Acid Sulfate soils (AS) are recognized for being a source of acidity in freshwaters in America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Apart from the problematic acid leachate, AS soil serves as a possible source of toxic heavy metals in freshwaters, a problem which has received far less attention than problems related to acid leachate. This study assessed to what extent heavy metals enriched in sediments from the area around lake Persöfjärden (North-eastern Sweden) could be attributed to export from AS soils. I found that: i) Nickel (Ni), Zink (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) in the sediments had a partial likely origin from AS soils; ii) vertical variations in Ni, Zn, Cu and Fe concentrations suggested events of increased metal transport in the past; and iii) there is a tendency that Zn and Ni assumed from AS soils have caused elevated metal concentration in marine sediment deposited in Persöfjärden. Inferred sediment rates suggest that elevated metal concentrations occurred in sediment deposited during the 18-19th and 20th century. I argue that these periods correspond to periods of increased drainage of the AS soils during past agricultural activities in the catchment.

This study investigates jarosite formation and stability patterns at the abandoned Davis Pyrite Mine in Rowe, Massachusetts. Jarosite, an iron-sulfate hydroxide, is found in acid mine drainage (AMD) environments, in acid sulfate soils, and on Mars. Jarosite and the iron oxides goethite and hematite are present at the site. Soil samples from the site were examined by XRD, SEM, and EDS. Five mineralogical areas were found, based on mineral abundance patterns. Jarosite exists in four of these areas. Two jarosite morphologies were identified. “Variable” jarosite, with partly-dissolved crystals of about 0.5 to 5 micrometers diameter, exists in spoil pile samples. “Donut” jarosite, with tightly-packed, sharp-edged crystals less than 0.5 micrometers that form a thin mantle on the surface of a second mineral, exists in native soil samples. Donut jarosite has not been previously characterized. These jarosite morphologies are controlled by the presence and relative mobility of pyrite oxidation products Fe and SO4, which in turn are controlled by water saturation levels. Three pathways are possible. On Path 1, both ions are mobile, go into solution, and variable jarosite forms at a distance from the pyrite source. On Path 2, only sulfur ions are mobile, an iron-oxide gossan develops. No jarosite forms. On Path 3, neither ion is mobile, and donut jarosite forms. On this path, Fe and SO4 ions are trapped in a thin film of stagnant water covering the pyrite. When sufficient ions are present, donut jarosite precipitates.

No description available.

Casamance is a region in southern Senegal that traditionally produces rainfed rice, but Senegal produces only 1/3 of its rice consumption. Lowland areas, where rice is primarily produced, have acid sulfate soils with low pH and potential aluminum and iron toxicity. The goal of this work was to determine if soil amendments can alleviate soil acidity, counteract the negative biogeochemical effects that occur in flooded conditions, and increase rice yield. A two-year experiment was conducted to test the following soil treatments – agricultural lime, pulverized oyster shell, biochar, and control (no amendment) – in flat and raised beds. Plots amended with lime and shell materials had increased soil pH, base saturation, Ca, and cation exchange capacity. Meanwhile, biochar elevated particulate organic matter and C:N ratios. Exchangeable Fe and Al were negatively correlated with soil pH, while Geobacteraceae populations (Fe reducing bacteria) increased with pH. A greater proportion of the total Fe was strongly bound in fractions that were less bioavailable in plots amended with shell or lime, and overall rice yields were significantly higher following amendment with shell or lime. During the second growing year these effects diminished, suggesting that liming effects did not persist as expected. These results demonstrate the benefits of soil amendments that raise soil pH and suggest that this effect operates by influencing overall soil nutrient availability to rice plants, but further research is needed regarding the timing and sustainability of the beneficial liming effect. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.Eng.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 174-183.

