Crosslinking carboxymethyl starch (CCMS) powder of degree of substitution (DS) 0.43–0.59 was prepared by the process of two steps of alkali addition synthesis. The technique of powder coupling with ultrafiltration was used to absorb Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ from aqueous solutions. FTIR was used to demonstrate the successfully grafting of carboxymethyl groups, and the technique of microwave plasma torch atomic emission spectrometer was applied in rapid determination of the aforementioned heavy metals ions. The results revealed that the removal sequence of heavy metal ions followed the order of Pb2+>Cu2+>Cd2+>Zn2+>Ni2+. By assistant of diethylene triamine penlaacetic acid, the quaternary system of Pb2+/Ni 2+/Cd2+/Cu2+ mixture solution could have the ideal separation. Besides, the influence of pH, ζ potential, DS value, and membranes molecular weight cut-off on removal of 20 mg L−1 Pb2+ or Ni2+ was also investigated.

Over a century of metal processing activity has resulted in widespread metal contamination of soils in Sudbury, ON, Canada. To assess the potential for recovery from the large reductions in metal deposition, critical loads were estimated for metals at 415 sites in Sudbury using an ‘effects based’ approach that is based on exceedance of provincial soil guidelines using multiple independent estimates of metal partitioning (Kd) for each metal. Sudbury soils are heavily contaminated with copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni), with 74 % of samples currently exceeding the provincial soil guideline for Cu and 87 % of samples exceeding the guideline for Ni. Both metals are strongly correlated with other metals (zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb)), although they rarely exceed provincial guidelines Copper and Ni are also strongly correlated with organic matter but not soil pH. Based on the most recent Cu and Ni deposition estimates (mid-1990s), it is estimated that between 20 % and 51 % of the sites receive deposition in excess of the ‘effects based’ critical load for Cu and between 5 % and 97 % of sites receive atmospheric deposition in excess of the ‘effects based’ critical load for Ni. These results suggest that Cu and Ni concentrations in soil will generally decrease resulting in slightly fewer sites that exceed the provincial soil guideline, but that the timeframe of this response will be very slow, with relatively little change occurring over the next 100 years. Even assuming a best case deposition scenario whereby Cu and Ni deposition were to immediately fall to background levels, the percentage of sites with Cu and Ni levels in excess of the OMOE guideline would still be between 69 % and 72 %, and 56 % and 86 %, respectively, demonstrating that while recovery of the Sudbury soils is possible, greater reductions in metal deposition are needed and even so, it will be a process that takes several centuries.

Total gaseous mercury (TGM) fluxes from the forest floor and a boreal wetland were measured by a flux chamber technique coupled with an automatic mercury vapour analyser. The fluxes were measured at three sampling sites in southern Finland, 61°14′ N, 25°04′ E in summer 2007, with additionally in situ TGM concentrations in the air at one of the sites and mercury bulk deposition at another. Most of the flux data were collected during the daytime. At one of the sites, diurnal flux behaviour was studied, and a clear cycle with an afternoon maximum and a night minimum was observed. The highest emissions (up to 3.5 ng m−2 h−1) were observed at the forest floor site having a moss and grass cover. At the wetland and litter-rich forest floor sites, the emissions were below 1 ng m−2 h−1 and sometimes negative (down to −1.0 ng m−2 h−1), indicating mercury uptake. The measured average fluxes in August were 0.9 ± 1.1 and 0.2 ± 0.3 ng m−2 h−1 for the forest floor sites and wetland sites, respectively. The flux data were compared with the mercury bulk deposition, which proved to be of the same magnitude, but opposite in sign. At the mossy forest floor site, the extrapolated TGM emissions were 130% of the Hg deposition in August 2007. Comparison with other studies showed that the fluxes in background areas are relatively uniform, regardless of measurement site location and method used. Airborne TGM remained at the background level during the study, with an average value of 1.3 ± 0.2 ng m−3; it frequently showed a diurnal cycle pattern.

