Speciation Characterization and Environmental Stability of Arsenic in Arsenic-Containing Copper Slag Tailing.

The increasing presence of arsenic-containing impurities within Cu ores can adversely affect the smelting process and aggravate the environmental impact of slag tailing. This study investigates the geochemical, mineralogical, and chemical speciation characteristics to better understand the association and environmental stability of metal(loid)s in copper slag tailing. The results indicate that the predominant chemical compositions of the selected slag tailing are Fe2O3 (54.8%) and SiO2 (28.1%). These tailings exhibit potential for multi-elemental contamination due to elevated concentrations of environmentally sensitive elements. Mineral phases identified within the slag tailings include silicate (fayalite), oxides (magnetite and hematite), and sulfides (galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, and chalcopyrite). The consistent presence of silicate, iron, arsenic, and oxygen in the elemental distribution suggests the existence of arsenic within silicate minerals in the form of Si-Fe-As-O phases. Additionally, arsenic shows association with sulfide minerals and oxides. The percentages of arsenite (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)) within the selected slag tailings are 59.4% and 40.6%, respectively. While the slag tailings are deemed non-hazardous due to the minimal amounts of toxic elements in leachates, proper disposal measures should be taken due to the elevated carbonate-bound levels of As and Cu present in these tailings.

Study on the solidification performance and mechanism of heavy metals by sludge/biomass ash ceramsites, biochar and biomass ash.

Industrial by-products are stored in large quantities in the open, leading to wasted resources and environmental pollution, and the natural environment is similarly faced with phosphate depletion and serious water and soil pollution. This study uses these by-products to produce a new sludge/biomass ash ceramsite that will be used to adsorb nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, and solidify heavy metals in the soil while releasing Olsen P. The sludge/biomass ash ceramsites are made using sewage sludge and biomass ash in a certain ratio calcined at high temperatures and modified for the adsorption of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. Sludge/biomass ash ceramsites before and after phosphorus adsorption, biochar and biomass ash were compared to analyze their heavy metal adsorption capacity and potential as phosphate fertilizer. After phosphorus adsorption, the sludge/biomass ash ceramsites released effective phosphorus steadily and rapidly in the soil, with a greater initial release than biochar and biomass ash, and the ceramsites were in a granular form that could be easily recycled. Biochar and biomass residue, due to their surface functional groups, are better at solidifying heavy metals than sludge/biomass ash ceramsites. Biochar, biomass ash and sludge/biomass ash ceramsites significantly reduced the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the soil. Correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a synergistic relationship between the increase in soil Olsen P content and the change in pH, with the increase in soil Olsen P content and the increase in pH contributing to heavy metal solidification.

Synthesis and Synergistic Antimicrobial Efficacy of Covalent Conjugates Composed of Epsilon-Poly-l-lysine and Beta-Lactam Antibiotics.

The increasing severity of problems posed by drug-resistant pathogens has compelled researchers to explore innovative approaches for infection prevention. Among these strategies, conjugation methods stand out for their convenience and high efficacy. In this study, multiple covalent conjugates were synthesized, incorporating the natural antimicrobial peptide epsilon-poly-l-lysine (EPL) and two commonly used ß-lactam antibiotics: penicillin G or ampicillin. Enhanced antimicrobial efficacy against typical Gram-negative pathogens, along with faster kill kinetics compared to combination approaches, was demonstrated by the EPL-Ampicillin covalent conjugates. Their antimicrobial mechanism was also substantiated through SEM and fluorescence tests in this work, confirming the inheritance of membrane-disrupting properties from EPL. Furthermore, the excellent biocompatibility of the raw materials was reserved in the covalent conjugates. This simplified conjugation method holds promise for the development of infection therapeutic drugs and potentially restores the sensitivity of conventional antibiotics to drug-resistant pathogens by introducing membrane-disrupting mechanisms.

A study of environmental pollution and risk of heavy metals in the bottom water and sediment of the Chaohu Lake, China.

