M. Hajnos

Water stability of aggregates in subtropical and tropical soils (Georgia and China) and its relationships with the mineralogy and chemical properties

Water-stable aggregates isolated from three subtropical and one tropical soil (Western Georgia and China) were studied for their organic carbon, cation exchange capacity (CEC), specific surface area, magnetic susceptibility, and total chemical elements. The soils were also studied for their particle-size distribution, mineralogy, and nonsilicate Fe and Al oxides. Describe the water stability, three indices have been used: the content of water-stable macroaggregates (>0.25 mm), the mean weighted diameter of the aggregates, and the numerical aggregation index. The yellow-cinnamonic soil (China) was neutral, and the three other soils were acid. The soils were degraded with a low content of organic matter. The yellow-cinnamonic soil was characterized by the lowest water stability due to the predominantly vermiculite composition of the clay. The high water stability of the Oxisol structure was determined by the kaolinites and high content of oxides. In three out of the four soils studied, the hierarchical levels of the soil structure organization were defined; they were identified by the content of organic matter and the Ca + Mg (in Oxisols). Iron oxides mainly participated in the formation of micro-aggregates; Al and Mn contributed to the formation of macroaggregates. The water-stable aggregates acted as sorption geochemical barriers and accumulated Pb, Zn, Cd, Cs, and other trace elements up to concentrations exceeding their levels in the soil by 5 times and more. The highest correlations were obtained with CEC, Mn, and P rather than with organic carbon and Fe.

Physicochemical properties of silica gel coated with a thin layer of polyaniline (PANI) and its application in non-suppressed ion chromatography

Physicochemical properties of a new sorbent and its potential application in non-suppressed ion chromatography (IC) have been investigated. The sorbent was obtained in a process of covering silica gel particles with a film of polyaniline (PANI). The properties of silica modified with polyaniline such as particle size, porosity, average quantity of polyaniline covering carrier and density of sorbent were determined. In our study the following methods were used: microscopic analysis, laser diffraction technique, combustion analysis, mercury porosimetry and helium pycnometry. Column with the newly obtained packing was used for the separation of inorganic anions. Optimized chromatographic system was successfully employed for analysis of iodide and bromide in selected pharmaceutical products (Bochnia salt and Iwonicz salt) applied in chronic respiratory disease. Analysis was carried out using 0.1M solution of HCl in mixture of methanol/water (50:50v/v) as a mobile phase; the flow rate was 0.3 mL min(-1), temperature was 24°C and λ=210 nm. Validation parameters such as correlation coefficient, RSD values, recovery, detection and quantification limits were found to be satisfactory.

Comparison of fractal dimensions of soils estimated from adsorption isotherms, mercury intrusion, and particle size distribution

The values of the surface fractal dimensions were determined for several samples of Cambisols and Luvisols from analysis of nitrogen and water vapor adsorption isotherms and from mercury intrusion data. Moreover, the values of fractal dimension characterizing the particle size distributions of soil samples were calculated by using a number-based method. For almost all investigated soils the values of the surface fractal dimension, obtained from water vapor isotherms were lower than those obtained from nitrogen isotherms. Largest were the surface fractal dimensions evaluated form mercury intrusion data. No significant correlations between different kinds of surface fractal dimensions were found, and the reasons of this finding are discussed. However, the values of the surface fractal dimensions calculated from mercury intrusion data correlate with those characterizing the texture of soils. The paper also reports on correlations between of the values of surface area, fractal dimensions and some selected physico-chemical characteristics of soils. Vergleich der fraktalen Dimensionen von Boden auf Basis von Adsorptionsisothermen, Quecksilberporosimetrie und der Korngrosenverteilung An verschiedenen Proben von Braunerden aus Geschiebelehm und Sand wurden die fraktalen Oberflacheneigenschaften mittels Stickstoff- und Wasserdampfadsorption sowie Quecksilberporosimetrie bestimmt. Auserdem wurden charakteristische Werte fur die fraktalen Eigenschaften mit numerischen Methoden aus Texturanalysen abgeleitet. Es wurde nachgewiesen, dass fur fast alle untersuchten Boden die aus Wasserdampf-Adsorptionsisothermen abgeleiteten fraktalen Oberflachendimensionen niedriger sind als die Werte, die aus Stickstoff-Adsorptionsisothermen abgeleitet wurden. Die fraktalen Dimensionen, die auf Grund der porosimetrischen Daten berechnet wurden, waren am hochsten. Es wurde keine Korrelation zwischen verschiedenen Arten der fraktalen Oberflachendimensionen gefunden, und die Grunde dafur werden diskutiert. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden auserdem Untersuchungsergebnisse uber die vorkommende Korrelation zwischen den Werten der Oberflache und der fraktalen Dimension und ausgewahlten physiko-chemischen Bodencharakteristiken besprochen.