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2016-08-16T14:23:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Suzana Kelley Gomes de Mendonca.pdf: 1457356 bytes, checksum: 55d06ce86944cd3f69644577e424587d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-16T14:23:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Suzana Kelley Gomes de Mendonca.pdf: 1457356 bytes, checksum: 55d06ce86944cd3f69644577e424587d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-25 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Low lands in Brazil have a great potential for agriculture, however, they have some limitations due to the presence of high water table and severe risk of flooding. When located near by the sea cost, these floodplains can have influence of the sea water, resulting in the presence of sulfide soils, which, if drained, can develop sulfuric horizons. The sulfuric horizons are mainly characterized by high levels of acidity and exchangeable aluminum, which can result in serious environmental impact to the ecosystem. The agriculture use of these soils requires a deep knowledge of soil physical, chemical and mineralogical properties, in order to support the development of sustainable management practices. The objective of this work was to study chemical and mineralogical properties of acid sulfate soils formed in the floodplain of Camocim river, Caaporã municipality, state of Paraíba. The main aim was to support decisions on the viability of sugarcane cropping in these areas. Soils were characterized morphologically and samples were collected along a transect from the high land towards the river channel. Besides the routine physical, chemical and mineralogical analysis, other determinations were carried out involving total sulfur, incubation pH, soluble anions, electrical conductivity of the saturation extract and sequential iron extraction. The soils were classified as: Argisolic,Dystric Tb Haplic Gleysol (P1) Typic Sapric Sulfide Organosol (P2), Organosolic Orthic Sulfide Gleysol (P3 and P4). Soil distribution in the landscape of the Camocim river floodplain is mainly related to the relief, which determines drainage, water table and, consequently, the soil forming processes related to water excess. The presence of sulfuric horizons occur at the surface, in the very poorly drained soil profiles, and at 43 cm depth in the poorly drained soils close to the river channel. The studied acid sulfate soils do not have salinity at present time, and the high electrical conductivity is determined by the formation sulfuric acid (H+ + SO4 2-) from pyrite oxidation. Sugarcane crop decay in the floodplain of Camocim River, after one year of cultivation was a consequente of the sulfuric horizon formation after the implementation of the drainage system in soils with sulfide materials. The main soil minerals, indentified by X-ray diffraction, in the clay fraction were jarosite quartz, feldspars, kaolinite, smectite (essentially montmorillonite), illite and gibbsite. Quartz and feldspars were the minerals identified in sand and silt fractions. The results of the iron sequential extraction showed predominance of non crystalline iron oxides and very low amounts or absence of iron associated with pyrite, reflecting the advanced oxidation stage determined by the drainage system. / As áreas de várzeas no Brasil apresentam um grande potencial para a agricultura, no entanto, estas áreas apresentam algumas limitações ao uso agrícola devido à presença de lençol freático elevado e risco freqüente de inundação. Quando localizadas em áreas litorâneas, estas áreas podem sofrer influência marinha podendo apresentar solos tiomórficos que, quando drenados, formam horizonte sulfúrico, caracterizados principalmente pela elevada acidez, elevados teores de alumínio trocável, podendo causar sérios impactos ambientais no ecossistema onde ocorrem. A incorporação destas áreas no processo produtivo depende de um profundo conhecimento das propriedades físicas, mineralógicas e principalmente químicas, de forma a subsidiar o desenvolvimento de técnicas sustentáveis de manejo. Neste contexto, foi realizada a caracterização física, química, mineralógica, além da extração sequencial de ferro de solos tiomórficos desenvolvidos na várzea do rio Camocim, no município de Caaporã, PB. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar a ocorrência de solos tiomórficos e caracterizá-los, com o fim de obter subsídios para a tomada de decisão de incorporar estas áreas ao cultivo de cana-de-açúcar ou mantê-las nas condições naturais. Para tanto foi feito um transecto perpendicular ao canal principal do rio, a partir das terras altas, onde foram descritos e coletados quatro perfis de solo. Em campo foi realizada a caracterização morfológica dos perfis e coletadas amostras para as análises físicas, químicas e mineralógicas de rotina, além de análises específicas para determinação do enxofre total, pH de incubação, ânions solúveis, CE do extrato da pasta saturada e extração sequencial de ferro. Os solos foram classificados como Gleissolo Háplico Tb Distrófico argissólico (P1), Organossolo Tiomórfico Sáprico típico (P2) e Gleissolo Tiomórfico Órtico organossólico (P3 e P4). A distribuição dos solos na várzea do rio Camocim guarda estreita relação com o relevo, que condiciona a drenagem e, consequentemente, os processos de formação relacionados com o excesso de água. A presença de horizonte sulfúrico foi constatada a partir do horizonte superficial nos perfis muito mal drenados da planície de inundação, e a partir de 43 cm, nos solos mal drenados da ombreira. Os solos tiomórficos estudados não apresentam salinidade, sendo a alta condutividade elétrica resultante da formação de ácido sulfúrico proveniente da oxidação da pirita (H+ e SO4 2-). A degradação do canavial em grandes áreas da várzea do rio Camocim, após um ano de cultivo, foi consequência da formação do horizonte sulfúrico com a drenagem da área, tendo em vista que os materiais sulfídricos ocorrem desde a superfície. Os minerais identificados por DRX foram: jarosita, quartzo, feldspatos, caulinita, esmectita (essencialmente montmorilonita), ilita e gibbsita, na fração argila. Quartzo e feldspatos foram os minerais identificados nas frações areia e silte. Os valores da extração sequencial de ferro mostraram predomínio de formas não cristalinas de óxidos de ferro e baixíssimos teores ou ausência de ferro associado à pirita, indicando que os solos tiomórficos estudados apresentam avançado estágio de oxidação, promovido pela drenagem realizada na área de estudo na tentativa de viabilizar o cultivo da cana-de-açúcar.

