Distribution of uranium isotopes in the main channel of Yellow river (Huanghe), China

Uranium isotopes were measured in waters and suspended particulate matters (SPM) of the main channel of Yellow River, China that were sampled during four field trips between August 2005 and July 2006. The results show that the concentration of dissolved U (2.04-7.83 mu g/l) and the activity ratio of U-234/U-238 (1.36-1.67) are much higher than the average U concentrations and activity ratios of global major rivers. Mass balance calculations using the results of simulated experiments and measurement data show that the section of the Yellow River between Lanzhou and Sanmenxia has its dissolved U derived from two sources: suspended sediments (68%) and groundwater/runoff from loess deposits (32%). Both sources are related to the heavy erosion of the Chinese Loess Plateau. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Growth of Gracilaria lemaneiformis under different cultivation conditions and its effects on nutrient removal in Chinese coastal waters

Gracilaria lemaneiformis (Bory) Daws has been extensively cultivated as a source of commercial agar and the ecomaterials in Shenao Bay, Guangdong Province, Jiaozhou Bay, Shandong Province and other waters in China. This paper examines the in situ suspended farming of G. lemaneiformis using raft cultivation under different conditions and its effects on nutrient removal in the laboratory. The results showed that cultivated Gracilaria grew well in both Shenao Bay and Jiaozhou Bay. The biomass of Gracilaria increased from 50 to 775 g m(-1) (fresh weight) during 28 days, with special growth rate (SPG) 13.9% d(-1) under horizontal cultivation in Jiaozhou Bay. Light, temperature, nutrient supply, as well as cultivation treatments such as initial density, and depth of suspension seaweed were important to the growth of Gracilaria. The highest biomass production was observed in the horizontal culture condition (0.0 m) and 0.5-1.5 m deep layer in Jiaozhou Bay. However, the highest growth rate in Shenao Bay appeared under the lowest initial stocking density treatment. In the laboratory, the aquarium experiments (fish and seaweed culture systems) demonstrated that Gracilaria was able to remove inorganic nutrients effectively. The concentration of NH4+-N decreased by 85.53% and 69.45%, and the concentration of PO4-P decreased 65.97% and 26.74% in aquaria with Gracilaria after 23 days and 40 days, respectively. The results indicate that Gracilaria has the potential to remove excess nutrient from coastal areas, and the large-scale cultivation of G. lemaneiformis could be effective to control eutrophication in Chinese coastal waters. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isotopic feature and uranium dating of the volcanic rocks in the Okinawa Trough

Volcanic rocks from the northern and middle Okinawa Trough were dated by uranium-series dating method. Differential fractions using magnetic procedure were designed to separate samples. New report on the ages and isotopic data of rocks in the northern trough (especially black pumice) was discussed. Based on the uranium dates and Sr-Nd isotopic ratio, magmatic evolution process of the Okinawa Trough was noted. Firstly, there have been wide silicic volcanic activities in the Okinawa Trough from late Pleistocene to present, and the volcanic rocks can be divided into three subgroups. Secondly, magma generally came from PREMA source area under the Okinawa Trough. Magmatic evolution in the northern trough was similar to the middle, but different to the south. Finally, volcanic activities indicated that opening of the southern Okinawa Trough did not happen due to the collision between Luson Arc and Eurasian Plate until the early Pleistocene.

Flocculation and removal of the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens (Chrysophyceae), using clays

Previous attempts to remove the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens, through flocculation with clays have been unsuccessful, in spite of adopting concentrations and dispersal protocols that yielded excellent cell removal efficiency (RE>90%) with other species, so a study was planned to improve cell removal. Four modifications in clay preparation and dispersal were explored: 1) varying the salinity of the clay suspension; 2) mixing of the clay-cell suspension after clay addition; 3) varying of concentration of the initial clay stock; 4) pulsed loading of the clay slurry. The effect of salinity was dependent on the clay mineral type: phosphatic clay (IMC-P2) had a higher RE than kaolinite (H-DP) when seawater was used to disperse the clay, but H-DP removed cells more efficiently when suspended in distilled water prior to application. Mixing after dispersal approximately doubled RE for both clays compared to when the slurry was layered over the culture surface. Lowering the concentration of clay stock and pulsing the clay loading increased RE, regardless of mineral type. However, this increase was more apparent for clays dispersed in seawater than in distilled water. In general, application procedures that decrease the rate of self-aggregation among the clay particles and increase the collision frequency between clay particles and A. anophagefferens achieve higher cell removal efficiency. These empirical studies demonstrated that clays might be an important control option for the brown tide organism, given the proper attention to preparation, dispersal methods, environmental impacts, and the hydrodynamic properties of the system being treated. Implications for the treatment of brown tides in the field are discussed.