Extruded corn gruels containing linden flowers: quantitation of phenolic compounds and selected quality characteristics

Abstract Extrusion-cooking of plant materials may enhance antioxidant activity and improve health benefits. Selected antioxidant polyphenols in extruded corn gruels enriched with different amounts of linden flowers were determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS and quality characteristics were determined. Phenolic content increased with Tiliae inflorescentia addition and was not decreased by high-temperature extrusion. Linden flower incorporation into instant gruels should be limited to 10% to retain acceptable sensory properties. Graphical Abstract

Reactions of sewage farm soils to different irrigation solutions in a column experiment. 1. Solid phase physicochemical properties

Physicochemical properties of two sandy soils taken from a present and from a former sewage farm were studied during a 2.5 years column experiment, m which lime and irrigation water of various compositions were applied The amount of exchangeable bases and base saturation percentage in both soils changed markedly during the experiment. These changes were governed by changes in soil pH The specific surface area as well as the cation exchange capacity were closely related to the organic carbon content in the soil profile The surface charge density of both soils was roughly equal and independent of the soil depth

Reaction of sewage farm soils to different irrigation solutions in a column experiment 2. Heavy metals and their leaching

Heavy metal polluted soils from a recent and a former sewage farm were studied in a 2.5 years-column experiment under various irrigation regimes and/or liming treatment. The copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the soil and the leaching of these elements were studied. The amounts of the metals leached differed markedly between both soils, however, the effect of various irrigation treatments was less pronounced. The heavy metal content in the soil solid phase depended on the organic carbon content, however these dependencies differed for both soils as well as for particular metals. In lower soil horizons, the amount of heavy metals bound by unit mass of organic carbon was constant. It was assumed that the same amount of the heavy metals can be bound by the unit mass of the DOC. Under this assumption the amount of the DOC in the former sewage farm soil was in general too small to carry all heavy metals leached. Therefore leaching of their cationic forms has been postulated. The amount of the DOC in the present sewage farm soil could carry more heavy metals than these being leached. Therefore, an undersaturation of the DOC in heavy metals could occur in this soil. Reaktion der Boden von Rieselfeldern auf verschiedene Beregnungslosungen in einem Saulenexperiment 2. Schwermetallaustrag In einem 2.5-jahrigen Saulenexperiment wurden die physikochemischen Eigenschaften von zwei Sandboden, eines derzeit zur Verrieselung genutzten sowie eines ehemaligen Rieselfeldes, untersucht. Es wurde die Auswirkung verschiedener Beregnungslosungen und einer Kalkung auf die Kupfer-, Zink-, Blei- und Cadmiumgehalte an der Festphase und im Saulenperkolat untersucht. Die Schwermetall-Festphasengehalte weisen alle eine Abhangigkeit zum Humusgehalt auf, sie zeigen jedoch element- und standortspezifische Unterschiede. Die Menge der mit dem Perkolat ausgewaschenen Metalle weist deutliche Unterschiede zwischen beiden Boden auf. Die verschiedenen Varianten zeigen dagegen geringere Unterschiede. Da der an die organische Substanz gebundene Anteil Schwermetalle unabhangig von der Tiefe war, wurde angenommen, dass das Gleiche fur den DOC gilt. Folgt man dieser Hypothese, ist die mit dem Perkolat ausgetragene DOC-Menge zu gering um alleine den Schwermetallaustrag zu erklaren. Es mussen also Metalle in ionischer Form verlagert worden sein. Es wurde keine vollstandige Schwermetallbeladung des DOC beobachtet.