One of the modern times worst environmental problem are polluted water resources. An example of source of pollution to water resources are, heavy metal leached from acid sulfate soils (ASS). When these soils are stable, which they are if they are left underwater in an anoxic environment (for example below the water table), they are often sought after since they consist of high amount of nutrients which farmers use as farmlands. ASS is therefore created when farmers drain their land and the sulfide soil gets exposed to air, resulting in its oxidation and therefore formation of sulfuric acid. In a previous study performed by scientists from Linnaeus University, it was concluded that a natural reserve located in Vattenriket, Kristianstad was possibly damaged by the drainage discharge of an adjacent acid sulfate soil. For remediation of acid sulfate soil, notably removal of metals from drainage waters, grounded coffee has been suggested to be able to perform well as an adsorbent. This study was performed to investigate how well grounded coffee could be used as an adsorbent, for calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn), from water samples collected in Vattenriket, Kristianstad. It was also studied to see if grounded coffee could be cleaned using a sodium hydroxide solution to increase its adsorption capacity. To be able to evaluate how well it could be used as an adsorbent, it went through two different cleaning procedures and total organic carbon and pH readings was performed. The used method for this paper was to clean the grounded coffee in two different stages. The first stage consisted of using distilled water and letting it run through the residues until the water came out as transparent. Cleaning using a NaOH solution consisted of suspending the residues in a NaOH solution for 45 minutes and swapping the solution 6-8 times. After the grounded coffee had dried in an oven at 30o for 48 hours, it was put into different fraction sizes, weighed and bagged. The water samples then had to be filtered using a pump and Filtropur S 0.45 filters. Lastly, 45 falcon tubes containing 15 different amounts of grounded coffee had 50 ml of filtered water sample added to them. For analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy was used. The results showed that the maximum amount of adsorbed calcium was achieved at 1.5g of grounded coffee in a 50 ml water solution which managed to adsorb 99.53% of calcium. The maximum amount of adsorbed zinc was achieved at 1.25g of grounded coffee in a 50 ml solution which resulted in 99.16% of adsorbed zinc. The study also showed that when the total organic carbon-content was decreasing, due to excessive cleaning, the pH was increasing. This was further proof that the grounded coffee still had residues onto its surface that could inhibit its adsorption capabilities.

