Neste trabalho, duas amostras de turfa (uma decomposta - TD, e outra fibrosa - TF), foram caracterizadas através de várias técnicas instrumentais, incluindo a microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), a análise elementar (CHNS), a análise termogravimétrica (TG), a espectroscopia de infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FT-IR) e a espectroscopia de ressonância magnética nuclear de 13C no estado sólido (RMN 13C). Após a caracterização, essas amostras foram utilizadas em ensaios de adsorção para a avaliação do potencial de remoção das turfas frente ao contaminante pireno em meio aquoso. De modo geral, os resultados revelaram que ambas as amostras são estruturalmente muito semelhantes entre si. Com relação ao processo de adsorção do pireno pelas duas amostras em solução aquosa, foi possível verificar que o mesmo apresentou elevada eficiência, atingindo 91% de remoção para a TD e 92% para a TF. Além disso, o processo de adsorção parece ocorrer em múltiplas camadas, uma vez que dentre as isotermas de adsorção avaliadas, o modelo de Freundlich foi o que melhor se ajustou aos dados experimentais. A cinética de adsorção foi avaliada por meio das equações de pseudoprimeira ordem e pseudossegunda ordem, sendo o segundo mecanismo mais adequado para avaliar o processo. Dados termodinâmicos revelaram que a adsorção do pireno pelas amostras de turfa é um processo espontâneo nas condições experimentais utilizadas. Finalmente, os resultados obtidos mostram que a eficiência de remoção associada às amostras de turfa abre perspectivas para a sua utilização na remoção desse contaminante de soluções aquosas. / In this study, two peat samples (one decomposed DP, and another fibrous FP) were characterized by several instrumental techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis (CHNS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and 13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR). These same samples were later used in adsorption tests for assessing the potential removal of peat against the pyrene contaminant. Although the TF present some vegetable structures newer than the TD, the results revealed that both samples are structurally very similar. Regarding the adsorption of pyrene by two samples in aqueous solution, it was possible to verify that it has a high efficiency, reaching 91% removal for the TD and 92% for TF, respectively. In addition, the adsorption process seems to occur in multiple layers, once among the measured adsorption isotherms, the Freundlich model was the best fit to experimental data. The adsorption kinetics was assessed by means of pseudo first and pseudo second order equations, being the second most appropriate mechanism to evaluate the process. Thermodynamic data revealed that the adsorption of pyrene by the peat samples is a spontaneous process under these experimental conditions. Finally, the results show that the removal efficiency associated with the peat samples opens perspectives for its use in removing this contaminant from aqueous solutions.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:51:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:58:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / A inoculação de sementes de leguminosas de grãos tais como soja [Glycine max. (L.)], feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) e pastagens tem sido uma estratégia efetiva e conveniente para introduzir estirpes eficientes de Bradyrhizobium/Rhizobium em solos agrícolas sem histórico de cultivo anterior dessa cultura ou quando as estirpes ivas são ineficientes no processo biológico de aquisição de nitrogênio. Através do uso de substrato turfoso previamente esterilizado como veículo da bactéria, os efeitos ambientais adversos podem ser amenizados, pois este substrato atua diretamente, na sobrevivência da bactéria através do fornecimento de nutrientes. O Brasil requer que os substratos turfosos sejam pré-esterilizados através de radiação gama de cobalto-60 (60Co), sendo recomendada a dose de 50 kGy para uma efetiva eliminação de patógenos e saprófitas, que podem competir com a bactéria introduzida. Recentemente, a utilização de aceleradores de elétrons foi considerada uma nova alternativa de radiação para pré-esterilização da turfa, pois, por se constituir de processo oxidativo avançado, gera radicais altamente reativos, eficientes na eliminação de agentes contaminantes. Esta técnica é considerada ecologicamente mais segura que a radiação gama, além de ser um processo mais rápido. Há, porém, a característica de ter menor profundidade de penetração da radiação em relação ao 60Co. O presente estudo comparou o método usando doses crescentes de radiação gama por 60Co e por feixe de elétrons (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50 kGy). Os dados experimentais (7, 14, 21 e 28 dias para a fase curta e 150, 180 e 210 dias para a fase longa de incubação) mostraram um elevado número de células da bactéria Rhizobium tropici CM-01 gusA+ inoculada em substratos turfosos submetidos aos dois processos de esterilização, sendo que ambos processos atenderam aos padrões mínimos requeridos pelas normas brasileiras (validade de 180 dias e presença acima de 1 x 108 células/g de substrato). Sob doses mais elevadas, acima de 40 kGy, o método por feixe de elétrons foi mais eficiente em eliminar actinobactérias, consideradas sérias antagonistas de bactérias inoculantes em turfas e que surgiram após 150 dias. Em um segundo estudo, usando o isolado CM-01 celB+ por um período de 30 dias, os resultados confirmaram a eficiência do método por feixe de elétrons na fase de crescimento bacteriano, mesmo para dose baixa de 10 kGy. / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:43:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:09:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 06525.pdf: 5042531 bytes, checksum: 3d56cd1bdaeef2f7545ae8a15cc447ab (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Abstract The understanding of flow processes is a key to evaluating treatment efficiency in constructed wetlands. This work focuses on the effects of flow paths on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N)retention in four treatment wetlands constructed on pristine peatlands in Finland. Particular attention was paid to water residence time, effective flow area and effective flow depth. Both an artificial tracer test and a new method based on the analysis of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope distributions were employed. Tracer tests were used to calibrate steady-state flow models created using a groundwater modelling MODFLOW code. Furthermore, concentrations of P, Al and Fe in the peat and concentration of N in the surface water were measured. Surface water tracer distributions showed overland flow to be the dominant flow process and it was divided into a preferential flow area and dead zones. Also, active channel formation was observed during the years of the study (2002–2005). The results indicate that the hydraulic performance might deteriorate drastically within a short period of time. The active flow areas in the peatlands comprised only about 40–48% in summer, meaning that large areas with potential for nutrient removal were left unused. Flow simulations showed that a more optimal length of the distribution ditch will create a larger effective flow area and possibly could prevent channel formation. The peat P concentration was 1.8±3.9 mg g-1, and P was accumulated in the preferential flow area. The peat P concentration correlated positively with Al in the Ruka peatland treating wastewater. The results indicate that precipitation chemicals increase the P retention capacity of peatland substantially and maintain P retention at a stable level despite variable P loads. Furthermore, the results indicate that the accumulation of P to peat via adsorption and chemical precipitation is the major P removal process even after 10 years of loading. In Ruka, calculated N concentrations in surface water obtained with a first-order area model, together with regression analysis of the rate constant, were in good agreement with observed N concentrations. If a removal of 70% is to be achieved, the NH4-N loading to the peatland should be below 0.10 mg m2 d-1.

