No description available.

The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the impact of microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on sediment stability and the related factors which influence “biogenic stabilisation” as a basis to the prediction of sediment erosion and transport. The ability to make direct and sensitive measurements of the physical properties of the biofilm is a critical demand to further understanding of the overall biostabilisation processes. Therefore, attention has been focused on developing a new technique, Magnetic Particle Induction (MagPI) for measuring the adhesive properties of the biofilm. MagPI determines the relative adhesive properties or “stickiness” of the test surface, whether a biofilm, a sediment or other submerged material. The technique may have future applications in physical, environmental and biomedical research. Newly developed Magnetic Particle Induction(MagPI) and traditional techniques Cohesive Strength Meter (CSM) for the determination of the adhesion/cohesion of the substratum were used to assess the biostabilisation capacity of aquatic microorganisms. Whilst these devices determine slightly different surface properties of the bed, they were found to complement each other, increasing the range of measurements that could be made and presented a strong correlation in the overlapping portion of the data. It is recognized that microorganisms inhabiting natural sediments significantly mediate the erosive response of the bed (“ecosystem engineers”) through the secretion of naturally adhesive organic material (EPS: extracellular polymeric substances). Interactions between main biofilm consortia microalgae, cyanobacteria and bacteria in terms of their individual contribution to the EPS pool and their relative functional contribution to substratum stabilisation were investigated. The overall stabilisation potential of the various assemblages was impressive, as compared to controls. The substratum stabilisation by estuarine microbial assemblages was due to the secreted EPS matrix, and both EPS quality (carbohydrates and proteins) and quantity (concentration) were important in determining stabilisation. Stabilisation was significantly higher for the bacterial assemblages than for axenic microalgal assemblages. The peak of engineering effect was significantly greater in the mixed assemblage as compared to the bacterial and axenic diatom culture. This work confirmed the important role of heterotrophic bacteria in “biostabilisation” and highlighted the interactions between autotrophic and heterotrophic biofilm components of the consortia. An additional approach, to investigate the impact of toxins on biostabilisation capacity of aquatic organism was performed on cultured bacterial and natural freshwater biofilm. The data suggest a different mode of triclosan (TCS) action ranging from suppressing metabolisms to bactericidal effects depending on the TCS concentration. The inhibitory effect of triclosanon bacterial and freshwater biofilms was confirmed. This information contributes to the conceptual understanding of the microbial sediment engineering that represents an important ecosystem function and service in aquatic habitats.

Investigating linkages between the compositions of suspended (seston) and benthic particulate matter is important to the understanding of organic matter (OM) cycling and nutrient retention in aquatic systems. We compared the quantity and quality of the truly suspended (TS) and settleable (SB) fractions of seston as well as benthic particulate matter in the tidal freshwater James River, Virginia. The mass of seston and OM was consistently higher in the TS fraction compared to the SB fraction. OM was preferentially retained in the TS fraction relative to seston. The proportional contribution of OM constituents (chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen) to the two fractions was consistent across observed concentrations whereas increases in seston concentration resulted in decreased proportions in the TS fraction. Benthic constituent reservoirs were large relative to the SB fraction but the higher proportion of OM in the SB fraction suggests that the settleable material was more labile.