Modification of Lightweight Aggregates’ Microstructure by Used Motor Oil Addition

An admixture of lightweight aggregate substrates (beidellitic clay containing 10 wt % of natural clinoptilolite or Na-P1 zeolite) with used motor oil (1 wt %–8 wt %) caused marked changes in the aggregates’ microstructure, measured by a combination of mercury porosimetry (MIP), microtomography (MT), and scanning electron microscopy. Maximum porosity was produced at low (1%–2%) oil concentrations and it dropped at higher concentrations, opposite to the aggregates’ bulk density. Average pore radii, measured by MIP, decreased with an increasing oil concentration, whereas larger (MT) pore sizes tended to increase. Fractal dimension, derived from MIP data, changed similarly to the MIP pore radius, while that derived from MT remained unaltered. Solid phase density, measured by helium pycnometry, initially dropped slightly and then increased with the amount of oil added, which was most probably connected to changes in the formation of extremely small closed pores that were not available for He atoms.

Do Ca2+-adsorbing ceramics reduce the release of calcium ions from gypsum-based biomaterials?

Bone implantable materials based on calcium sulfate dihydrate dissolve quickly in tissue liquids and release calcium ions at very high levels. This phenomenon induces temporary toxicity for osteoblasts, may cause local inflammation and delay the healing process. Reduction in the calcium ion release rate by gypsum could be therefore beneficial for the healing of gypsum-filled bone defects. The aim of this study concerned the potential use of calcium phosphate ceramics of various porosities for the reduction of high Ca(2+) ion release from gypsum-based materials. Highly porous ceramics failed to reduce the level of Ca(2+) ions released to the medium in a continuous flow system. However, it succeeded to shorten the period of high calcium level. It was not the phase composition but the high porosity of ceramics that was found crucial for both the shortening of the Ca(2+) release-related toxicity period and intensification of apatite deposition on the composite. Nonporous ceramics was completely ineffective for this purpose and did not show any ability to absorb calcium ions at a significant level. Moreover, according to our observations, complex studies imitating in vivo systems, rather than standard tests, are essential for the proper evaluation of implantable biomaterials.

Transformation of the structural organization of clay sediments and soils under the impact of polyelectrolytes

The effects of polyacrylic acid (PAAc) and polyacrylamide (PAA) adsorption by quartz sand, montmorillonite, kaolinite, gray forest soil, and chernozem on the texture of the sorbents were studied. It was shown that the polymolecular adsorption was typical of the applied polyelectrolytes. The addition of PAA in a concentration of 0.05% to the solution resulted in consolidation of the sediments with a decrease in their volume. In the case of montmorillonite, a loose gel precipitate formed; its volume decreased by about 6% during the experiment. The adsorption of polyelectrolytes slightly affected the average radii, total surface area, and volume of the pore space (within 4–20%). The transformation of the surface of minerals and soils under the action of polyelectrolytes resulted in a significant change in the differential pore volume. The number of pores of about 0.0014 μm in size hardly changed at all. However, wider pores (0.011–0.45 μm) appeared. The adsorption of PAAc resulted in the appearance of wide pores (1.6–22.0 μm), and the adsorption of PAA resulted in the appearance of two narrow classes of micropores. A much more even distribution of differential porosity in the range of 3.6–4.5 μm was revealed. Thus, the transformation of the surface of adsorbents by polyelectrolytes led to changes in the pore-size distribution.

Modifications of the mineralogical composition and surface properties of soils as related to steppe climate dynamics in historical time

This work presents the results of a study of changes in the soil mineral components and the related modifications of the chemical composition and surface properties of soils in the desert-steppe zone in the southern part of the Ergeni Upland. Burial mounds dating back to the Bronze epoch have been investigated. According to radiocarbon data, their ages are estimated at 5100 ± 50, 4410 ± 100, 4260 ± 120, 4120 ± 70, and 3960 ± 40 years. The substantial transformation of the clay minerals, the molar chemical coefficients, the magnetic mineralogy, and the surface properties of the soils permits us to assess the rates of the mineralogical transformations caused by the climate change during the time interval of less than <∼100 years. The ratio between the content of the mineral phases in the buried soils of different ages testifies to the primary importance of climatic factor in comparison with the total duration of weathering or the soil existence on the land surface prior to its burial, i.e., the soil age.