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In Germany, at more than 1000 sites, soil is polluted with an anthropogenic contaminant in form of iron-cyanide complexes. These contaminations are caused by former Manufactured Gas Plants (MGPs), where electricity for lighting was produced in the process of coal gasification. The production of manufactured gas was restrained in 1950, which caused cessation of MGPs. Our study describes the application of Polychromix Handheld Field Portable Near-Infrared (NIR) Analyzer to predict the cyanide concentrations in soil. In recent times, when the soil remediation is of major importance, there is a need to develop rapid and non-destructive methods for contaminant determination in the field. In situ analysis enables determination of ‘hot spots’, is cheap and time saving in comparison to laboratory methods. This paper presents a novel usage of NIR spectroscopy, where a calibration model was developed, using multivariate calibration algorithms, in order to determine NIR spectral response to the cyanide concentration in soil samples. As a control, the contaminant concentration was determined using conventional Flow Injection Analysis (FIA). The experiments revealed that portable near-infrared spectrometers could be a reliable device for identification of contamination ‘hot spots’, where cyanide concentration are higher than 2400
mg kg-1 in the field and >1750 mg kg-1 after sample preparation in the laboratory, but cannot replace traditional laboratory analyses due to high limits of detection.
Lucilia sericata is one of the most studied species in forensic entomology due to its widespread distribution, forensic importance as well as medical use. The growth and development stage of maggots is often used to determine the post-mortem interval in forensic cases. L. sericata can cause myiasis in humans who are not able to maintain personal hygiene due to age or medical condition and can therefore be used to determine the time period of neglect. The influence of the temperature on the maggot development has been examined in various studies. Different examinations on the effects of toxic substances on the maggot development and survival have been conducted in order to test the influence and resulting deviations. In this study, the effects of different therapeutical doses of the antibiotics ceftriaxone and levofloxacin were examined on L. sericata in order to determine and compare deviations in maggot development and survival. The used antibiotics did not significantly influence the maggot weight and length. A significant delay in the time of pupation has been determined in the treatments with high concentrations of levofloxacin. The mortality was significantly increased in all treatments with antibiotics compared to the control, whereby the survivability of all treatments remained over 80%. Because of the high doses needed to produce an effect, we concluded that an overestimation of the post-mortem interval is unlikely but higher antibiotic concentrations or possible interactions with other medications could increase the maggot development time.
Vicinities of manufactured gas plants were often contaminated with solid iron–cyanide complexes
as a result of the coal gasification process. During the remediation of affected soils, knowledge about contaminant concentrations is crucial, but laboratory methods are often expensive and time consuming. Rapid and non-destructive field methods for contaminant determination permit an analysis of large sample numbers and hence, facilitate identification of ‘hot spots’ of contamination. Diffuse near infrared reflectance spectroscopy has proven to be a reliable analytical tool in soil investigation. In order to determine the feasibility of a Polychromix Handheld Field Portable Near-Infrared Analyzer (FP NIR), various sample preparation methods were examined, including homogenizing, sieving, drying, and grinding. Partial least squares calibration models were developed to determine near infrared (NIR) spectral responses to the cyanide concentration in the soil samples. As a control, the contaminant concentration
was determined using conventional flow injection analysis. The experiments revealed that portable
near-infrared spectrometers could be a reliable device for detecting cyanide concentrations >2,400 mgkg−1 in the field and >1,750 mgkg−1 after sample preparation in the laboratory.We found that portable NIR spectrometry cannot replace traditional laboratory analyses due to high limits of detection, but that it could be used for identification of contamination ‘hot spots’.
