molar volume). This model can provide a better prediction (within 0.3 log unit) than previous models. This study provides essential parameters for predicting and understanding the environmental behavior of substituted phenols in agricultural soils. Graphical Abstract ᅟ

Combustion of fossil fuels has contributed to many environmental problems including acid deposition. The Clean Air Act (CAA) was created to reduce ecological problems by cutting emissions of sulfur and nitrogen. Reduced emissions and rainfall concentrations of acidic ions have been observed since the enactment of the CAA, but soils continue to receive some acid inputs. Many soils sensitive to acid deposition are found to have low pH, a loss of base cations, and a shift in the mineral phase controlling the activity of Al³⁺ and/or SO₄²⁻. If inputs continue, soil may be depleted of base cations and saturated with Al and could cause low forest productivity. Soil samples and soil solutions from pan lysimeters were taken on ridge-tops in the Daniel Boone National Forest to evaluate potential impacts of acid deposition recently and in the future. Sample results were compared to historical data from identical locations. Physicochemical characteristics of the soils revealed that sites were very low in base saturation and pH and high in exchangeable acidity, illustrating change since previously sampled. Soil solution data indicated that sites periodically received high acid inputs leading to saturation of Al in soils and the formation of Al-hydroxy-sulfate minerals. Given these conditions, long-term changes in soil chemistry from acid deposition are acknowledged.

In isolated areas without direct human impact where several species of seabirds nest, transformations affecting the soil come mainly from natural processes, such as chemical enrichment caused by seabirds. Penguins constitute an important bird biomass in the Southern Hemisphere, where they breed in colonies on different sites from 100 to thousands of individuals. The accumulation of trace elements and nutrients in soils within two perennial colonies of Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) located in north western Chile and three colonies of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) in the Antarctic Peninsula area were investigated here. Surface soil samples were collected directly from nesting sites. Control samples were taken outside the colonies within sites adjacent to the nesting areas, but not affected by bird excrement. The contents of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Sr, V and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Ammonium (NH₄) and nitrate (NO₃) ions were determined colorimetrically. Extractable potassium (K) was determined by flame emission spectrometry, and available phosphorus (Olsen-P) was determined by spectrophotometry. The highest concentrations of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, V and Zn) and macronutrients (available N, K and P), along with an increase in salinity and acidity levels, were found directly below the seabird colony, a situation occurring in northern Chile as well as in the Antarctic Peninsula area, highlighting the role that penguins have as bio-vectors on generating geochemical changes in different ecosystems. Some terrestrial plants and animals that live near those penguin colonies might be affected at a greater level than the organisms that live in sites similar but distant from colonies of birds. New data about the role of these species of seabirds as bio-vectors of chemical contaminants are added.

The rapid increase in agricultural pollution demands judicious use of inputs and outputs for sustainable crop production. Crop straws were pyrolyzed under oxygen-limited conditions at 400 °C for 2 h to prepare peanut straw biochar (PB), canola straw biochar (CB), and wheat straw biochar (WB). Then, 300-g soils were incubated each with urea nitrogen (UN) and UN + biochars with or without dicyandiamide (DCD) for 60 days. During the incubations, soil acidification induced by urea was somewhat inhibited by biochars, but nitrification of hydrolyzed NH₄ ⁺ produced much more acidity than the neutralization potential of the biochars. In single UN (200 mg/kg) treatment, soil pH decreased drastically and the final pH after incubation was lower than the control. Antagonistic to UN, all three biochars neutralized the soil acidity, which was consistent to their inherent alkalinity. DCD inhibited nitrification which was obvious throughout the incubations, as 30 mg/kg DCD + 200 mg/kg UN combined with 1 % PB, CB, and WB retained 0.94, 0.79, and 1.19 units higher pH, respectively, and significantly reduced exchangeable acidity over the treatments without DCD (P < 0.05). The treatments of UN + biochars with and without DCD had highly significant effects on soil pH, exchangeable Al³⁺, NH₄ ⁺-N, (NO₃ ⁻+NO₂ ⁻)-N, and available P (P < 0.05). Amplified NH₄ ⁺-N retentions at higher rates of PB referred increased negatively charged sites for nutrient adsorptions. Applied UN transformations varied among different treatments, and the maximum amounts of total mineral N recovered were 218.3, 218.5, and 223.8 mg/kg in the presence of DCD by PB, CB, and WB, compared to 198.2, 201.6, and 205.2 mg/kg, respectively, in no DCD treatments. Urea induced severe soil acidification and even lowered the ameliorative effects of applied biochars. Thus, ammonium-based fertilizers must include nitrification inhibitor (DCD) and, if used in combination with biochars will offer a suitable choice to reduce the acidity, improve base saturation and fertility of soil for sustainable agriculture.