Le cycle biogéochimique des métaux traces a été fortement accéléré par les activités anthropiques qui ont entraîné une contamination des eaux et des sédiments des rivières. A la suite de leurs émissions, la majorité des métaux traces se trouvent sous forme particulaire qui se transportent par ruissellement et se retrouvent en milieu fluvial où elles sédimentent et dont une partie est susceptible d'être solubilisée vers la colonne d'eau suite aux modifications des conditions physico-chimiques du milieu et sous l'action des microorganismes autochtones et pouvant après interagir avec la chaîne alimentaire et présenter un danger potentiel de toxicité pour l'homme et pour les autres organismes vivants. Dans cette étude, nous avons choisit de travailler sur le site de la rivière Al-Ghadir qui présente un cas exceptionnel et original des pollutions où la hauteur de sédiments, comprenant plusieurs types de polluants, est plus qu'un mètre. L'objectif de cette thèse était de comprendre et d'évaluer le rôle du compartiment microbien dans les sédiments de la rivière Al-Ghadir, qui est la source la plus polluante de la méditerranéen, sur la mobilité des métaux et leurs effets sur les eaux souterraines. Cette étude était réalisée en deux séries d'expériences (Batch et colonne du sol) semblables aux situations se trouvant dans la rivière. Une caractérisation physico-chimique et chimique des sites d'étude a été effectuée comme première étape afin ensuite de débuter l'approche expérimentale qui a permis d'isoler les processus physico-chimiques de ceux qui sont imputables à l'activité microbiologique. Dans les expériences menées en réacteurs fermés (batchs), nous avons montré que les activités microbiennes sont corrélées aux fortes dissolutions des métaux, en particulier du Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu et Zn. Le fer semble apparaître comme l'élément le plus solubilisé et sa solubilisation était corrélée à celle d'autres métaux traces laissant supposer que ces métaux sont associés aux oxydes de fer. Cette hypothèse a été confirmée par les extractions séquentielles indiquant la présence de bactéries ferri-réductrices qui, lors de la fermentation du glucose et la production d'acides organiques, ont réduit les oxydes de fer. Ces derniers ont entraîné la dissolution des métaux traces et une modification des populations bactériennes qui ont été détectés par l'étude microbiologique et génétique après cinq jours d'incubation. L'effet des bactéries sur la mobilisation des métaux a été ensuite étudié selon des expériences portant sur l'étude hydrodynamique du transfert des métaux en colonnes de sédiments et dans des conditions proches à celles du terrain. Nous avons montré que (i): les métaux étudiés ne sont pas lixiviés dans les mêmes ordres et en règle générale montrent l'ordre suivant (en μg/l): Fe>Mn>Cd>Zn>Cu>Pb≥Cr ; (ii) les métaux vont se reprécipiter sur les phases néoformées après que le système regagne l'équilibre. Les études du profil de distribution des métaux dans les colonnes ont mis en évidence que les métaux ont été lixiviés des sédiments durant l'incubation de façon homogène. Cette répartition dépend de la hauteur du sédiment: la ré-distribution est maximale à la surface des sédiments (0-10 cm), alors qu'à une profondeur située entre 10 et 25 cm elle est nulle. Ce phénomène est expliqué par le fait que les métaux après avoir été solubilisés et passés en solution, ils seraient réadsorbés sur les phases électrochimiques négatives, néoformées et colloïdales ce qui explique la diminution de la concentration des métaux dans le lixiviat obtenu en laboratoire et permet de penser que ce mécanisme de piégeage des métaux dans la colonne limite la migration de ces derniers vers les eaux souterraines, tant que la capacité d'adsorption des colloïdes présents n'est pas atteinte et que le système soit en équilibre / The biogeochemical cycle of trace metals was greatly accelerated by human activities that have led to the contamination of water and river sediments. Following their emissions, the majority of trace metals exist in particulate form which can be transported by runoff and end up in rivers where they settle and where a portion can be dissolved into the water column in response to changes in the physico-chemical conditions of the site and under the action of indigenous microorganisms which later can interact with the food chain and pose a potential danger of toxicity to humans and other living organisms. In this study, we have chosen to work on Al-Ghadir River which represents an exceptional and an original case of pollution where the height of sediments, including several types of pollutants, is more than one meter. The aim of this work was to understand and to evaluate the role of the microbial compartment in the sediments of the Al-Ghadir River, which is the most polluting source to the Mediterranean, on the mobility of metals and their effects on underground water. This study was realized in two series of experiments (batch and soil column) with situations similar to those found in the river. A physico-chemical and chemical characterization of the studied sites was conducted as a first step to begin, after that, with the experimental approach which was used to isolate the physico-chemical processes from those which are attributable to microbiological activity. In the experiments conducted in closed reactors (batch), results obtained showed that the microbial activities are correlated with the strong dissolution of