In this work, the electrochemical treatment of an effluent from the pharmaceutical industry with boron-doped diamond electrodes was investigated. The electrolyses were carried out in a discontinuous operation mode under galvanostatic conditions, using a bench-scale plant equipped with a single-compartment electrochemical flow cell. The effect of operating conditions, such as current density (from 25.7 to 179.4 mA cm2) and flow rate (from 104.8 to 564.7 cm3 min−1), at residence times between 0 and 570 min, was studied. Design of experiments was used for optimizing the process. The global contribution of operative parameters and evolution of the residence time in TOC removal was studied, and a time of 77 min was obtained in order to evaluate the highest influence of the operative parameters. For this time, ANOVA test reported significance for four of the five involved variables. The current density was found to have a considerable positive effect on TOC removal, whereas the flow rate was found to have a moderate negative effect on target variable.

The degradation of total oil and grease (TOG) in crude oil-contaminated soil in the presence of Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk was investigated in a net house study. C. brevifolius plants were transplanted in to spiked soil containing 8% (w/w) crude oil. The capability of plant for enhancing the biodegradation process was tested in pots containing fertilized and unfertilized soil over a 360-day period. Analysis of the degradation of hydrocarbon contaminants, plant growth, and biomass was conducted at 60-day interval. In the presence of contaminants, plant biomass and height were significantly reduced. The specific root surface area was reduced under the effects of crude oil. Concerning TOG content in soil, C. brevifolius could decrease up to 86.2% in TA (crude oil-contaminated soil with fertilizer) and 61.2% in TC (crude oil-contaminated soil without fertilizer). In the unvegetated pots, the reduction of TOG was 13.7% in TB (crude oil-contaminated soil with fertilizer) and 12.5% in TD (crude oil-contaminated soil without fertilizer). However, biodegradation was significantly more in vegetated pots than in unvegetated pots (p = 0.05). The addition of fertilizer had positive effect on TOG degradation in the presence of C. brevifolius compared to the unfertilized treatments. Thus, there was evidence of C. brevifolius enhancing the biodegradation of crude oil in soil under the conditions of this experiment.

A new speciation model developed and implemented in Polymath was found to be successful in predicting struvite precipitation in soils. Struvite (NH4MgPO4) has been identified as a mineral for the recovery of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Predicting struvite precipitation potential in soil is important for optimal quantification of nutrient species. Polymath and Visual Minteq models were used for prediction of several solid phases in the soil. One approach to immobilize P for solid-phase formation is by co-blending. Immobilization was achieved through the blending of an Al-based water treatment residual (Al-WTR) and with Ca–Mg-based materials [slag and magnesium oxide (MgO)]. The results suggest that Polymath model revealed solid Phases of dicalcium phosphate pentahydrate (DCPP), magnesium hydroxide (MHO), magnesium orthophosphate (v) docosahydrate (MP22), magnesium orthophosphate (v) octahydrate (MP8), and struvite, which were lacking in the modeling from Visual Minteq. Residual leachate from the co-blended amendments; Soil+WTR+Slag, Soil+WTR+MgO, Soil+MgO, Soil+Slag, Soil+WTR, and the control (without amendment) had struvite of 353, 199, 119, 90, 37, and 12 mg l-1, respectively. This implies that struvite, a phosphate mineral can be precipitated in the soil and could be released as nutrients for plant uptake. Struvite precipitation in soil and for reuse may reduce cost and may be a safe practice for sustainable environmental nutrient management.

Stem cuttings with homogenous diameter of Populus x euramericana (clone I-214) and Salix fragilis L. were grown in growth chamber in water culture method. After 45 days, the plants were treated with 10−7 and 10−5 M cadmium (Cd). As these species have different phytoextraction potentials, there is a need to analyze the level of Cd uptake, its translocation into aboveground organs, and changes in leaf structure. We analyzed micromorphological leaf characteristics: a fresh mass of the root, stem, and leaf, as well as a Cd concentration within them. Besides, we compared 23 micromorphological leaf blade quantitative traits of poplar and willow and monitored the structural changes induced by the intoxication of stem cuttings. Percent of Cd accumulation and translocation in plant organs varied between species. It depended on the level of Cd applied. When compared to the poplar clone, S. fragilis had a smaller leaf area and epidermal cells, thicker palisade tissue, smaller lumen of main vein vessels, and a higher percentage of main vein xylem. S. fragilis had more distinctive xeromorphic characteristics in the lamina structure. Increased concentrations of Cd led to significant structural changes, mainly in the main vein. When searching for valid parameters in assessing plant to be utilized in phytoremediation, it is necessary to take into consideration the interrelation of a large number of micromorphological parameters together with physiological and biochemical characteristics.