The characteristics of nutrient removal and inhibitory effect of Ulva clathrata on Vibrio anguillarum 65

To investigate the ecological effect of macroalgae on de-eutrophication and depuration of mariculture seawater, the variation of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphate (DIP), the amount of Vibrio anguillarum, and total heterotrophic bacteria in Ulva clathrata culture, as well as on the algal surface, were investigated by artificially adding nutrients and V. anguillarum strain 65 from February to April 2006. The results indicated that U. clathrata not only had strong DIN and DIP removal capacities, but also showed a significant inhibitory effect on V. anguillarum, although not reducing the total heterotrophic bacteria. Vibrio anguillarum 65 dropped from 5 similar to 8 x 10(7) cfu mL(-1) to 10 cfu mL(-1) (clone-forming units per mL) in 10 g L-1 of fresh U. clathrata culture within 2 days; i.e., almost all of the Vibrios were efficiently eradicated from the algal culture system. Our results also showed that the inhibitory effect of U. clathrata on V. anguillarum strain 65 was both DIN- and DIP-dependent. Addition of DIN and DIP could enhance the inhibitory effects of the algae on the Vibrio, but did not reduce the total heterotrophic bacteria. Further studies showed that the culture suspension in which U. clathrata was pre-cultured for 24 h also had an inhibitory effect on V. anguillarum strain 65. Some unknown chemical substances, either released from U. clathrata or produced by the alga associated microorganisms, inhibited the proliferation of V. anguillarum 65.

Mantle-derived gaseous components in ore-forming fluids of the Xiangshan uranium

The Xiangshan U deposit, the largest hydrothermal U deposit in China, is hosted in late Jurassic felsic volcanic rocks although the U mineralization post dates the volcanics by at least 20 Ma. The mineralization coincides with intrusion of local mantle-derived mafic dykes formed during Cretaceous crustal extension in South China. Ore-forming fluids are rich in CO2, and U in the fluid is thought to have been dissolved in the form of UO2 (CO3)22− and UO2 (CO3) 34− complexes. This paper provides He and Ar isotope data of fluid inclusions in pyrites and C isotope data of calcites associated with U mineralization (pitchblende) in the Xiangshan U deposit. He isotopic compositions range between 0.1 and 2.0Ra (where Ra is the 3He/4He ratio of air=1.39×10−6) and correlates with 40Ar/36Ar; although there is potential for significant 3He production via 6Li(n,α)3H(β)3He reactions in a U deposit (due to abundant neutrons), nucleogenic production cannot account for either the 3He concentration in these fluids, nor the correlations between He and Ar isotopic compositions. It is more likely that the high 3He/4He ratios represent trapped mantle-derived gases. A mantle origin for the volatiles of Xiangshan is consistent with the δ13C values of calcites, which vary from −3.5‰ to −7.7‰, overlapping the range of mantle CO2. The He, Ar and CO2 characteristics of the ore-forming fluids responsible for the deposit are consistent with mixing between 3He- and CO2-rich mantle-derived fluids and CO2-poor meteoric fluids. These fluids were likely produced during Cretaceous extension and dyke intrusion which permitted mantle-derived CO2 to migrate upward and remobilize U from the acid volcanic source rocks, resulting in the formation of the U deposit. Subsequent decay of U within the fluid inclusions has reduced the 3He/4He ratio, and variations in U/3He result in the range in 3He/4He observed with U/3He ratios in the range 5–17×103 likely corresponding to U concentrations in the fluids b0.2 ppm.

Removal of NO by microwave discharge with the addition of CH4

Removal of NO by a continuous microwave discharge at atmospheric pressure with the addition of CH4 is reported. The conversion of NO to N-2 is approximately 80%, and the energy efficiency is up to 0.55 g-NO/kWh. The effects of CH4 addition and three discharge modes on NO conversion and energy efficiency are investigated. The dependence of NO conversion on experimental time is also observed.

Removal of endotoxin from human serum albumin solutions by hydrophobic and cationic charged membrane

A novel matrix of macropore cellulose membrane was prepared by chemical graft, and immobilized the cationic charged groups as affinity ligands. The prepared membrane Fan be used for the removal of endotoxin from human serum albumin (HSA) solutions. With a cartridge of 20 sheets affinity membrane of 47 mm diameter, the endotoxin level in HSA solution can be reduced ro 0.027 eu/mL. Recovery of HSA was over 95%.