Article
Agronomy
Marzena S. Brodowska, Miroslaw Wyszkowski, Barbara Bujanowicz-Haras
Summary: This study investigated the impact of increasing potassium fertilization, in combination with nitrogen, on the content of trace elements in soil after maize harvest. Potassium fertilization had a stronger effect on zinc and nickel content. Nitrogen fertilization increased manganese, chromium, nickel, and cadmium content, while decreasing lead content in soil. Although changes in nickel, cadmium, and lead content were more pronounced, they did not exceed current threshold amounts set for agriculturally used soil. An increase in some trace elements in soil can be beneficial for agricultural purposes.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Andrea Cipollina, Daniel Winter, Giuseppe Battaglia, Leon Berkemeyer, Jose Luis Cortina, Marc Fernandez de Labastida, Julio Lopez Rodriguez
Summary: This study presents the best operating conditions for Li recovery from dilute LiCl solutions. By using different separation routes, high recovery and purity of Li can be achieved.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Miroslaw Mleczek, Malgorzata Szostek, Marek Siwulski, Anna Budka, Pavel Kalac, Sylwia Budzynska, Natalia Kuczynska-Kippen, Przemyslaw Niedzielski
Summary: The research investigates the effects of road traffic and soil chemical characteristics on the mineral composition of Macrolepiota procera fruit bodies growing near a road and a forest. Findings indicate that variations in soil elements concentrations lead to differences in mineral composition of the fruit bodies.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Kevin P. McCann, Mark A. Jones, Edward A. Kyser, Tara E. Smith, Nicholas J. Bridges
Summary: The Savannah River National Laboratory is developing a separation flowsheet to recover rare isotopes and transplutonium elements from irradiated Mark-18A targets. The use of DGA Resin showed a capacity of 11 mg/mL for a mixed metal matrix, allowing for chromatographic separation and control of breakthrough events. The implementation of an in-line UV/vis cell in target processing will help limit breakthrough of trivalent actinides.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Gabriel T. Druzian, Mariele S. Nascimento, Rochele S. Picoloto, Marcia F. Mesko, Erico M. M. Flores, Paola A. Mello
Summary: A method for determining sub-ppb levels of mercury in crude oil using cold vapor generation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CV-ICP-MS) was developed by optimizing the operational parameters for crude oil digestion and evaluating the accuracy of the method. The optimized conditions allowed for the complete digestion of up to 1.2 g of crude oil and achieved a very low limit of detection.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haidong Zhou, Zhiyong Liu, Xin Li, Jiahui Xu
Summary: A new technique using SAE/EK-PRB was effective in removing Pb2+ from contaminated soil, with 35% moisture content and 2.5 V/cm voltage gradient as the optimal operating conditions. Different PRB filling materials were evaluated, showing that a combination of fly ash and graphene oxide was the most successful in reducing Pb2+ levels in the soil.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Teneille Nel, Yaana Bruneel, Erik Smolders
Summary: In this study, five different methods for measuring cation exchange capacity (CEC) in soils were compared, and their practical aspects were evaluated. The results showed that the silver thiourea (AgTU) and compulsive exchange (CE) methods produced consistent results with the cobalt(III) hexamine (Cohex) method, while the NH4OAc (pH 7) method overestimated the values. Ultimately, the Cohex method with ICP-MS detection was found to be the most efficient and cost-effective technique for determining eCEC and exchangeable cations.
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Aakriti Sharma, Joseph Guinness, Amanda Muyskens, Matthew L. Polizzotto, Montserrat Fuentes, Dean Hesterberg
Summary: This study aimed to infer the chemical elements and solids that contribute to As binding in soil samples from different environments. The results showed that Fe and possibly Al (hydr)oxides dominate the immobilization of As, with varying contributions from Zn, Ti, Cu, or Mn.