Most of the existing research for heavy metals in water at present is focusing on surface water. However, potential environmental risk of heavy metals in the bottom water of lakes cannot be ignored. In this study, the content, distribution, and speciation of nine heavy metals (As, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in the bottom water and sediment of Chaohu Lake were studied. Some pollution assessment methods were used to evaluate the environmental effect of heavy metals. Positive matrix factorization was conducted to investigate the potential sources of heavy metals in sediment. The contents of heavy metals in the bottom water of Chaohu Lake mean that its environmental pollution can be ignored. In sediment, Cd and Zn have showed stronger ecological risk. pH and redox potential are more likely to affect the stability of heavy metals in the bottom water of Chaohu Lake during the dry reason. Industrial sources (16%) are no longer the largest source of heavy metal pollution; traffic sources (33.6%) and agricultural sources (23.4%) have become the main sources of pollution at present. This study can provide some support and suggestions for the treatment of heavy metals in lakes.

Adsorption of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater by modified sludge/biomass ash ceramsite: Preparation, adsorption mechanism, and sustainable analysis.

Excessive ammonium and phosphate in aquatic settings may produce major eutrophication. Adsorbents can be used to reduce the eutrophication of natural water bodies. In this study, a sustainable and efficient ceramic adsorbent (sludge/biomass ash ceramsite [SBC]) was prepared by using sludge and biomass ash with a weight ratio of 1:1; the sintering parameters were 1070°C for 15 min. The NH4 + -N and P adsorption capabilities were improved by utilizing 1 mol L-1 NaOH and 1.6 mol L-1 La(NO3 )3 ·6H2 O for modification. When the pH and duration were 7 and 1440 min, respectively, the maximum bending capacity of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus was 3.2 and 2.1 mg g-1 at 308 K. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model better describes the adsorption dynamics of NH4 + -N and P, whereas the Langmuir model better describes the adsorption isotherm models of NH4 + -N and P. The adsorption mechanism of SBC-NaOH on NH4 + -N is ion exchange between Na+ and NH4 + , whereas the adsorption mechanism of SBC-La on phosphorus is ion exchange and La3+ adsorption. SBC combines efficient wastewater purification with the reuse of solid waste. The findings gave rise to the possibility of recycling ceramics as a plant fertilizer with a delayed release in the future. PRACTITIONER POINTS: New ceramsite was made from sludge and biomass ash. NH4 + -N (3.2 mg g-1 ) and P (2.1 mg g-1 ) were effectively adsorbed by ceramsite. The mechanism of NH4 + -N and P adsorption by ceramsite was studied. Absorbed ceramsite can be used as slow-release fertilizer in plant cultivation.

Synthesis of ordered mesoporous silica from biomass ash and its application in CO2 adsorption.

It is possible to achieve high-value utilization of solid wastes and lower the cost of mesoporous silica synthesis by synthesizing mesoporous silica from solid wastes. In this study, silica was extracted using the alkali fusion method using biomass ash as the starting material. Biomass ash based mesoporous silica was successfully prepared by hydrothermal method with silicon extract solution as silicon source. The optimum conditions for preparation were determined as follows: addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was 0.45g, hydrothermal temperature was 120 °C, hydrothermal time was 24h. The prepared mesoporous silicon was systematically characterized, and the results showed that high surface area (495 m2/g) and ordered pore structure appeared in the synthesized mesoporous silica materials. The synthesized mesoporous silica showed excellent CO2 adsorption performance (0.749 mmol/g) at 25 °C and 1 bar. According to the calculation of adsorption isotherm and thermodynamics, non-linear Freundlich model can fit the adsorption isotherm better and the adsorption heat of mesoporous silica is less than 20 kJ/mol, which belongs to physical adsorption. After five cycles of CO2 adsorption, the adsorption property was still above 90%, and the CO2/N2 adsorption selectivity reached 396.6, showing good regeneration performance and adsorption selectivity. This research can provide a new possibility for the high-value exploitation of biomass ash and reducing the cost of synthetic mesoporous silica.

Characteristics of trace elements and potential environmental risks of the ash from agricultural straw direct combustion biomass power plant.

