Arsenic uptake in tomato and cabbage irrigated with arsenic-contaminated water

Arsenic uptake by tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleraceae L. var. capitata L.) plants was studied by cultivating the plants in different soil types and irrigating them with water containing arsenic at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.2 mg As L-1

Comparative study of ferrate and thermally activated persulfate treatments for removal of mono- and dichlorobenzenes from groundwater

The removal of mono- and dichlorobenzenes from model solutions containing four chlorobenzene compounds separately or all four mixed, as well as mixed but with the addition of groundwater matrix was studied applying ferrate and thermally activated persulfate treatments. The concentration of target molecules were determined by gas chromatographmass spectrometer system following the enrichment of analytes by solid phase micro-extraction. At optimized experimental conditions and with the same concentration of oxidative agents, the removal efficiency values were the highest for the 1.2-dichlorobenzene (1.2-DCB) and monochlorobenzene (MCB) in case of ferrate and persulfate treatment, respectively. At nearly the same molar ratios, the persulfate treatments in comparison to the ferrate technology resulted in a higher average removal efficiency for the four target molecules in the model solutions (39 vs. 19%). However, in the presence of groundwater matrix with a given bicarbonate and chloride ion content, the average removal efficiency values reached only 14% for both treatment procedures. This means that the persulfate treatment is more sensitive to the presence of interfering ions existing in groundwater. © 2016 Elsevier B.V

Nitzschia austriaca Hustedt: a characteristic diatom of Hungarian inland saline waters including a morphological comparison with the type material

A detailed scanning electron microscopic investigation was carried out to clarify the taxonomic status of a small sigmoid Nitzschia species, a potential indicator of Central European soda waters. We found this taxon to be one of the dominant epiphytic diatoms collected from sodic bomb crater ponds at Apaj (Hungary). The large population allowed for a morphometric comparison based on frustule ultrastructure with the type material of the most similar species, Nitzschia austriaca Hustedt that was originally described from a soda pan in the region. The results clearly demonstrated an overlap between the Apaj population and the type material of N. austriaca (based on NMDS analysis), therefore we argue that they represent the same taxon. An emended diagnosis of N. austriaca is given. Total suspended solids and total phosphorous proved to be the most important factors predicting the occurrence of the species, with possible interactive effects of conductivity and pH. We then expanded the distribution of the species by revisiting data originating from previous large-scale surveys targeting sodic habitats in Hungary. On the basis of our results, N. austriaca is a characteristic species for Central European soda waters, including the protected astatic soda pans, indicating their typical chemical and physical characteristics.</jats:p

Interesting diatoms from a special habitat

The epiphytic diatoms of the soda ponds of bomb craters were sampled in 2014. The small ponds (area: 7.1-86.5 m2, depth: 4 to 60 cm) are located in the northern part of the Kiskunság National Park (47°7.403 'N, 19°8.187'E), near the village of Apaj in Hungary. Their salinity ranges from fresh water to moderately saline levels (conductivity of 1.3 to 7.1 mS cm-1). This area has patchy surface salinization, because the flow pattern of groundwater results extensive surface salinization in those discharge areas where the infiltrating freshwater does not superimpose the upwelling saline water. The salts origin from the overpressured NaCl-type water of the Pre-Neogene basement and the NaHCO3-type water of the Neogene sediments. The ponds can be characterized by different areal extent, depth and salinity, various conductivity, hydroperiod (1–9 months, the deepest ones do not dry out in years with high amount of precipitation due to probably more or less continuous supply by groundwater), plant coverage and width of macrophyte belt. All of the ponds were sampled except for the ones with very short (shorter than one month) hydroperiod. A total of 80 diatom taxa, representing 33 genera, were identified in these ponds. The genus Nitzschia was represented by the largest number of species (16), followed by the genus Gomphonema with 9 taxa. IndVal analysis identified 15 species with significant indicator values for ponds. Some interesting, rare or new diatoms for Hungarian flora have also been recorded, including Gomphonema jadwigiae, Halamphora dominici, Navicula wiesneri, Nitzschia austriaca, N. vitrea, Surirella peisonis

Arsenic uptake in tomato and potato plants grown in silt and sand soil and irrigated with water containing arsenic

Arsenic uptake by tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants was studied by cultivating the plants in silt and sand soil and irrigating them with water containing arsenic at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.2 mg As L

Application of (V)UV/O3 technology for post-treatment of biologically treated wastewater: A pilot-scale study

For the first time, high energy VUV photons and generation of O3 by (V)UV lamps were applied together for removal of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from biologically treated wastewater (BTWW) in pilot-scale. The core of the pilot container unit was a photoreactor assembly consisting of six photoreactors, each containing a low-pressure Hg lamp (UV dose of 1.2 J/cm2 and 6.6 J/cm2 at 185 nm and 254 nm, respectively). BTWW was irradiated (4.75 min residence time) by (V)UV light in presence of in situ photochemically generated O3 from coolant air of the lamps. Experiments were conducted at the site of two wastewater treatment plants. Out of seven target APIs (namely carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, diclofenac, metoprolol, sitagliptin, and sulfamethoxazole), 80–100% removal was accomplished for five and 40–80% for two compounds. Two degradation products of carbamazepine were detected. Degradation products of other target compounds were not found. The applied O3 dose was 30–45 μg O3/mg dissolved organic carbon. Inactivation of up to log-4.8, log-4.5 and log-3.8 could be achieved for total coliform, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively. SOS Chromotest indicated no genotoxicity nor acute toxicity. Generation of neither NH4+, NO2− nor NO3− was observed during post-treatment. Electric energy per order values were calculated for the first time for (V)UV/O3 treatment in BTWW with a median value of 1.5 kWh/m3. This technology can be proposed for post-treatment of BTWWs of small settlements or livestock farms to degrade micropollutants before water discharge or for production of irrigation water. Further studies are essential in pilot-scale for other applications