metals, especially for Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu and Zn. Iron appeared the most solubilized element and its solubilisation was correlated with the other trace metals suggesting that these metals are associated to iron oxides. This hypothesis was confirmed by sequential extraction procedure indicating the presence of iron-reducing bacteria, which, during the fermentation of glucose and the production of organic acids, reduced iron oxides. These later have led to the dissolution of trace metals and to a change in the bacterial populations which were detected after five days of incubation by the microbiological and the genetic studies. The effect of the bacteria on the mobilization of metals in sediments was then studied in hydrodynamic columns, under conditions similar to those in the field. Results obtained showed that: (i) Studied metals are not leached in the same order and showed the following order (in μg/l): Fe > Mn > Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb ≥ Cr; (ii) Metals will reprecipitate on the neoformed phases after the system returns to equilibrium. Studies of the distribution profile of metals in columns showed that metals were leached homogenously from the sediments during incubation. This distribution was shown to depend on the height of the sediment where the re-distribution was shown at its maximum at the surface of the column sediments (0-10 cm) and became null at a depth between 10 and 25 cm. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the metals after being dissolved and passed into solution, were then readsorbed to the negative electrochemical, neoformed and colloidal sediment phases which explains the decrease in the concentration of metals in the leachate obtained in the laboratory and suggests that the mechanism of trapping of metals in the column limits the migration of these later to underground water, as the adsorption capacity of present colloïds is not reached and the system is at equilibrium

Experimentos em mesocosmos, por se tratarem de estudos in-situ, possibilitam extrapolar para o campo, investigações realizadas em menor escala, com maior seguridade. Em fevereiro de 2002, foram instalados às margens da represa do Lobo (22º15\'S e 47º49\'W) nove mesocosmos, construídos com plástico (PVC) em forma de hexágono com 2 metros de altura, com fundo aberto em contato com o sedimento e volume variando entre 4,5 e 5,1 m3, em função da declividade do terreno. De acordo com a resolução 20/86 do Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente, as concentrações máximas permitidas para os metais cobre (0,02 mg/L) e cromo (0,5 mg/L) em corpos d\'água Classe 2 foram adicionadas aos mesocosmos, originando-se triplicatas, adotando-se outros três mesocosmos como controles. O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi verificar as possíveis alterações no ambiente sedimento, particularmente o enriquecimento e a indução de toxicidade, em função da adição dos metais mencionados. Para tanto, amostras foram coletadas através de dragas e testemunhos nos tempos 0 dia (antes da contaminação), 10 dias, 20 dias e 30 dias após a contaminação (final do experimento). Em seguida, as amostras foram preparadas e submetidas às análises físicas e químicas, caracterização da macrofauna bentônica e diversos ensaios toxicológicos. A partir dos dados gerados, efetuou-se o estudo integrativo da tríade de qualidade de sedimentos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram um discreto aumento na concentração total dos metais cobre e cromo nos sedimentos dos mesocosmos contaminados em comparação aos controles, sendo verificada diminuição na abundância de organismos bentônicos e efeitos tóxicos sobre os organismos-teste submetidos a estes sedimentos. As respostas da tríade foram essenciais para a caracterização da qualidade dos sedimentos dos mesocosmos controle em relação aos dos mesocosmos contaminados. / In-situ mesocosms experiments allow the extrapolation of laboratory data to the field with high reliability. In the present study, nine hexagonal PVC mesocosms with 2 m height and 4.5 to 5.1 m3 volume were installed in contact with the sediment near the Lobo reservoir dam (22º15\'S e 47º49\'W) in february of 2002. In accordance with the National Environmental Council (CONAMA) 20/86 resolution for Class 2 water bodies, the maximum allowed concentrations of copper (0,02 mg/L) and chromium (0,5 mg/L) were added to the mesocosms (triplicate), and three other ones were used as controls. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible changes in the sediment environment, particularly the enrichment and induction of toxicity, by the contamination of these metals. The sediment was sampled by means of Eckman-Birge and core samplers on the 0 (before the contamination), 10th, 20th and 30th days (end of the experiment). Afterwards, physical and chemical analyses, benthic macrofauna characterization and several toxicity assays were conducted with the samples. In order to better evaluate these results, the sediments quality triad was considered. A discrete increase in the total concentration of copper and chromium was observed in the sediments of the contaminated mesocosms when compared to the controls, as well as a reduction in the abundance of benthic organisms and toxic effects over the organisms tested with these sediments. The triad responses were essential for quality characterization of the control mesocosms sediments in comparison with the contaminated ones.