The rapid expansion of biomass power generation has resulted in a large amount of ash, which need to be treated urgently. The trace elements in ash also have environmental risks during treatment. Therefore, the essential characteristics and potential environmental risks of biomass ash generated by direct combustion of agricultural straw were studied. The leaching characteristics of elements, including major elements (Mg, K, Ca) and trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, As, Pb and Ba), in fly ash and slag produced by biomass power plant were analyzed through the static leaching experiments of simulating the possible pH value of natural water in the laboratory. The results show that the trace elements are enriched in fly ash and slag, which may be related to the volatility of elements during combustion. And during the leaching test, the leaching concentration of major and trace elements in fly ash is higher than that in slag. Sequential chemical extraction is used to reveal the occurrence forms of trace elements in biomass ash. Except for residue, Mn, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb in fly ash mainly exist in carbonate bound, V and As are Fe-Mn oxides bound, and Cr, Ni, Cu, and Ba are mainly organic matter bound. In the slag, Cd is mainly carbonate bound, Cu is mainly organic matter bound, while other elements are mainly Fe-Mn oxides bound. The Risk Assessment Code values calculated based on the existing forms of elements show that As and Cd in slag and Mn, Co, Pb and Cd in fly ash need special attention during utilization. The research results can provide reference for the management and utilization of biomass ash.

Material flow analysis and characteristics of multiple-source organic solid wastes from a perspective of ecological network analysis: A case study in Hefei, China.

The numerous resources are consumed and a large number of multiple-source organic solid wastes are discharged during urban metabolic, which put pressures to environment. This study combined material flow analysis and ecological network analysis to comprehensively analyse the metabolism of multiple-source organic solid waste in Hefei. Analysing current metabolic characteristics of urban multiple-source organic solid waste and relationships between the components of metabolic system can help urban environmental management. The internal material flows of the system were analysed by a metabolic network containing 5 nodes and 18 pathways, which revealed metabolic characteristics of multiple-source organic solid waste in Hefei. The study showed that the metabolic system of multiple-source organic solid waste was relatively stable though distribution of internal flows changed in 8 years. The metabolic environment and agricultural sector covered a relatively large weight in this model. The control and exploitation relationships dominated the metabolic system. The urban metabolic mechanism reflected in this research can improve efficiency of urban metabolic resource, optimize waste management and provide data support for sustainable urban development. This study provided scientific guidance for metabolic research in Hefei and similar cities in China's rapid economic development.

Green synthesis of ceramsite from industrial wastes and its application in selective adsorption: Performance and mechanism.

The increasing requirement and consumption of coal has resulted in a large accumulation of coal gangue. The reuse and recycling of coal gangue have become a high priority for sustainable development. A sustainable and efficient ceramsite adsorbent was prepared for copper ions adsorption by using coal gangue, coal fly ash, and copper slag as the main materials. The appropriate performance of the ceramsite could be obtained at a mixture of coal gangue, coal fly ash, and copper slag at a weight ratio of 3:4:1. The optimal sintering temperature and time were 1050 °C and 20 min, respectively. The main crystalline phases of ceramsite were quartz, mullite, and anorthite. Many micropores are connecting the interior on the surface of ceramsite under scanning electron microscope. The maximum copper ions adsorption capacity reached up to 20.6 mg/g at 303 K when pH and time were 5 and 1440 min, respectively. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm could be described by the pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich model, respectively. The adsorption mechanisms of Cu2+ with ceramsite were attributed to Cu(OH)2 precipitation formed on the alkaline surface of ceramsite and complexation reactions occurred between the O-containing groups (including C-O, Fe-O, and Si-O) from ceramsite and Cu2+. The prepared ceramsite may be also applied to other heavy metal wastewater treatments.

Therapeutic Effects of Synthetic Triblock Amphiphilic Short Antimicrobial Peptides on Human Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Because of their unique properties, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a potential reservoir of novel anticancer therapeutic agents. However, only a few AMPs can kill tumors with high efficiency, and obtaining inexpensive anticancer AMPs with strong activity is still a challenge. In our previous work, a series of original short amphiphilic triblock AMP (KnFmKn) analogues were developed which were demonstrated to exert excellent effects on bacterial infection, both in vitro and in vivo. Herein, the overall objectives were to assess the potent tumoricidal capacities of these analogues against human lung cancer cell line A549 and the underlying mechanism. The results of the CCK-8 assay revealed that the precise modification of the peptides' primary sequences could modulate their tumoricidal potency. In the tumoricidal progress, positive charge and hydrophobicity were the key driving forces. Among these peptides, K4F6K4 displayed the most remarkable tumoricidal activity. Furthermore, the excellent anticancer capacity of K4F6K4 was proven by the live/dead cell staining, colony formation assay, and tumor growth observations on xenografted mice, which indicated that K4F6K4 might be a promising drug candidate for lung cancer, with no significant adverse effects in vitro or in vivo. In addition, the cell apoptosis assay using flow cytometry, the morphology observations using the optical microscope, confocal microscopy using CellMask™ Deep Red staining, and scanning electron microscope suggested that membrane disruption was the primary mechanism of its antitumor action. Through analyzing the structure-activity relationship, it was found that the amount of positive charge required for KnFmKn to exert its optimal tumoricidal effect was more than that needed for the antimicrobial activity, while the optimal proportion of hydrophobicity was less. Our findings suggest that further analysis of the structure-activity relationship of AMPs' primary sequence variations will be beneficial. Hopefully, this work can provide guiding principles in designing peptide-based therapeutics for lung cancer.

