Assessment of soil washing for heavy metal contaminated paddy soil using FeCl3 washing solutions.

In this study, soil washing is applied for the remediation of heavy-metal (Pb, Cu and Zn) contaminated paddy soil located near an abandoned mine area. FeCl3 washing solutions were used in bench-scale soil washing experiments at concentrations in the range of 0.1 to 1 M. The strong acid, HCl was also used in this study for comparison. The washing process was performed at room temperature, mixing at 200 RPM for 1 h and a liquid to solid ratio of 2. A sequential extraction technique was performed to evaluate the chemical fractions of Pb in the soils. The soil washing effectiveness was evaluated and compared against regulations applicable to residential districts (Korean warning standards). The soil washing results showed that the heavy metal concentrations were reduced with increasing concentrations of FeCl3. Moreover, the lowest heavy metal concentrations were obtained with a 1 M FeCl3 washing solution. In the case of Pb removal, a 0.3 M FeCl3 washing solution was required to comply with the Korean warning standard of 200 mg/kg. The lowest Pb concentration of 117 mg/kg was obtained with 1 M FeCl3. Similar washing results were also obtained with HCl. The initial total concentrations for Cu and Zn were below the Korean warning standards of 150 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. Consequently, the reduction in Cu and Zn from the contaminated paddy soil using FeCl3 washing solutions was rather limited. The sequential extraction results showed that the exchangeable and weak acid-soluble fractions of Pb were significantly reduced upon FeCl3 washing.

Development and Validation of Gas Chromatography-Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometric Method for Quantitative Determination of Regulated Plasticizers in Medical Infusion Sets.

A method for the quantitative determination of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in medical infusion sets was developed and validated using gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Solvent extraction with polymer dissolution for sample preparation was employed prior to GC-MS/MS analysis. Average recoveries of the eight target analytes are typically in the range of 91.8-122% with the relative standard deviations of 1.8-17.8%. The limits of quantification (LOQs) of the analytical method were in the ranges of 54.1 to 76.3 ng/g. Analysis using GC-MS/MS provided reliable performance, as well as higher sensitivity and selectivity than GC-MS analysis, especially for the presence of minority plasticizers at different concentrations.

Stabilization of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in contaminated rice paddy soil using starfish: A preliminary study.

Lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) contaminated rice paddy soil was stabilized using natural (NSF) and calcined starfish (CSF). Contaminated soil was treated with NSF in the range of 0-10 wt% and CSF in the range of 0-5 wt% and cured for 28 days. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test was used to evaluate effectiveness of starfish treatment. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analyses were conducted to investigate the mechanism responsible for effective immobilization of Pb and Zn. Experimental results suggest that NSF and CSF treatments effectively immobilize Pb and Zn in treated rice paddy soil. TCLP levels for Pb and Zn were reduced with increasing NSF and CSF dosage. Comparison of the two treatment methods reveals that CSF treatment is more effective than NSF treatment. Leachability of the two metals is reduced approximately 58% for Pb and 51% for Zn, upon 10 wt% NSF treatment. More pronounced leachability reductions, 93% for Pb and 76% for Zn, are achieved upon treatment with 5 wt% CSF. Sequential extraction results reveal that NSF and CSF treatments of contaminated soil generated decrease in exchangeable/weak acid Pb and Zn soluble fractions, and increase of residual Pb and Zn fractions. Results for the SEM-EDX sample treated with 5 wt% CSF indicate that effective Pb and Zn immobilization is most probably associated with calcium silicate hydrates (CSHs) and calcium aluminum hydrates (CAHs).

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans levels in piglet liver with various diseases.

This study deals with the levels of toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and furan congeners (PCDD/Fs) in the livers of piglets affected by infectious diseases using isotope dilution high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Seventeen toxic congeners in the liver samples infected with bacterial and viral diseases were compared. For porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) samples, the North American- and European-type PRRS diseases were observed. This study shows that there are significantly different levels of PCDD/Fs, present, which vary according to the types of diseases as evidenced by our analysis of the piglet liver samples.

Quality improvement of acidic soils by biochar derived from renewable materials.

