Dynamics, thermodynamics, and mechanism of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) sorption to various soil particle-size fractions of paddy soil
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Authors: Chen, Xiao-Ting; Yu, Peng-Fei; Xiang, Lei; Zhao, Hai-Ming; Li, Yan-Wen; Li, Hui; Zhang, Xiang-Yun; Cai, Quan-Ying; Mo, Ce-Hui; Wong, Ming Hung
Abstract
Soil is an important sink for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) that is a typical persistent organic pollutant with high toxicity. Understanding of PFOS sorption to various particle-size fractions of soil provides an insight into the mobility and bioavailability of PFOS in soil. This study evaluated kinetics, isotherms, and mechanisms of PFOS sorption to six soil particle-size fractions of paddy soil at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.01-1 mu g/mL). The used soil particle-size fractions included coarse sand (120.4-724.4 mm), fine sand (45.7-316.2 mm), coarse silt (17.3-79.4 mm), fine silt (1.9-39.8 mm), clay (0.5-4.4 mm), and humic acid fractions (8.2-83.7 mm) labeled as F1 similar to F6, respectively. PFOS sorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics related to film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion, with speed-limiting phase acted by the latter. PFOS sorption isotherm data followed Freundlich model, with generally convex isotherms in larger size fractions (F1 similar to F3) but concave isotherms in smaller size fractions (F4 and F5) and humic acid fraction (F6). Increasing organic matter content, Brunner-Emmet-Teller surface area, and smaller size fractions were conducive to PFOS sorption. Hydrophobic force, divalent metal ion-bridging effect, ligand exchange, hydrogen bonding, and protein-like interaction played roles in PFOS sorption. But hydrophobic force controlled the PFOS sorption, because its relevant organic matter governed the contribution of the soil fractions to the overall PFOS sorption. The larger size fractions dominated the PFOS sorption to the original soil because of their high mass percentages (similar to 80%). This likely caused greater potential risks of PFOS migration into groundwater and bioaccumulation in crops at higher temperatures and c(e) values, based on their convex isotherms with an exothermic physical process.
Concentrations and Speciation of Mercury in Soil Affected by Bird Droppings
POLISH JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Authors: Yao, Youru; Fang, Fengman; Wu, Huijun; Wu, Minghong; Kuang, Ying; Lin, Yuesheng
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of bird droppings on mercury pollution levels in soil, specifically on the speciation and total concentration of mercury (Hg) in soil from Tongli Wetland, East China. Thirty soil samples and four bird dropping samples were collected from Tongli Wetland along with fifteen eggshells and five feathers from Heron Branch birds. Results indicated that bird droppings affect local soil's physic-chemical properties and Hg accumulation. Additionally, heron feathers were found to contain more total mercury (HgT) than their eggshells. Hg concentration in soil that is affected by bird dropping was determined to be 0.194 +/- 0.026 mg/kg; concentration in soil without bird droppings was 0.104 +/- 0.039 mg/kg. Therefore, HgT concentration in the former exceeded that of the latter (86.54%). Numerical analysis revealed that concentrations of water-soluble (F1), acid-soluble (F2), alkali-soluble (F3), hydrogen peroxide-soluble (F4), and residual mercury (F5) in soil that is affected by bird dropping were higher in soil that isn't affected by bird droppings. However, concentrations of F1 remained mostly stable. We found a positive correlation between Hg concentrations in soil and excrement and concentrations of total carbon (C tot), total nitrogen (N tot), and hydrogen (H), in addition to an exponential proportional relationship between C/N and Hg/C. We concluded that fresh bird droppings in soil may promote mercury enrichment. Furthermore, bird droppings and highly decomposed humus increase soil HgT concentration when they remain in soil for an extended period of time.