Element partitioning, emissions, and relative risk during disposal processes of diverse litters, fruit tree branches, and crop straws: dry distillation, incomplete combustion, and sufficient combustion.

This study reports the release behaviors, enrichment characteristics, contamination level, and health risk of twenty-one elements in biomass, when dry distillation, incomplete combustion, and sufficient combustion. Results indicate that the element concentration in different kinds of biomass varies greatly. Even for the same kind of biomass, concentration in three products of dry distillation, incomplete combustion, and sufficient combustion is also different: fifteen elements (K, Ca, Mg, Al, Fe, Mn, B, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cd, Cr, Pb, Sb, Sn) have no significant difference in concentration but other six elements (As, Co, Ni, V, Na, P) are the opposite. Multivariate statistical approaches were used to assess five significant factors which affect element concentration, suggesting the contributes from biomass type, moisture content, soil, biomass age or organ, and disposal methods. Disposal methods and biomass type result in significant differences in element enrichment factor. More elements will release during sufficient combustion rather than dry distillation. The increasing of supplied oxygen during disposal process may increase the overall toxicity from elements release. The data of excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) suggests that Cr, Ni, Co, Cd, and Pb are the largest contributors to cancer risks during biomass application.

Synthesis of Calcium Silicate Hydrate from Coal Gangue for Cr(VI) and Cu(II) Removal from Aqueous Solution.

Both the accumulation of coal gangue and potentially toxic elements in aqueous solution have caused biological damage to the surrounding ecosystem of the Huainan coal mining field. In this study, coal gangue was used to synthesize calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) to remove Cr(VI) and Cu(II)from aqueous solutions and aqueous solution. The optimum parameters for C-S-H synthesis were 700 °C for 1 h and a Ca/Si molar ratio of 1.0. Quantitative sorption analysis was done at variable temperature, C-S-H dosages, solution pH, initial concentrations of metals, and reaction time. The solution pH was precisely controlled by a pH meter. The adsorption temperature was controlled by a thermostatic gas bath oscillator. The error of solution temperature was controlled at ± 0.3, compared with the adsorption temperature. For Cr(VI) and Cu(II), the optimum initial concentration, temperature, and reaction time were 200 mg/L, 40 °C and 90 min, pH 2 and 0.1 g C-S-H for Cr(VI), pH 6 and 0.07 g C-S-H for Cu(II), respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities of Cr(VI) and Cu(II) were 68.03 and 70.42 mg·g-1, respectively. Furthermore, the concentrations of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) in aqueous solution could meet the surface water quality standards in China. The adsorption mechanism of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) onto C-S-H were reduction, electrostatic interaction, chelation interaction, and surface complexation. It was found that C-S-H is an environmentally friendly adsorbent for effective removal of metals from aqueous solution through different mechanisms.

Recent Advances in Epsilon-Poly-L-Lysine and L-Lysine-Based Dendrimer Synthesis, Modification, and Biomedical Applications.

With the advantages in biocompatibility, antimicrobial ability, and comparative facile synthesis technology, poly-L-lysine (PLL) has received considerable attention in recent years. Different arrangement forms and structures of the backbone endow lysine-based polymers with versatile applications, especially for ε-poly-L-lysine (EPL) and lysine-based dendrimer (LBD) compounds. This review summarized the advanced development of the synthesis and modification strategies of EPL and LBD, focus on the modification of bio-synthesis and artificial synthesis, respectively. Meanwhile, biomedical fields, where EPL and LBD are mainly utilized, such as agents, adjuvants, or carriers to anti-pathogen or used in tumor or gene therapies, are also introduced. With the deeper of knowledge of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the drug system, the design and synthesis of these drugs can be further optimized. Furthermore, the performances of combination with other advanced methodologies and technologies demonstrated that challenges, such as scale production and high expenses, will not hinder the prospective future of lysine-based polymers.