Biochar derived from waste plant materials and agricultural residues was used to improve the quality of an acidic soil. The acidic soil was treated for 1 month with both soy bean stover-derived biochar and oak-derived biochar in the range of 1 to 5 wt% for pH improvement and exchangeable cation enhancement. Following 1 month of treatment, the soil pH was monitored and exchangeable cations were measured. Moreover, a maize growth experiment was performed for 14 days with selected treated soil samples to confirm the effectiveness of the treatment. The results showed that the pH of the treated acidic soil increased by more than 2 units, and the exchangeable cation values were greatly enhanced upon treatment with 5 wt% of both biochars, after 1 month of curing. Maize growth was superior in the 3 wt% biochar-treated samples compared to the control sample. The presented results demonstrate the effective use of biochar derived from renewable materials such as waste plant materials and agricultural residues for quality improvement of acidic soils.

Identification and quantification of seven volatile n-nitrosamines in cosmetics using gas chromatography/chemical ionization-mass spectrometry coupled with head space-solid phase microextraction.

An analytical method was developed for the identification and quantification of seven volatile n-nitrosamines (n-nitrosodimethylamine [NDMA], n-nitrosoethylmethylamine [NMEA], n-nitrosodiethylamine [NDEA], n-nitrosodipropylamine [NDPA], n-nitrosodibutylamine [NDBA], n-nitrosopiperidine [NPIP], and n-nitrosopyrrolidine [NPYR]) in water insoluble cream type cosmetics. It was found that the head space-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was suitable for extraction, clean up, and pre-concentration of n-nitrosamines in the cream type samples so its optimal conditions were investigated. Identification and quantification of n-nitrosamines using single quadrupole gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in chemical ionization (CI) mode were carried out with accurate mass measurements. Their accurate masses of protonated molecular ions were obtained within 10 mDa of the theoretical masses when sufficiently high signal was acquired from the unique calibration method using mass and isotope accuracy. For the method validation of quantification, spiking experiments were carried out to determine the linearity, recovery, and method detection limit (MDL) using three deuterated internal standards. The average recovery was 79% within 20% relative standard deviation (RSD) at the concentration of 50 ng/g. MDLs ranged from 0.46 ng/g to 36.54 ng/g, which was satisfactory for the directive limit of 50 ng/g proposed by the European Commission (EC). As a result, it was concluded that the method could be provided for the accurate mass screening, confirmation, and quantification of n-nitrosamines when applied to cosmetic inspection.

Assessing soil and groundwater contamination in a metropolitan redevelopment project.

The purpose of this study was to assess contaminated soil and groundwater for the urban redevelopment of a rapid transit railway and a new mega-shopping area. Contaminated soil and groundwater may interfere with the progress of this project, and residents and shoppers may be exposed to human health risks. The study area has been remediated after application of first remediation technologies. Of the entire area, several sites were still contaminated by waste materials and petroleum. For zinc (Zn) contamination, high Zn concentrations were detected because waste materials were disposed in the entire area. For petroleum contamination, high total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and hydrocarbon degrading microbe concentrations were observed at the depth of 7 m because the underground petroleum storage tank had previously been located at this site. Correlation results suggest that TPH (soil) concentration is still related with TPH (groundwater) concentration. The relationship is taken into account in the Spearman coefficient (α).

Assessment of Young Dong tributary and Imgok Creek impacted by Young Dong coal mine, South Korea.

An initial reclamation of the Young Dong coal mine site, located in northeastern South Korea, was completed in 1995. Despite the filling of the adit with limestone, acid rock drainage (ARD) enters Young Dong tributary and is then discharged to Imgok Creek. This ARD carries an average of 500 mg CaCO(3)/l of mineral acidity, primarily as Fe(II) and Al. Before spring runoff, the flow of Imgok Creek is 3.3-4 times greater than that of the tributary and has an alkalinity of 100 mg CaCO(3)/l, which is sufficient to eliminate the mineral acidity and raise the pH to about 6.5. From April through September 2008, there were at least two periods of high surface flow that affects the flow of ARD from the adit. Flow of ARD reaches 2.8 m(3)/min during spring runoff. This raised the concentrations of Fe and Al in the confluence with Imgok Creek. However, by 2 km downstream the pH of the Imgok Creek is 6.5 and only dissolved Fe is above the Korean drinking water criteria (0.30 mg/l). This suggests only a minor impact of Young Dong Creek water on Imgok Creek. Acid digestion of the sediments in Imgok Creek and Young Dong Tributary reveals considerable abundances of heavy metals, which could have a long-term impact on water quality. However, several water-based leaching tests, which better simulate the bioavailable metals pool, released only Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn at concentrations exceeding the criteria for drinking water or aquatic life.