Sediments rich in sulfide were deposited in the Littorina sea in an environment that was shallow, anoxic,and reductive. The sediments were brought above sea level by isostatic uplift and can now be foundalong the coast of the Baltic sea. These sulfide rich sediments oxidize when they are exposed to air whenthe water table is lowered due to uplift, anthropogenic activities, or hydrological droughts. Oxidation ofsulfate soils will lower the pH and mobilize metals in the soil that will leach into adjacent rivers and willimpact the water chemistry and damage ecosystems. A few studies have noted that leaching increasesin sulfate soils after drought which has resulted in fish death. The impact of droughts on leaching from sulfate soils were investigated in nine rivers (Flarkbäcken,Hertsångerälven, Kvismare canal, Kyro river, Närpes River, Persöfjärden, Storbäcken, Tjuståsaån, andToby river) by looking at time series of sulfate concentrations and drought periods. The impact on riversafter a drought was studied by plotting the deviation from median specific discharge in summer andautumn against the deviation from median concentration of SO42-, a suite of metals and pH the followingseason with high discharge e.g. spring. The metals that were examined in the river were Aluminum (Al),Cadmium, (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Cupper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Nickle (Ni), Zinc (Zn).TheKendall’s τ was then used to determine if the relationship between discharge and leached compoundconcentration was significant and which direction it had. In the sulfate timeseries the hydrological droughts generally coincided with low SO42- and werefollowed by SO42- peaks. The sulfate concentrations increased significantly after droughts, and theincrease in SO42- lasted for 1-3 years for most rivers. In two Finnish rivers the SO42- remained higher alonger time of 5 years in Kyro river and Närpes river after multiyear droughts. In Kvismare canal, Kyroriver, Närpes river and Tjuståsaån the SO42- concentration was higher in the mid-1900s which could bedue to changes in ditching activity, the acid sulfate soils transitioning to post active sulfate soils afterthe ditching activity stopped in the regions, or SO42- air deposition historically being greater. SO42-, Co, Ni, and Zn had negative significant correlations in a majority of the rivers, while pH, Fe,and total organic carbon had significant positive correlations a majority of rivers. A negative correlationindicates high concentrations of the leached compound after a drought while positive correlationsindicate low concentrations of the leached compound after a drought. Al, Cd, Cu, and Mn did not havea significant correlation in a majority of the rivers which could be due to their dependence on pH whichwill not always change in the rivers in spring due to acidic water leaching from acid sulfate soils sincethe acidic water will be diluted by meltwater. / Efter senaste istiden var vattnet i havet syrefritt och reducerande vid havsbotten, vilket ledde till attsulfidmineral avsattes. Dessa sulfidrika sediment har hamnat ovanför havsytan på grund avlandhöjningen och finns i kustnära områden runt östersjön. Sulfidsedimenten oxiderar om de kommer ikontakt med syre vilket kan ske på grund av landhöjning, mänskliga aktiviteter, eller torka som sänkergrundvattennivåerna. När sulfatjordarna oxiderar sänks pH i jorden och metaller frigörs vilka sedanlakas ur jorden och påverkar närliggande vattendrag och ekosystem. Lakning av metaller har i någrastudier setts öka efter extrem torka vilket i vissa fall har lett till fiskdöd. I nio vattendrag (Flarkbäcken, Hertsångerälven, Kvismare kanal, Kyro älv, Närpes å, Persöfjärden,Storbäcken Tjuståsaån och Toby å) undersöktes hur torka påverkar urlakning från sura sulfatjordar. Deämnen som undersöktes var Aluminium (Al), Kadmium (Cd), Kobolt (Co), koppar (Cu), Järn (Fe),Mangan (Mn), Nickel, (Ni), Totalt Organiskt Kol (TOC), och Zink (Zn). Sambandet mellanvattenföringens avvikelse från medianen under de sommar samt höst och avvikelsen avkoncentrationerna av urlakade ämnen från medianen följande årstid med högt flöde plottades för attundersöka hur sambandet såg ut. De statistiska testerna Kendalls τ användes för att utvärdera om enkorrelation existerade och i vilken riktning den gick. Sulfatkoncentrationerna var generellt sett väldigt låga under torrperioder men ökad snabbt efter atttorkan avtagit. Den förhöjda sulfatkoncentrationen varade generellt sett i 1-3 år för de flesta vattendrag.Det fanns däremot två undantagsfall då sulfatkoncentrationerna var förhöjda i Kyro älv och Närpes åunder 5 år efter en torrperiod som varat i flera år. I Kvismare kanal och Tjuståsaån varsulfatkoncentrationerna, högre under mitten av 1900-talet. De högre koncentrationerna av sulfat kanbero på att det var mer dikning, eller större mängd luftföroreningar under denna period. Sambanden för sulfat, Co, Ni och Zn visade att efter torra perioder var koncentrationerna högre i enmajoritet av vattendrag än normalt. pH, Fe och TOC visade på ett motsatt samband. Efter torrperiodersjönk därmed koncentrationen Fe och TOC i en majoritet av vattendragen. Al, Cd Cu, och Mn hadesignifikanta samband i mindre än 50 % av vattendragen vilket kan vara till följd av att de är beroendeav pH som själv inte hade en tydlig korrelation i alla vattendrag. pH sjunker i många fall inte särskiltmycket till följd av en torka då vattnet som lakas ut från sulfatjorden späds ut av smältvatten undervåren.