Identification of the featured-element in fine road dust of cities with coal contamination by geochemical investigation and isotopic monitoring.

The exploitation of coal releases large amounts of contaminants into the environment. However, the featured pollutants of coal utilization as well as the scope and degree of their impact remain to be revealed. To identify the featured-element of coal contamination in a complex environment, a typical coal resource city was selected, and the major elements, 18 trace elements, as well as δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S in the fine road dust and certain source materials were analyzed. Through multiple analysis methods, the featured-element was determined step-by-step: firstly, elements with enrichment coefficients greater than two in road dust were focused: Zn, Hg, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Cr; secondly, difference analysis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) of Hg and Cu concentration at different distance from the coal-fired power plant, making Hg and Cu the only candidates for the featured-element; finally, through coal-related source materials determination, Cu was not qualified as a featured-element. Therefore, Hg was the only left element to be considered as the featured-element. To be more convincing, more analyses were performed to support Hg as the featured-element: cluster analysis and isotope monitoring indicated Hg in road dust could originate from coal combustion; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was also conducted, where the forms of Hg in road dust with possible source materials were compared, and the presence of HgO and Hg only in the road dust near the power plant indicated the impact of the power plant on the surrounding dust. Through the health risk assessment, it was found that Hg in the road dust had no health risk, though the study area still had Pb, Cr, and As risks, which were not closely related to the pollutants released by coal-related sources.

Mineralogical and morphological factors affecting the separation of copper and arsenic in flash copper smelting slag flotation beneficiation process.

Separating copper and arsenic has always been a major problem in the copper slag flotation process, which influences copper slag utilization and the environmental safety. A comparative study of flash smelting furnace (FSF) slag and its flotation products (concentrate and tailing) reveals the factors affecting the separation of copper and arsenic in the beneficiation process from the perspective of mineralogy and morphology. The elemental fractionation in the process shows a positive correlation of As, Cu and Cd and an obvious correlation between speciation transformation of copper and arsenic was observed. The occurrence of arsenic and copper in FSF slag correlate the key phases of arsenic copper alloys, accounted for 88.91 % of total arsenic-bearing phases and 32.28% of copper-bearing phases. Closely-embeded matte and copper-arsenic alloys incerease the difficulty of the separation suggesting the finer grinding is needed for slag. Arsenic is liberated and oxidized into arsenate compounds while the recombination of As-O and Cu-S happened in the process affecting the selectivity of copper and arsenic. Arsenic fixed in silicate minerals is discharged into tailing which suggested to induce and fix arsenic into silicate minerals can facilitate arsenic removal from concentrate. FSF slag and its flotation concnetrate show risks of some of some of HMs which should be cautiously transported, disposed, and utilized.

Strategies for arsenic pollution control from copper pyrometallurgy based on the study of arsenic sources, emission pathways and speciation characterization in copper flash smelting systems.

Arsenic in copper flash smelting (FS) systems not only affects the quality of products but also poses significant technological and environmental problems. Based on the assessment of arsenic mass partitioning in the FS system, arsenic elimination in off-gassing and tailings is 22%, and most of the arsenic output (69%) is recycled in the FS system. Circulating arsenic, especially arsenic in recycled dust and slag concentrate, is the key reason for high-arsenic-content feed. Dust-type recycled materials (RMs) contribute much more arsenic to the feed than slag-type RMs. Flash smelting furnace electrostatic precipitator (FSF ESP) dust contributes makese the largest contribution to arsenic among the dust-type RMs of mixed dust, especially trivalent arsenic, followed by FSF and flash converting furnace waste heat boiler (FCF WHB) dust, which contributes pentavalent arsenic. FCF WHB dust exhibits a relatively low arsenic content, consisting mainly of As(V)-O. Slag-type recycled materials contribute As(V)-O to the total feed, and As(III) originates from copper concentrates. Considering the arsenic contribution and environmental risk, reducing the recovery of FSF ESP dust can greatly decrease the arsenic grade of FSF feed and volatile As2O3. As one of the main arsenic sources in feed, FSF slag concentrate should be carefully disposed of if separated from feed materials because of its high arsenic-related environmental risk. In contrast, WHB dust and FCF slag are more suitable as RM due to their high copper content and low arsenic risk.

