Effects of fluidized gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum on non-target freshwater and sediment dwelling organisms.

Fluidized gas desulfurization gypsum is a popular agricultural soil amendment used to increase calcium and sulfur contents, and reduce aluminum toxicity. Due to its surface application in conservation tillage systems and high solubility, the soluble components of gypsum may be transferred with agricultural runoff into receiving waters. The current study measured toxicity of gypsum to Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas, Chironomus dilutus, and Hyalella azteca. Solutions at 2,400 mg gypsum/L (maximum solubility) produced no observable toxicity to C. dubia and P. promelas. Mixtures of a control sediment and gypsum indicated no observed toxicity effects for H. azteca, although effects were noted at 25% dilution for C. dilutus. Data suggest gypsum is not harmful to freshwater organisms at concentrations expected in the agricultural environment.

Natural ferrihydrite as an agent for reducing turbidity caused by suspended clays.

Biologically impaired waters are often caused by the turbidity associated with elevated suspended sediment concentrations. Turbidity can be reduced by the addition of positively charged compounds that coagulate negatively charged particles in suspension, causing them to flocculate. This research was conducted to determine the effectiveness of ferrihydrite, a poorly crystalline Fe oxide, as a flocculating agent for suspended clays similar to those found in high-turbidity waters of the Mississippi delta. Clay concentrations of 100 mg L(-1) from a Dubbs silt loam (fine silty, mixed, active, thermic Typic Hapludalfs), a Forestdale silty clay loam (fine, smectitic, thermic Typic Hapludalfs), and a Sharkey clay (very fine, smectitic, thermic Chromic Epiaquerts) were suspended in 0.0005 mol L(-1) CaCl(2) solutions at pH 5, 6, 7, or 8. Natural ferrihydrite with a zero point of charge at pH 5.8 was acquired from a drinking water treatment facility and mixed with the suspension at concentrations of 0, 10, 25, and 50 mg L(-1). After settling periods of 24 and 48 h, percent transmittance was measured at a wavelength of 420 nm using a 3-mL sample collected at a depth of 2 cm. The greatest reductions in turbidity after 24-h equilibration were recorded for the pH 5 suspensions of the Dubbs (31%) and Forestdale (37%) clays at a ferrihydrite concentration of 10 mg L(-1) and for the Sharkey clay at a ferrihydrite concentration of 25 mg L(-1) (relative to the 0 ferrihydrite treatment). Water clarity for all samples further increased after 48 h. These results indicate that the effectiveness of ferrihydrite, as a means of reducing turbidity associated with suspended clays, is greatest at pH values below its zero point of charge.

Phosphate adsorption by ferrihydrite-amended soils.

New technology and approaches for reducing P in runoff from high sediment yield areas are essential due to implementation of increasingly rigorous water quality standards. The objectives of this research were to characterize ferrihydrite (Fe(5)HO(8).4H(2)O) in terms of its ability to adsorb P from soil solutions and relate its P adsorptive capacity to several soil properties that influence P mobility. A naturally occurring ferrihydrite, collected as an Fe oxide sludge by-product from a water treatment facility, was equilibrated with soil samples at equivalent rates of 0, 0.34, 3.36, 16.80, and 33.60 Mg ha(-1) for a 60-d period. Individual 2-g subsamples of each soil were then equilibrated with 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg(-1) P in 20 mL of 0.01 M CaCl(2) on a reciprocating shaker for 24 h. After 24 h, P in solution was measured by colorimetric methods, and designated as final P concentrations. The data indicated that the unamended soils with a pH of <6.0 adsorbed, in some cases, 50 times more P than soils with a pH of >7.0. The final P concentrations, averaged for all initial P concentrations and ferrihydrite rates, ranged from 0.09 to 4.63 mg kg(-1), and were most highly correlated with pH (r = 0.844; P < or = 0.01), oxalate-extractable Fe (r = -0.699; P < or = 0.10), and dithionite-extractable Fe (r = -0.639; P < or = 0.10) contents of the unamended soils. In terms of individual soils, correlation coefficients (r) for final P concentrations versus ferrihydrite amendment rates indicated a statistically significant (P < or = 0.001) negative relationship at all initial P concentrations for most A horizons. The r values for the high Fe oxide content B horizon soils did not show a statistically significant response to ferrihydrite additions. The results indicate that P adsorption, in soils amended with ferrihydrite, will be greatest under acid pH conditions below the ferrihydrite zero point of charge (pH 5.77), and low incipient Fe oxide contents.