Manganese-rich MnSAPO-34 molecular sieves were prepared by one-pot synthesis method for NO ₓ abatement using the ammonia-selective catalytic reduction (NH₃-SCR) technology and characterized using ICP, BET, XRD, FE-SEM, H₂-TPR, NH₃-TPD, XPS, and DR UV-Vis analyses. The experimental results indicate that the Mn content and chemical state, as well as the surface acidity, of the MnSAPO-34 molecular sieves significantly enhance their DeNO ₓ efficiency at low temperatures (ca. 200–300 °C). The manganese-rich MnSAPO-34 was synthesized using a combination of triethylamine and diisopropylamine as the structural directing agents and high Mn loading (n(MnO)/n(P₂O₅) = 0.4). The resulting catalyst exhibits the highest activity among all of the samples with a NO ₓ conversion value of nearly 95% and a N₂ selectivity that is higher than 90% at 220–400 °C. In addition, this catalyst presents higher NO ₓ conversion than the conventional V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ catalysts and other SAPO-based catalysts below 300 °C. Furthermore, the analytical results indicate that the manganese species in the catalyst are mainly in the form of a framework Mn(IV), which could play a significant role in the NH₃-SCR process as the specific active species. The results suggest that controlling the types and content of the organic amine templates and variations in the surface acidity of the catalysts may significantly enhance the SCR activity at lower temperatures.

α, β, γ, and δ polymorphs of 4.6–4.8 eV wide band gap Ga₂O₃ photocatalysts were prepared via a soft chemistry route. Their photocatalytic activity under 254 nm UV-C light in the degradation of gaseous toluene was strongly depending on the polymorph phase. α- and β-Ga₂O₃ photocatalysts enabled achieving high and stable conversions of toluene with selectivities to CO₂ within the 50–90% range, by contrast to conventional TiO₂ photocatalysts that fully deactivate very rapidly on stream in similar operating conditions with rather no CO₂ production, no matter whether UV-A or UV-C light was used. The highest performances were achieved on the high specific surface area β-Ga₂O₃ photocatalyst synthesized by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) as porogen before precipitation, with stable toluene conversion and mineralization rate into CO₂ strongly overcoming those obtained on commercial β-Ga₂O₃. They were attributed to favorable physicochemical properties in terms of high specific surface area, small mean crystallite size, good crystallinity, high pore volume with large size mesopore distribution and appropriate surface acidity, and to the possible existence of a double local internal field within Ga³⁺ units. In the degradation of hydrogen sulfide, PEG-derived β-Ga₂O₃ takes advantage from its high specific surface area for storing sulfate, and thus for increasing its resistance to deactivation and the duration at total sulfur removal when compared to other β-Ga₂O₃ photocatalysts. So, we illustrated the interest of using high surface area β-Ga₂O₃ in environmental photocatalysis for gas-phase depollution applications.

This paper deals with the changes of turbidity that are generated in aqueous solutions of phenol when they are oxidized by using different Fenton technologies. Results revealed that if the Fenton reaction was promoted with UV light, the turbidity that was generated in the water doubled. Alternatively, the use of ultrasonic waves produced an increase in turbidity which initially proceeded slowly, reaching intensities eight times higher than in the conventional Fenton treatment. As well, the turbidity showed a high dependence on pH. It is therefore essential to control acidity throughout the reaction. The maximum turbidity was generated when operating at pH = 2.0, and it slowly decreased with increasing to a value of pH = 3.0, at which the turbidity was the lowest. This result was a consequence of the presence of ferric ions in solution. At pH values greater than 3.5, the turbidity increased almost linearly until at pH = 5.0 reached its maximum intensity. In this range, ferrous ions may generate an additional contribution of radicals that promote the degradation of the phenol species that produce turbidity. Turbidity was enhanced at ratios R = 4.0 mol H₂O₂/mol C₆H₆O. This value corresponds to the stoichiometric ratio that leads to the production of turbidity-precursor species. Therefore, muconic acid would be a species that generate high turbidity in solution according to its isomerism. Also, the results revealed that the turbidity is not a parameter to which species contribute additively since interactions may occur among species that would enhance their individual contributions to it. Analyzing the oxidation of phenol degradation intermediates, the results showed that meta-substituted compounds (resorcinol) generate high turbidity in the wastewater. The presence of polar molecules, such as muconic acid, would provide the structural features that are necessary for resorcinol to act as a clip between two carboxylic groups, thus establishing directional hydrogen bonds that would generate an adduct in the 2:2 ratio. In addition, some similarity is observed between the turbidity and the presence of dihydroxybenzoquinone. This molecule has a structure that could establish hydrogen bond links with the carboxylic groups in 1:2 ratio. Such supramolecular structures would possess high molecular weight and robustness that would hinder the passage of light through the water, generating high turbidity.