Polycaprolactone-Based Mimetic Antimicrobial Peptide Copolymers Vesicles as an Effective Drug-Carrier for Cancer Therapy.

A novel series of amphiphilic mimicking antimicrobial peptide copolymers PCL16-b-Kn can assemble in water to form uniform vesicles. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the vesicular structure of the nanoparticles, and dynamic light scattering revealed their uniform size and narrow dispersion. Critical vesiculation concentrations were also tested, revealing that these vesicles can exist at low concentrations. Furthermore, in vitro and intracellular drug release of doxorubicin(DOX)-vesicles were conducted. These vesicles could encapsulate DOX and achieve efficient intracellular drug release. Overall, these copolymer vesicles exhibit potential application value as multifunctional drug-carrier systems with antibacterial capability in cancer therapy.

Co-combustion of industrial coal slurry and sewage sludge: Thermochemical and emission behavior of heavy metals.

A combination of thermogravimetric analysis and lab-scale fixed bed combustion experiments was carried out to study the thermochemical, kinetic and heavy metals emission behavior during co-combustion of industrial coal slurry (CS) and sewage sludge (SS). The results found that the blends had integrative combustion profiles which reflected both coal slurry and sewage sludge. During co-combustion, the ignition performance of CS could be significantly improved with the addition of SS. Synergetic effects of the co-combustion were observed at lower temperature, while the high-temperature char combustion of the blends was inhibited because of high ash components of SS or formation of inactive alkali metal aluminosilicates. Kinetic analysis confirmed the improve iginition behavior of blends. Both the comprehensive combustibility index S and the activation energy suggested that the blends with 20% SS may have the best promoting effects. Compared with CS, the higher concentration of Cl in SS increased the volatilization ratios of Cu, Zn, As, and Pb. When added CS into SS, the volatilization ratios of arsenic decreased during combustion. The inhibition effects for arsenic during co-combustion might be associated with the capture of arsenic vapors by the new-formed Ca/Al from CS thermal decomposition.

Polymeric Antimicrobial Food Packaging and Its Applications.

Food corruption and spoilage caused by food-borne pathogens and microorganisms is a serious problem. As a result, the demand for antibacterial drugs in food packaging is growing. In this review, biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials for food packaging are discussed based on their properties. Most importantly, antibacterial agents are essential to inhibit the growth of bacteria in food. To keep food fresh and prolong the shelf life, different kinds of antibacterial agents were used. The composition and application of natural antibacterial agents and synthetic antibacterial agents are discussed. Compared with natural antibacterial agents, synthetic antibacterial agents have the advantages of low cost and high activity, but their toxicity is usually higher than that of natural antibacterial agents. Finally, future development of antimicrobial food packaging is proposed. It is an urgent problem for researchers to design and synthesize antibacterial drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity.

[Temporal-spatial Distribution and Pollution Assessment of Dissolved Heavy Metals in Chaohu Lake].

Surface water samples were collected in different seasons from Chaohu Lake to determine the concentrations and potential environmental impacts of nine dissolved heavy metals (As, Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Co). The concentrations of the selected heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES, ICAP6000 series). The single pollution index method and integrated pollution index method were used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts. The results indicated that the contents of dissolved As, Cd, Pb, and Cr in Chaohu Lake were lower than the limitations of GradeⅠof the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB 3838-2002), while Cu and Zn were within the limitations of GradeⅠ-Ⅱ and Hg was within the limitations of GradeⅠ-Ⅲ. The contents of Ni and Co were far below the limitations. The concentrations of the selected heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Co) varied among seasons and areas. Elevated concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Ni were found in summer, while elevated contents of Pb, Cr, and Co were found in autumn, autumn, and spring, respectively. Trace elements in the western part of Chaohu Lake (especially in the northwestern part) were higher than those in the middle and eastern parts for autumn, winter, and summer. Significant positive correlations were found among Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, and Ni in the surface water, suggesting that these elements may derive from similar sources. The values of both the single factor pollution index and integrated pollution index of the selected elements in the surface water were far less than 1, suggesting that the environmental impacts could be regarded as negligible. The integrated pollution indices in the western part of the lake were higher than those of the middle and eastern parts on a one-year timescale, and the integrated pollution indices in each lake area followed a pattern of wet season (summer) > normal season (spring and autumn) > dry season (winter).