Tetsuyuki Taniai

On-line preconcentration of phosphate onto molybdate form anion exchange column

In this paper, we describe an automated flow injection system for measuring the concentration of phosphate based on a fluorescence quenching reaction between Rhoadamine 6G and phosphomolybdate with a preconcentration column, which was packed with a molybdate-form ion exchange resin to collect and preconcentrate the phosphate in the sample solution. Rhodamine 6G was chosen because the reaction with phosphomolybdate was fast and did not require heat. For the construction of a stable flow injection system, an aqueous methanol solution was used as the cleaning reagent to overcome the precipitation of ion-associated complexes between Rhodamine 6G and phosphomolybdate or Rhodamine 6G and molybdate. For the preconcentration and collection of the phosphate ions in a water sample, a preconcentration column, which was packed with a molybdate-form ion exchange resin, was combined with the proposed flow injection system and applied to natural water samples containing low concentrations of phosphate.

Elution behaviour and environmental impact of heavy metals and rare-earth elements from volcanic ashes of Mt. Oyama, Miyake Island

To obtain information on the environmental impact of materials eluted from volcanic ashes of Mt. Oyama, Miyake Island, which erupted in July 2000, the dissolution behaviours of heavy metals and rare-earth elements from the volcanic ashes were examined. The most important characteristic of the Mt. Oyama eruption is that sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas has been continuously released, and all persons living on Miyake Island have been required to evacuate. To estimate in terms of the volcanic eruption using SO2 gas, the ash nature in Mt. Usu, Hokkaido, was also examined and compared with that in Mt. Oyama. When rain water mixed the ashes, the water from the ashes of Mt. Oyama became acidic because of the sulphuric acid. Therefore, SO2 gas in Mt. Oyama can accelerate the dissolution of protons and heavy metals in the ashes, whereas the rain water in Mt. Usu was not acidic and the dissolution of the heavy metals was not so evident compared with that in the case of Mt. Oyama. With this sulphuric acid, heavy metals such as As, Cd, Pb and Hg in the ashes in Mt. Oyama easily dissolved owing to the low pH. The ashes in Mt. Oyama had been released for eight years and the amount of fallen ashes was estimated to be 33 billion tons. The weights of the harmful heavy metals in the volcanic ashes, such as As, Cd, Pb and Hg, were estimated to be 3.8 × 102, 1.3 × 103, 1.1 × 103 and 29 kg, respectively, and these heavy metals were dissolved and diluted in seawater. Therefore, the concentration and species (chemical form) of these metals should be carefully monitored in the future. Moreover, SO2 gas, which has a direct effect on human health and has been monitored continuously, causes other effects, such as facilitation of metal ion elution and rock aeration.

Practical Environmental Education and Local Contribution in the Environmental Science Laboratory Circle in the College of Science and Technology in Nihon University

In this paper, we presented a method and knowledge about a practical and project management education and local contribution obtained through the student activities of “Environmental science laboratory circle in the College of Science and technology in Nihon University” from 1991 to 2001. In this circle, four major projects were acted such as research, protection, clean up and enlightenment projects. Due to some problems from inside or outside of this circle, this circle projects have been stopped. The diffusion and popularization of the internet technology will help to resolve some of these problems.