by Tse Sui-fai, Peter. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-169). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.ix / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.x / LIST OF PLATES --- p.xi / Chapter CHAPTER I --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Scope of the problem --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Occurrence of urban sediments in an urban setting --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Nature of urban sediments --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4 --- Importance of studying urban sediment --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Objectives of this research --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- Structure of this research --- p.10 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 2.1 --- Hydrological problems related to urbanisation --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Importance of the urban sediment on the environment --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Road surface sediments --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Gully pot or catchment sediments --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Sewer sediments --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Studies on the characteristics of urban sediments --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Particle size and volatile content --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Surface features identification by using the SEM --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Studies in sub-tropical humid areas --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4 --- Problems raised from the previous studies and directions --- p.29 / Chapter CHAPTER III --- STUDY AREA - FO TAN CATCHMENT / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Hong Kong --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2 --- Fo Tan Catchment --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Geology --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Landuse --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Road surface and traffic characteristics --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Stormwater drainage network --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- A unique hydrological year --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3 --- Conclusion --- p.59 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- METHODOLOGY / Chapter 4.1 --- Rationale for the research method --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Introduction --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Operationalisation of the concept --- p.62 / Chapter 4.1.2.1 --- Street surface sediments --- p.62 / Chapter 4.1.2.2 --- Gully pot sediments --- p.63 / Chapter 4.1.2.3 --- Sewer sediments --- p.63 / Chapter 4.1.2.4 --- Channel deposits --- p.64 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Study area---Fo Tan --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2 --- Empirical data and their collection --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sampling sites --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Sample collection --- p.65 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Street surface sediments --- p.66 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Gully pot sediments --- p.66 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Channel deposits --- p.67 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Sample treatment --- p.67 / Chapter 4.3 --- Analyses of samples --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Particle size distribution --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Dry sieving analysis --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Volatile solids --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Surface characteristics of sediment grains --- p.70 / Chapter 4.3.3.1 --- The use of scanning electron microscope (SEM) --- p.70 / Chapter 4.3.3.2 --- Preparation of samples --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Data analysis and presentation --- p.73 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.74 / Chapter CHAPTER V --- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN SEDIMENTS / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.75 / Chapter 5.2 --- Results --- p.76 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Composition of the street surface sediments --- p.76 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Street surface sediment loading --- p.79 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Loading rate with slope factor --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Street sediment loads in different landuse areas --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Particle size distribution of the sediments --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2.5.1 --- Particle sizing for different sites in the same environment --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2.5.2 --- Particle size distribution for different sampling dates --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2.5.3 --- Particle size distribution in different environments --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2.5.5 --- Phi study --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Bivariate scattergram analysis --- p.96 / Chapter 5.3 --- Discussion --- p.100 / Chapter CHAPTER VI --- VOLATILE SOLIDS ANALYSIS / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.105 / Chapter 6.2 --- Results --- p.108 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- The mean volatile solids in different environments --- p.108 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- The relationship between phi median and volatile solids content --- p.109 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Particle size distribution on the volatile solids