I Fredriksdalsvikens naturreservat i Kristianstads kommun skedde omfattande metalläckage efter en översvämning sommaren 2007 som orsakade skador på djur- och växtliv. De kraftiga metalläckagen misstänks härledas till sura sulfatjordar. Sura sulfatjordar tillhör de miljöskadligaste jordarna i världen på grund av de kraftiga metalläckagen och försurningen som jordarna orsakar till omgivningen. Mot bakgrund till humusämnens centrala roll för metalltransport i naturliga miljöer, syftade denna studie till att kartlägga hur organiskt kol är fördelat, sprids samt hur det kan förklaras i ett område nära det drabbade naturreservatet. Studien är en del av ett pågående forskningsprojekt i området som bedrivs på Linnéuniversitetet. I studiens undersökningsområde dominerar jordbruksmark som dräneras av ett dikessystem från norr till söder. Vattnet som avleds i dikessystemet pumpas slutligen till en våtmark i Fredriksdalsvikens naturreservat. I studien analyserades jord från åkermark, dikessediment, porvatten och dikesvatten från området på totalt organiskt kol med metoderna glödförlust och kyvett-test. Totalhalterna jämfördes med pH och grundvattennivå i åkermark. Resultat och slutsatser av studien är att högst halter löst organiskt kol uppmättes i dikesvattnet uppströms i dikessystemet och beror troligtvis på bottenfauna som inte växer i andra delar av systemet. I dikessediment ökar den organiska halten nedströms i dikessystemet och kan förklaras genom tillförsel av organiskt kol från två diken som dränerar åkermark rik på organiskt kol. De högsta halterna organiskt kol i jord beror på ett tunt torvlager. I åkermark visar inte resultaten någon tydlig statistisk korrelation mellan pH och totalt organiskt kol, men kraftig pH-sänkning tillsammans med höga totalhalter organiskt kol i torvjord beror troligtvis snarare på humusämnen än på sur sulfatjord. I åkermark väster om dikessystemet ökar den organiska halten med djupet under grundvattenytan. I samma åkermark ökar halterna av totalt organiskt kol lateralt mot dikessystemet, parallellt med att pH sjunker som troligen påverkas av starkare bindningsmekanismer till mineral, lägre mikrobiell aktivitet och minskad urlakning av löst organiskt kol. Men fler undersökningar i området krävs då markanvändning, erosion, jordarternas textur och sammansättning samt vattnets spridningsvägar också är avgörande faktorer för fördelning och spridning av organiskt kol i naturliga miljöer. / In the nature reserve Fredriksdalsviken in Kristianstad municipality, extensive metal leakage occurred after a flood in the summer of 2007 that caused damage to wildlife and plant life. The heavy metal leaks are suspected to be derived from acid sulphate soils in the area. Acid sulphate soils are among the most environmentally harmful soils in the world due to its extensive acidification and leaching of metals to the environment. In the light of humic substances key role for metal transport in natural environments, this study aimed to investigate how organic carbon is distributed, spread and how it can be explained in an area near the affected nature reserve. The study is part of an ongoing research project in the area conducted at Linnaeus University. The study area is dominated by agriculture land which is drained by a ditch system from north to south. The drained water in the ditch system is finally pumped to a wetland in the Fredriksdalsviken nature reserve. In the area, total organic carbon was analysed on soil from arable land, ditch sediment, pore water and ditch water with the methods loss of ignition and cuvette-test. Total levels were compared with pH and the groundwater level in arable land. The results and conclusions of the study are that the highest content of dissolved organic carbon in the ditch water upstream the ditch system is probably due to benthic fauna that doesn’t grow in other parts of the system. In the ditch sediment, the organic content increases downstream in the ditch system and can be explained by the supply of organic carbon from two ditches that drain arable land rich in organic carbon. In arable land are the highest levels of organic carbon due to a thin peat layer. The results does not show a clear statistical correlation between pH and total organic carbon in soil, but a sharp decrease in pH together with high total levels of organic carbon in peat soil is probably due to humic substances rather than to acid sulphate soil. In the western arable land of the ditch system, levels of total organic carbon increase laterally towards the ditch system at the same time as the pH decreases, which is probably affected by stronger binding mechanisms to minerals, lower microbial activity and reduced leaching of dissolved organic carbon. However, more research is required in the study area, since land use, erosion, soil texture and constitution together with the flow paths of water also are crucial factors for the distribution and pathways of organic carbon in natural environments.