Tree canopies are believed to act as a sink of atmospheric ammonia (NH₃). However, few studies have compared the uptake efficiency of different tree species. This study assessed the uptake of ¹⁵N-labelled NH₃ at 5, 20, 50 and 100 ppbᵥ by leaves and twigs of potted silver birch, European beech, pedunculate oak and Scots pine saplings in June, August and September 2008. Additionally, foliar uptake of ¹³C-labelled carbon dioxide (¹³CO₂) and leaf stomatal characteristics were determined per species and treatment date and the relation with ¹⁵NH₃ uptake and estimated stomatal ¹⁵NH₃ uptake were assessed. Both ¹⁵NH₃ and ¹³CO₂ uptake were affected by tree species and treatment date, but only ¹⁵NH₃ uptake was influenced by the applied NH₃ concentration. Depending on the treatment date, ¹⁵NH₃ uptake by leaves and twigs was highest at 5 (September), 20 (June) or 50 (August) ppbᵥ. Birch, beech and oak leaves showed the highest uptake in August, while for pine needles this was in June and, except at 5 ppbᵥ in June, the ¹⁵NH₃ uptake was always higher for the deciduous species than for pine. For all species except beech ¹³CO₂ uptake was highest in August and on every treatment date the ¹³CO₂ uptake by leaves of deciduous species was significantly higher than by pine needles. Leaf characteristics and ¹³CO₂ uptake did not provide a strong explanation for the observed differences in ¹⁵NH₃ uptake. This study shows that on the short-term a high interspecific variability exists in NH₃ uptake, which depends on the time in the growing season.

The effects of one of the most toxic heavy metals, lead (Pb), applied in two different concentrations and combined with chelate application were investigated on the water macrophyte (Pistia stratiotes L.) physiology. The influences were observed by the chlorophyll and free amino acid content determination. Also the lead accumulation in macrophyte biomass was investigated to assess the potential efficiency of this plant for rhizofiltration of highly Pb-polluted water. Na EDTA and Na citrate were used as chelates and Pb(NO3)2 as lead supplement. The application of organic chelates simulated conditions of an induced phytoextraction process. Statistical analyses were performed as a one-way ANOVA with a subsequent Tukey HSD test at a level of P < 0.05. Pb contents in both root and leaf tissues gradually increased with increasing Pb concentrations in the nutrient solution. More lead was accumulated in leaves than in roots within all treatments. The total chlorophyll content decreased with increased Pb concentration and with a higher content of chelates. The chelate addition increased the total amino acid content in leaves but decreased the total amino acid content in roots. The addition of lead with chelates decreased the dry biomass weight. However, water macrophyte showed extremely high lead accumulation in biomass in the short term (up to 8 days) and this accumulation potential could be used for relatively fast and effective decrease of high concentration of this risk element in contaminated water or sewage.

Ozonation of water effluent polluted with carbamazepine an ubiquitous and refractory pharmaceutical contaminant, has been addressed. This paper aims to optimize the remediation process through novel considerations, such as economical aspects of operational costs. To this end, firstly, we have defined an efficiency variable which included not only global efficacy terms (pollutant removal) but also kinetic aspects, which has to do with the ozonation chemical rate. This target variable was involved in a design of experiments that optimized air flow, ozone concentration, and pollutant initial content. An optimum was obtained at 55 L·h ⁻ ¹, 0.4 g·m³, and 18 mg·L ⁻ ¹ respectively.