content --- p.110 / Chapter 6.3 --- Discussion --- p.111 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Effects of road surface characteristics --- p.111 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Effects of traffic flow --- p.112 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Effects of landuse pattern --- p.114 / Chapter 6.4 --- Particle size and volatile solids: a synthesis --- p.114 / Chapter 6.5 --- Conclusion --- p.119 / Chapter CHAPTER VII --- SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.120 / Chapter 7.2 --- Results --- p.125 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Quantitative analysis of the surface features on grains from different depositional environments --- p.125 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Description of the texture of the samples --- p.130 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Texture interpretation --- p.142 / Chapter 7.3 --- Discussions --- p.143 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Surface texture description and its relationship to landuse pattern --- p.143 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Sediment transport in an urban setting: a synthesis --- p.146 / Chapter CHAPTER VIII --- CONCLUSION / Chapter 8.1 --- Findings of this research --- p.152 / Chapter 8.2 --- Future directions --- p.157 / Chapter 8.2.1 --- Equipment used in reducing urban sediments --- p.157 / Chapter 8.2.2 --- Sweeping practices of the street surface --- p.158 / Chapter 8.2.3 --- The use of SEM in urban sediments --- p.159 / Chapter 8.3 --- Conclusions --- p.160 / REFERENCES --- p.161 / APPENDICES --- p.170

by Kwok Yuk Chun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-124). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Kwok Yuk Chun. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Contents --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xiii / List of Plates --- p.xiv / List of Appendices --- p.xv / Chapter 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Hong Kong --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Sediment --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Pore water --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Phase 1: Toxicity characterization --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Phase 2: Toxicity identification --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Phase 3: Toxicity confirmation --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5 --- Bioassay --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6 --- Microtox® test --- p.16 / Chapter 2. --- OBJECTIVES --- p.18 / Chapter 3. --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.19 / Chapter 3.1 --- Source of sediment samples --- p.19 / Chapter 3.2 --- Preparation of pore water --- p.19 / Chapter 3.3 --- Phase 1 Toxicity characterization: Baseline toxicity test --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Microtox® test --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Phase 1 Toxicity characterization --- p.26 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- pH adjustment test --- p.27 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- pH adjustment filtration test --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- pH adjustment aeration test --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- pH adjustment C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) test --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Cation exchange test --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- Anion exchange test --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4 --- Phase 2 Toxicity identification --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Determination of metal ions by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-ES) --- p.35 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Determination of anions by ion chromatography (IC) --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Determination of organic compounds by a total organic carbon (TOC) --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Determination of organic compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Determination of organic compounds by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) --- p.38 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Determination of sulphide by colorimetric method --- p.41 / Chapter 3.5 --- Phase 3 Toxicity confirmation --- p.41 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Mass balance test --- p.44 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Spiking test --- p.44 / Chapter 4. --- RESULTS --- p.45 / Chapter 4.1 --- General characteristics of the sediment collected in Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2 --- General characteristics of the pore water after the centrifugation of sediment --- p.45 / Chapter 4.3 --- Phase 1-Toxicity characterization: Baseline toxicity test --- p.45 / Chapter 4.4 --- Phase 1-Toxicity characterization --- p.48 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S1 --- p.48 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S2 --- p.50 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S3 --- p.50 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S4 --- p.52 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S5 --- p.55 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S6 --- p.57 / Chapter 4.4.7 --- Summary of the Phase 1 manipulations on the Microtox® test --- p.59 / Chapter 4.5 --- Phase 2-Toxicity identification --- p.59 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Summary of the Phase 2 toxicity identification --- p.70 / Chapter 4.6 --- Phase 3-Toxicity confirmation --- p.70 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Result of Phase 3 for Sample S3 --- p.70 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Result of Phase 3 for Sample S4 --- p.73 