Article
Soil Science
S. A. Schwalb, K. S. Khan, M. Hemkemeyer, S. Heinze, Z. Oskonbaeva, R. G. Joergensen, F. Wichern
Summary: The present study aimed to develop a method for assessing the elemental composition of soil microbial communities. Chloroform fumigation extraction was used to detect the concentrations of secondary and trace elements in soils. It was found that 0.01 M CaCl2 was the best-suited extractant, with a soil-to-extractant ratio of 1:20 and an extraction time of 1 hour. This method successfully extracted elements such as phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, nickel, vanadium, boron, silicon, and barium.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Sanja A. Schwalb, Shiwei Li, Michael Hemkemeyer, Stefanie Heinze, Rainer Georg Joergensen, Jochen Mayer, Paul Maeder, Florian Wichern
Summary: Organic farm management and the application of farmyard manure can promote the sequestration of soil organic carbon by improving the nutrient balance of macro- and micronutrients. However, there is a lack of quantitative information on micronutrients within the soil microbial biomass. This study investigated the effects of fertilisation differences and farm management on the soil microbial ionome and stoichiometry, and whether these changes are related to shifts in the microbial community. The results suggest that nutrient input and soil chemical properties play a major role in shaping the microbial stoichiometry and ionome, but the direct links between micronutrient stoichiometry and microbial community changes are uncertain due to potential confounding effects of pH changes.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marco Peli, Benjamin C. Bostick, Stefano Barontini, Roberto G. Lucchini, Roberto Ranzi
Summary: Research in the Bagnolo Mella area of Northern Italy has shown that ferroalloy production has led to significant contamination of soils with concentrated manganese, impacting the distribution and speciation of metals in the soil. The findings underscore the importance of understanding manganese speciation for soil evaluation and human exposure assessment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Liu Hang, Yun Zhao, Chao Liu, Yijun Yu, Yan He, Jianming Xu, Zhijiang Lu
Summary: Veterinary antibiotics in agricultural soil are a growing concern due to their risks to soil quality and food safety. This study developed a method for simultaneously analyzing 34 antibiotics in soil, with solid-phase extraction proving to be more suitable for determining multi-class antibiotics. The optimized method can be used to screen for and accurately determine the presence of veterinary antibiotics in soil for risk assessment and regulation in the agroecosystem.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Sylvain Grangeon, Celine Roux, Catherine Lerouge, Patrick Chardon, Romain Beuzeval, Gilles Montavon, Francis Claret, Thomas Grangeon
Summary: The geochemical distribution of U and associated major and trace elements (As, Li, Pb, Sr, Zn) was studied at the former Rophin U mine (Puy-de-Dome, France). Three zones of contrasting radiological settings were identified and sampled, and it was concluded that U was mainly bounded to primary ore minerals in the streams and evenly distributed between different organic matter in the wetland soil.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ivan Kajan, Marketa Florianova, Christian Ekberg, Artem Matyskin
Summary: This study investigated the solvent extraction of Eu3+ and Am(3+) using N,N,N ',N'-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) dissolved in different molecular diluents. The results showed that the diluent type and carbon chain length significantly affect the extraction efficiency, with the highest distribution ratios observed in alkane diluents. Additionally, unexpected high distribution ratios were found in polar diluents with 5 carbon atoms in the chain.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dimitrios Alexakis, Ioannis Kokmotos, Dimitra Gamvroula, George Varelidis
Summary: This study aimed to assess soil quality in the area affected by the July 2018 wildfire in West Attica, focusing on the effects of fire on soil properties and the bioavailability of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. Results showed that wildfires significantly increased pH values and the contents of Fe-DTPA and Mn-DTPA in topsoil at burned sites. The addition of ash during a fire may contribute to the higher availability of these elements in the soil.
GEOSCIENCES JOURNAL
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Dominik Blasenbauer, Florian Huber, Jakob Lederer, Margarida J. Quina, Denise Blanc-Biscarat, Anna Bogush, Elza Bontempi, Julien Blondeau, Josep Maria Chimenos, Helena Dahlbo, Johan Fagerqvist, Jessica Giro-Paloma, Ole Hjelmar, Jiri Hyks, Jackie Keaney, Maria Lupsea-Toader, Catherine Joyce O'Caollai, Kaja Orupold, Tadeusz Pajak, Franz-Georg Simon, Lenka Svecova, Michal Syc, Roy Ulvang, Kati Vaajasaari, Jo Van Caneghem, Andre van Zomeren, Saulius Vasarevicius, Krisztina Wegner, Johann Fellner
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Antoine Duval, Geraldine Layrac, Andre van Zomeren, Arjan T. Smit, Eric Pollet, Luc Averous
Summary: In this study, two organosolv lignins were extracted and chemically modified with ethylene carbonate (EC) to create building blocks for polymer synthesis. The lignins were fractionated using a sequence of solvents based on their solubility parameters, and then reacted with EC to convert phenolic OH groups to primary aliphatic OH groups. The reactivity of the lignins decreased with increasing molar mass, leading to reduced solubility of high molar mass fragments in EC. Efforts to minimize undesirable crosslinking side reactions were successful through careful control of reaction conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lorenzo Tosti, Andre van Zomeren, Jan R. Pels, Rob N. J. Comans
Summary: This study evaluates the potential of biomass ash as raw clinker material and the influence of biomass feedstock and thermal conversion technology on biomass ash properties. The findings suggest that wood biomass has the highest potential to provide the necessary CaO/SiO2 ratio for clinker mineral formation, while paper sludge can potentially serve as a source of cement elements. Wood fly ash from pulverized fuel combustion can also substitute a significant amount of raw clinker materials due to its similar burnability.
WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sandra Rodrigues, Garret D. Bland, Xiaoyu Gao, Sonia M. Rodrigues, Gregory Lowry
Summary: This study compared the efficiency of Cu extraction from two soils dosed with CuO nanoparticles, demonstrating that a multi-step soil extraction method can accurately extract copper and describe its different forms, reducing confounding factors in interpreting environmental exposure data and providing a better basis for risk evaluations in nanoparticle studies.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Astrid Avellan, Jie Yun, Bruno P. Morais, Emma T. Clement, Sonia M. Rodrigues, Gregory Lowry
Summary: This article introduces the application of nanostructures in agriculture, discussing the gaps in knowledge about the transport of nanoparticles on leaf surfaces and their behavior in plants, as well as foliar uptake routes and translocation pathways. The study highlights the feasibility of targeting nanoparticles to specific plant compartments by design, and emphasizes the overlooked parameters such as time and plant growth in the literature.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luis A. Mendes, Astrid Avellan, Nuno C. Cruz, Catia Palito, Paul F. A. M. Romkens, Monica J. B. Amorim, Luis A. C. Tarelho, Sonia M. Rodrigues
Summary: There is a growing need to recover degraded soils to restore ecosystem services, and using ash from residual forest biomass combustion in the pulp and paper industry can be a sustainable strategy for this purpose. The study found that stabilized materials from ash provided nutrients, organic matter, and alkalinity, correcting soil pH and reducing metal bioavailability, while controlling the release of soluble salts and chloride. This suggests that ash stabilization, formulation, and supplementation with organic matter could be sustainable strategies to restore degraded mining soils and recover ecological functions.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arjan T. Smit, Andre van Zomeren, Karla Dussan, Luke A. Riddell, Wouter J. J. Huijgen, Jan Wilco Dijkstra, Pieter C. A. Bruijnincx
Summary: The study demonstrates that mild aqueous acetone organosolv fractionation of complex lignocellulosic raw materials is negatively affected by nonlignocellulose compounds, but a biomass pre-extraction approach can help mitigate this issue. Pre-extraction removes harmful extractives, reduces acid dose requirements for fractionation, and improves the purity of isolated lignin. The integrated biorefining approach improves sustainability and biomass valorization, and enhances biomass processing efficiency.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arjan T. Smit, Marlen Verges, Peter Schulze, Andre van Zomeren, Heike Lorenz
Summary: The scaling up of acetone organosolv fractionation process from lab-scale to pilot-scale showed similar performance. However, improvements are still needed in pulp washing efficiency and recovery of lignin from the aqueous hemicellulose stream.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joao Peres Ribeiro, Nuno C. Cruz, Marcia C. Neves, Sonia M. Rodrigues, Luis A. C. Tarelho, Maria Isabel Nunes
Summary: The study combines granulated biomass fly ash (GBFA) with the Fenton process to enhance the removal of adsorbable organic halides (AOX) from pulp bleaching wastewater. The optimal treatment setup involves sequential treatment by the Fenton process followed by GBFA, resulting in the highest AOX removal (60-70%), reduced COD, and enhanced wastewater biodegradability. GBFA can be recovered and reused without regeneration, yielding similar AOX removal compared with fresh GBFA. Furthermore, the operating cost of this treatment setup is lower than that of conducting the Fenton process alone.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
N. Cruz, L. Ruivo, A. Avellan, P. F. A. M. Romkens, L. A. C. Tarelho, S. M. Rodrigues
Summary: After the revision of the Fertilizer Regulation, biomass ash can now be used as a component material for soil improvers in the EU market, opening up opportunities for large-scale recycling. However, before application to soil, the ash needs to be stabilized through carbonation, which also allows for CO2 capture and storage. This study demonstrates that accelerated carbonation can efficiently and quickly prepare valuable soil additives compared to natural carbonation, improving plant nutrient availability.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
N. Cruz, A. Avellan, L. Ruivo, F. C. Silva, P. F. A. M. Romkens, L. A. C. Tarelho, S. M. Rodrigues
Summary: Biomass ash and sludge from pulp and paper industry have great potential to be recycled and used as components in soil improvers. However, processing is required to ensure their efficient utilization and reduce potential risks. This study tested different ash formulations and stabilization conditions to optimize the properties of ash-based granules for soil improvement.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paula Alvarenga, Clarisse Mourinha, Patricia Palma, Nuno Cruz, Sonia Morais Rodrigues
Summary: This study evaluates the physicochemical characteristics and potentially toxic elements in non-active mines of the Portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Results show that the Aljustrel mine site has higher concentrations of toxic elements, posing environmental risks.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Clarisse Mourinha, Patricia Palma, Carlos Alexandre, Nuno Cruz, Sonia Morais Rodrigues, Paula Alvarenga
Summary: This paper reviews the research results in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (especially in the Portuguese sector), focusing on the physicochemical characteristics of soil, concentration of potentially toxic trace elements, and sustainable soil remediation technologies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andre van Zomeren, Remco Koper, Joris J. Dijkstra, Rob N. J. Comans
Summary: This study validated that chloride can reduce the oxidation efficiency of DOC analysis in samples with different chloride concentrations, and the oxidation efficiency correlates with the properties of selected organic acids.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nuno C. Cruz, Marcia Farto, Clarisse Mourinha, Daniela Tavares, Armando C. Duarte, Tito Trindade, Eduarda Pereira, Paul F. A. M. Romkens, Paula Alvarenga, Sonia M. Rodrigues
Summary: The study assessed the chemical availability of AgNPs and PVP-AgNPs in three agricultural soils, with results showing that PVP coating reduced the downward mobility of AgNPs in soil and the effect of variation in organic matter on soil enzymatic activity was larger than that of AgNPs.