Cd phytoavailability in sewage sludge-amended soil of different pH estimated by an isotopic method and chemical extraction

The Cd phytoavailability in sewage sludge-amended soils of different pHs using the 109Cd L-value isotopic method and Cd extracted by DTPA has been determined. Maize plants (Zea mais L.) were grown under greenhouse conditions in a xanthic ferralsol at different pHs amended with five sewage sludge (SS) rates, and labeled with 74 kBq kg-1 of 109Cd. The SS rates altered the properties of the soil chemicals and these influenced the isotopic parameter (L-value) and percent of Cd uptake by plants from soil (%Cdpdfs) and SS (%CdpdfSS). L-values and Cd extracted by DTPA correlate significantly with SS rates and Cd uptake by plants and are efficient for predicting the Cd phytoavailability in the sewage sludge-amended soil.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

X-ray fluorescence technique applied to archaeological sample

The main objective of this study was the chemical determination of elements present in the sample (archaeological fragments), used the X-ray fluorescence techniques. Three analytical techniques were used: (i) conventional energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), (ii) X-ray microfluorescence (μ-XRF) and (iii) scanning electronic microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (SEM/ EDS). Starting from the chemical concentrations of the present elements in the samples of archaeological fragments, a clusters analysis was performed and with that a study of the identification of the ceramics origin.Com o intuito de se determinar a composição química elementar de amostras arqueológicas e de cerâmicas fabricadas, o presente trabalho utilizou as técnicas de fluorescência de raios X. Foram usadas três técnicas analíticas: (i) fluorescência de raios X dispersiva em energia (EDXRF) convencional, (ii) microfluorescência de raios X (μ-XRF) com fonte de luz Síncrotron e (iii) microscopia eletrônica de varredura acoplada com fluorescência de raios X dispersiva (SEM/EDS). A partir das concentrações químicas dos elementos presentes nas amostras de fragmentos arqueológicos, foi realizada uma análise de agrupamento e com isso um estudo de identificação de procedência das cerâmicas arqueológicas

Chemical changes and zinc phytoavailability in sewage sludge-amended soil estimated by the isotopic method

Zn availability in Red Latossol (Rhodic Ferralsol) of different pH amended with different rates of sewage sludge was studied by the isotopic 65Zn L value method. Soil chemical properties were found to be altered by SS addition. Zn concentration and Zn derived from SS (ZnpfSS) in plant, and Zn phytoavailability (L value), were increased with increasing SS rates. The linear correlation coefficient of plant Zn with SS rates and with L value was significant at 1% probability. The L value proved an efficient method for predicting Zn phytoavailability in sewage sludge-amended soil with different pH under the soil conditions studied

Paper-based diffusive gradients in thin films technique coupled to energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for the determination of labile Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb in river water

The diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique has shown enormous potential for labile metal monitoring in fresh water due to the preconcentration, time-integrated, matrix interference removal and speciation analytical features. In this work, the coupling of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) with paper-based DGT devices was evaluated for the direct determination of Mn, Co. Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb in fresh water. The DGT samplers were assembled with cellulose (Whatman 3 MM chromatography paper) as the diffusion layer and a cellulose phosphate ion exchange membrane (Whatman P 81 paper) as the binding agent. The diffusion coefficients of the analytes on 3 MM chromatography paper were calculated by deploying the DGT samplers in synthetic solutions containing 500 mu g L-1 of Mn. Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb (4 L at pH 5.5 and ionic strength at 0.05 mol L-1). After retrieval, the DGT units were disassembled and the P81 papers were dried and analysed by EDXRF directly. The 3 MM chromatographic paper diffusion coefficients of the analytes ranged from 1.67 to 1.87 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1). The metal retention and phosphate group homogeneities on the P81 membrane was studied by a spot analysis with a diameter of 1 mm. The proposed approach (DGT-EDXRF coupling) was applied to determine the analytes at five sampling sites (48 h in situ deployment) on the Piracicaba river basin, and the results (labile fraction) were compared with 0.45 mu m dissolved fractions determined by synchrotron radiation-excited total reflection X-ray fluorescence (SR-TXRF). The limits of detection of DGT-EDXRF coupling for the analytes (from 7.5 to 26 mu g L-1) were similar to those obtained by the sensitive SR-TXRF technique (3.8 to 9.1 mu g L-1). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Multielemental evaluation of garbage bags by EDXRF

Garbage bags have been broadly used for collecting household waste in Brazil and worldwide. Many of these bags are made from recycled polymers, and the presence of harmful elements is a matter of concern. In this study, an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) approach for direct analysis of garbage bags is proposed. The concentrations of K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb were determined in 14 garbage bags of different brands purchased from local markets in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The EDXRF technique proved to be an effective technique for multielemental, environmentally friendly and direct garbage bag monitoring. For most samples, Ca and Ti presented at minor concentration ranges and K, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb at minor and trace levels. The EDXRF limits of quantification were K: 220; Ca: 112; Ti: 42; Cr: 19; Mn: 13; Fe: 9.2; Ni: 5.7; Cu: 5.3; Zn: 5.2; Br: 12; Rb: 20; Sr: 28 and Pb:17 mu gg(-)(1). The samples had variable thicknesses, with a superficial density variation of 1.5 to 23% among the triplicates. The trueness of the method was checked by analysing the National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference material SRM2783.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Aplicação de fósforo para imobilização química do cádmio em solo contaminado Phosphorus application for the chemical immobilization of cadmium in contaminated soil

<abstract language="eng">The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of phosphorus on the Cd availability to plants of a contaminated soil using 109Cd isotope and chemical extractants. The experiment was set in a randomized block design and the soil was labeled with 222 KBq of 109Cd per pot and received 5 rates of P as triple superphosphate, growing lettuce plants as test crop. The use of phosphorus reduced pH of soil which altered the Cd availability in DTPA and Mehlich extractants. The lettuce Cd content decreased but its accumulation and L value increased in all treatments compared to the control, demonstrating the inefficiency of phosphorus in reducing the Cd availability