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Result of Phase 3 for Sample S5 --- p.76 / Chapter 4.6.4 --- Result of Phase 3 for Sample S6 --- p.79 / Chapter 4.6.5 --- Summary of the Phase 3 toxicity confirmation --- p.79 / Chapter 5. --- DISCUSSION --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1 --- Phase 1 Toxicity characterization: Baseline toxicity test --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Baseline toxicity of whole pore water samples on the Microtox® test --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2 --- Phase 1-Toxicity characterization: Manipulations --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Effect of manipulations on the Microtox® test --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- pH adjustment test --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- pH adjustment filtration test --- p.84 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- pH adjustment aeration test --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Cation exchange test --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Anion exchange test --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2.7 --- pH adjustment C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) test --- p.86 / Chapter 5.3 --- Phase 2-Toxicity identification --- p.87 / Chapter 5.4 --- Phase 3-Toxicity confirmation --- p.88 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Mass balance on the Microtox® test --- p.89 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Spiking test on the Microtox® test --- p.90 / Chapter 5.5 --- Explanation of S as the major toxicant in Phase 1，Phase 2 and Phase3 --- p.90 / Chapter 5.6 --- Characteristics of Sulphide (S2-) --- p.91 / Chapter 5.6.1 --- Sources of S2- --- p.91 / Chapter 5.6.2 --- Harmful effect of S “ and its toxicity --- p.93 / Chapter 5.6.3 --- Sulphide determination by colorimetric method --- p.94 / Chapter 5.6.4 --- Sulphide determination by other methods --- p.95 / Chapter 5.6.5 --- Sulphide preservation --- p.95 / Chapter 5.7 --- Synergistic effect of S2- and C18 SPE test elutriate --- p.96 / Chapter 5.8 --- Treatment of contaminated marine sediment in Hong Kong --- p.97 / Chapter 5.9 --- Treatment of contaminated marine sediment in Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter --- p.98 / Chapter 5.10 --- Treatment of sediment contaminated with sulphide in Hong Kong --- p.99 / Chapter 5.11 --- Other treatment method of sediment contaminated with sulphide --- p.100 / Chapter 5.12 --- Current limitations and abilities in identification of toxicants in pore water --- p.101 / Chapter 5.13 --- Improvement and Recommendations --- p.102 / Chapter 6. --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.104 / Chapter 7. --- REFERENCES --- p.105 / Chapter 8. --- APPENDICES --- p.125

Dans lhémisphère Sud, les reconstitutions paléoclimatiques à haute résolution sont encore relativement rares. Cette partie du monde joue pourtant un rôle essentiel dans la compréhension des changements climatiques terrestres. Le Sud du Chili étant suffisamment éloigné des calottes glaciaires de lhémisphère Nord et de linfluence de la circulation thermohaline, il constitue une région idéale en vue détudier les changements paléoclimatiques de lhémisphère Sud. Dans ce travail, le remplissage sédimentaire de deux lacs chiliens dorigine glaciaire a été étudié par une analyse multi-paramètres de carottes prélevées lors de lété austral 2002 dans le cadre du projet SSTC ENSO-Chili. Dans le lac Puyehue (164 km², 40°S, altitude 185 m), la carotte la plus prometteuse a été prélevée au site PU-II, localisé sur un cordon morainique sous-aquatique, dominé par les courants intermédiaires du Rio Golgol. Les sédiments de ce site sont finement laminés et faiblement perturbés par les activités volcanique et sismique. Premièrement, une carotte courte du site PU-II a été étudiée de manière détaillée en vue de (1) tester différentes techniques de mesure de la densité et du contenu sédimentaire en matière organique et en silice biogénique, et (2) reconstituer les changements climatiques régionaux au cours des 600 dernières années. Plusieurs traceurs ont été utilisés : la granulométrie, la susceptibilité magnétique, la géochimie des éléments majeurs, les concentrations en silice biogénique ainsi que les concentrations et les propriétés géochimiques de la matière organique (C/N, d13C). Ces analyses sont utilisées pour reconstituer les variations de paléoproductivité et de paléoprécipitations aux alentours de 40°S. Les résultats démontrent que, durant les 600 dernières années, les plus forts taux daccumulation massique en particules terrigènes sont enregistrés dans lintervalle 1490 1700 AD. Ce résultat est interprété comme une période humide associée à la mise en place du Petit Age Glaciaire européen (LIA). Les fortes précipitations caractérisant cette période pourraient être la signature locale du LIA. Le LIA serait donc un évènement global qui nest pas restreint à lhémisphère Nord. Les traceurs sélectionnés ont ensuite été appliqués à une carotte de 11 m de longueur prélevée au site PU-II. Le modèle dâge de cette carotte a été élaboré à partir de 9 datations radiocarbone et prouve que cette séquence sédimentaire couvre la dernière déglaciation et lHolocène. Les résultats démontrent que la granulométrie est hautement corrélée avec le contenu biogénique du sédiment et peut ainsi être utilisée comme traceur de paléoproductivité lacustre. La susceptibilité magnétique quant à elle est fortement corrélée avec les concentrations en aluminium et en titane et constitue un indicateur des apports terrigènes. Les variations temporelles de la composition du sédiment démontrent que, depuis le Dernier Maximum Glaciaire, la Région des Lacs chilienne a été soumise à trois changements climatiques abrupts survenus lors dune évolution climatique à plus long terme. Ces changements climatiques rapides sont : (1) la fin du