The influence of biological soil crusts in natural ecosystems on structures and processes is well investigated. However, in South-Brandenburg (Germany), it is possible to study the development of biological soil crusts (BSC) during initial ecosystem genesis on two artificial water catchments with well-known ages and under differing starting conditions. The two experimental sites are located in the recultivation area of the lignite open-cast mining district of southern Brandenburg with a distance of approximately 1 km between them. Two different topographies were constructed at the experimental sites: the experimental plot at the catchment Neuer Lugteich was shaped like a dune, whereas the artificial water catchment Hühnerwasser was modelled as an inclined slope. The catchment Neuer Lugteich is four years older than Hühnerwasser. The original substrate at Neuer Lugteich is more sandy and carbonate-free compared to the original substrate dumped at Hühnerwasser. At both sites geomorphological differentiation and crust development were compared and the importance of substrate-dependent water availability and crust type clarified. Once settled, the crusts influenced the water regime of the soils by delaying infiltration through enhanced water repellency, and by limiting water infiltration. Chlorophyll analysis revealed that all crusts were at early stages of development. At Neuer Lugteich, the establishment of the biological soil crusts was closely associated with the vegetation succession, whereas no clear succession of the crusts could be observed at Hühnerwasser. The mosaic-like pattern of the biological soils crusts is associated with the distribution of fine-grained material here.zeige weniger
Iron-cyanide (Fe-CN) complexes have been detected at Manufactured Gas Plant sites (MGP) worldwide. The risk of groundwater contamination depends mainly on the dissolution of ferric ferrocyanide. In order to design effective reme- diation strategies, it is relevant to understand the contaminant’s fate and transport in soil, and to quantify and mathe- matically model a release rate. The release of iron-cyanide complexes from four contaminated soils, originating from the former MGP in Cottbus, has been studied by using a column experiment. Results indicated that long-term cyanide (CN) release is governed by two phases: one readily dissolved and one strongly fixed. Different isotherm and kinetic equations were used to investigate the driving mechanisms for the ferric ferrocyanide release. Applying the isotherm equations assumed an approach by which two phases were separate in time, whereas the multiple first order equation considered simultaneous occurrence of both cyanide pools. Results indicated varying CN release rates according to the phase and soil. According to isotherm and kinetic models, the long-term iron cyanide release from the MGP soils is a complex phenomenon driven by various mechanisms parallely involving desorption, diffusion and transport processes. Phase I (rapid release) is presumably mainly constrained by the transport process of readily dissolved iron-cyanide complexes combined with desorption of CN bound to reactive heterogeneous surfaces that are in direct contact with the aqueous phase (outer-sphere complexation). Phase II (limited rate) is presumably driven by the diffusion controlled processes involving dissolution of precipitated ferric ferrocyanide from the mineral or inner-sphere complexation of fer- ricyanides. CN release rates in phase I and II were mainly influenced by the pH, organic matter (OM) and the total CN content. The cyanide release rates increased with increasing pH, decreased with low initial CN concentration and were retarded by the increase in OM content.
Cross-linked polyacrylates in post-mining substrates: persistence and effects on plant growth
(2014)
Application of hydrophilic polymers composed of cross-linked polyacrylate can improve soil water-holding capacity and accelerate the restoration of post-mining substrates. In this work, we studied the persistence of a polyacrylate polymer incorporated into a soil and its impact on plant nutrients at a reclamation site of former lignite mining in Lusatia (Germany). In contrast to autumn application, the incorporation of the polymer enhanced the sequestration of plant-derived carbon in the soil, which was reflected by a significant increase in the concentration of a lignin marker. Attenuated total reflexion–Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR-FTIR) and total elemental contents in the applied polymer suggested an intensive cation exchange between the polymer framework and the soil-forming substrate. In addition, there was an enrichment of carbonaceous material, which seems to reduce the swelling and thus the water-holding capacity of the cross-linked polyacrylate. Conversely, this process protected the polymer structure from rapid decomposition.
The formation of dunes in central Europe reflects ample sediment supply during the last deglacial hemicycle. A Quaternary inland dune complex in southern Brandenburg, Germany, was studied to frame the duration of pedogenesis in two outcrops containing buried paleosols. An integrative approach, which combined geomorphological, sedimentological, pedological and chronological methods was used to identify aeolian deposition events, ensuing pedogenesis and anthropogenic remobilization. At the outcrops, which were situated approximately 2 km apart from each other, a total of twelve samples of the aeolian sands were dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and a further six samples using 14C dating. Although the dunes have similar morphological features, these forms have a different history of aeolian sand deposition and pedogenesis. At the older dune (Gl 1) the surface soil is a well developed Podzol, whereas soil development of the younger dune (Gl 2) is clearly in an initial state. The studied sites of the dune complex also differ in grain size distribution and in the presence of buried soils, thereby indicating a climatic impact on aeolian remobilization.