Dernier Maximum Glaciaire à 17.300 cal. yr. BP ; (2) un évènement froid entre 13.100 et 12.300 cal. yr. BP, caractérisé par une terminaison abrupte et interprété comme léquivalent local de la période froide caractéristique du Dryas Récent et (3) une instabilité climatique à 3400 2900 cal. yr. BP probablement à mettre en relation avec une faible activité solaire. Lâge de lévènement froid à 13.100 12.300 cal. yr. BP est comparé aux datations obtenues sur des enregistrements similaires dans les deux hémisphères. Cette comparaison démontre que lévènement enregistré à Puyehue précède denviron 500 à 1000 ans lévènement froid caractéristique de la période du Dryas Récent dans lhémisphère Nord. Lenregistrement sédimentaire du lac Icalma (11,65 km², 38°S, altitude 1140 m) est fortement perturbé par les évènements sismiques et volcaniques. Lexistence de particules sédimentaires grossières nous a amenés à développer une méthode de mesure granulométrique combinant diffraction laser et tamisage par voie sèche. Les descriptions macroscopiques, les analyses granulométriques, les profils de susceptibilité magnétique et les résultats minéralogiques ont permis de décrire quatre types de dépôts évènementiels probablement engendrés par des séismes (homogénites, turbidites, slumps et dépôts chaotiques). Ces analyses démontrent également que les turbidites et les homogénites sont engendrées par un mécanisme similaire et que des dépôts texturalement intermédiaires existent. Ils peuvent être regroupés sous le terme turbidite s.l. et, dans ce cas, une homogénite serait léquivalent dune turbidite déposée sous linfluence dun effet de seiche. La séismite la plus récente décrite dans les sédiments du lac Icalma est un dépôt de slump ubiquiste de 6 cm dépaisseur daté à 1100 AD. Bien que la région ait été affectée par de nombreux séismes de magnitude importante au cours de la période historique (1500 2000 AD), il semble quaucun dentre eux nait engendré une séismite dans le lac Icalma. Daprès les résultats obtenus sur deux carottes longues (8 m), la région dIcalma a été soumise à une importante activité sismo-tectonique entre 3000 et 2200 cal. yr. BP.

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Characterized by high levels of terrestrial organic carbon inputs, estuaries and coastal marshes are among the most productive ecosystems on earth and significantly impact the global carbon cycle. Unfortunately, rates of natural organic matter (NOM) degradation in these environments are difficult to quantify directly due to the complex interaction between microbial respiration processes and abiotic reactions in these sediments, yet estuaries and marshes are considered both net sources and sinks of carbon. Typically carbon remineralization rates are determined by measuring total (TOU) and diffusive (DOU) oxygen uptake fluxes assuming oxygen is the ultimate oxidant. This assumption, however, requires any reduced metabolites produced during microbial respiration to be reoxidized by oxygen. In this study, voltammetric sensors were used to measure terminal electron acceptors or their reduced by-products. By simultaneously considering oxygen as well as anaerobic respiration accepting processes, this study demonstrates that oxygen does not function as the ultimate oxidant in coastal marine sediments due to precipitation and burial of reduced species. Furthermore, the biogeochemistry of coastal sediments is typically investigated ex situ after collection of sediment cores. However, coastal sediments are subject to complex subsurface hydrological forcing that cannot be accounted for with ex situ measurements. Consequently, in situ approaches are required to better understand the impact of physical processes on sediment biogeochemistry, and two novel in situ voltammetric systems were developed as part of this research. First, a new autonomous benthic lander equipped with a benthic chamber to measure TOU fluxes with a high temporal resolution and a potentiostat and micromanipulator to simultaneously acquire voltammetric depth profiles of the main redox species in pore waters was deployed in a pristine river-fed estuary to characterize the seasonal variability of coastal sediment biogeochemistry and examine the impact of riverine discharge on carbon remineralization processes. Simultaneously, a new electrochemical analyzer equipped with a solar and wind power charging system to ensure continuous monitoring capability and a VHF radio to transmit data was operated remotely via the internet from the Georgia Tech campus to investigate the dynamic coupling between hydrological, chemical, and biological processes in intertidal marsh sediments. Finally, new microelectrodes were deployed in microbial mats to examine the chemical and biological oxidation of sulfide with submillimeter resolution. Typically, only biological processes are considered to oxidize sulfide in these environments. Depth profiles during diel studies were able to demonstrate the formation of thiosulfate as an intermediate oxidation product of sulfide oxidation, suggesting that the chemical oxidation of sulfide is much more prevalent than previously recognized when compared to biological oxidation. Overall, using a novel in situ sampling technique with high temporal resolution, these studies confirm that biogeochemical processes in coastal sediments vary seasonally. More importantly, these studies also reveal that estuarine sediments are significantly influenced by riverine discharge, demonstrate that the biogeochemical response of these sediments to natural perturbations is rapid, and indicate that respiration processes in continental shelf sediments are controlled by a combination of temperature, supply of inorganic and organic substrates, and hydrological processes, which has important implications regarding the effect of climate change on the biogeochemical cycling of carbon in these environments.