No description available.

Extensive drainage of UK peatlands has been associated with dehydration of the peat, an increase in water colour and a loss of carbon storage. Water colour has been found to be proportional to the concentration of fluvial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (McKnight et al. 1985). It has been considered that the blocking of drainage channels represents a means of peat restoration and a way of reducing DOC losses to surface waters. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of drain blocking at both an individual drain scale and at a larger catchment scale (up to 1km2). The effect of external parameters become more pronounced as the DOC record is examined at larger scales. The catchment is an open system and water chemistry will be influenced by mixing with water from other sources. Also it is likely that at some point the drains will cut across slope leading to the flow of any highly coloured water down slope, bypassing the blockages, and entering the surface waters downstream. Degradation of DOC will occur naturally downstream due to the effects of light and microbial activity. There is, consequently, a need to examine the wider effects of drain blocking at a catchment scale to ensure that what is observed for one drain transfers to the whole catchment. A series of blocked and unblocked catchments were studied in Upper Teesdale, Northern England. A detailed sampling programme of stream water, soil water and run off was undertaken in which a series of drains were studied in the 12 months prior to and post blocking. Water table depth, flow and weather parameters were also monitored. This study could not find a significant decline in DOC concentration at zero or first order scale post blocking; however a small yet significant decline of 2.5% in DOC concentration relative to the control catchment was recorded at the first order scale. A decrease in DOC concentration is recorded as water flows from the zero to the first order in the same catchment. The study found that the effects of DOC degradation in the catchments were very small and that DOC degradation could not solely explain the decrease in DOC concentration seen from zero to first order drains indicating the importance of dilution effects in the catchments. The blocking of peat drains does significantly decrease the export of DOC which is largely achieved by decreasing water yield. The size of the DOC export reduction caused by drain blocking is seen to decrease as scale increases providing evidence for the existence of bypass flow around the zero order drain blockages. Blocking was found to have little impact on the level of the catchment water table. This can be explained by the peat bog being naturally very wet before intervention such that when blocking did occur the soil had little capacity to take in additional water. Water yield, however, is seen to decrease post blocking indicating that water and potentially DOC is being lost from the system. Principle component analysis and event analysis were performed on the hydrological and chemical data in order to trace and define this missing component of the water balance yet the analysis found that the water chemistry in the study catchment can be defined by a relatively simple mixing trend. As such this missing water remains undefined. The presence of bypass flow and water mixing will reduce the efficiency of any drain blocking and have wider implications for upland management and its practitioners.

A multi-proxy paleoecological study that included pollen, microfossil, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) analyses was conducted at a central Vancouver Island wetland near Courtenay British Columbia to reconstruct the site’s history, C and N accumulation rates, and surrounding vegetation over the last 14,000 years. The paleoecological record shows that the lake that occupies the southeast corner of the wetland today was much larger during the late glacial period. Peat accumulation began through terrestrialization of the site, leading to vegetation and edaphic conditions characteristic of a bog or fen with variable water table depth inferred from testate amoebae and other microfossil remains. C accumulated with maximum and time-weighted mean accumulation rates of 81 and 19 g C/m2/cal yr, respectively. The highest C accumulation occurred during the accumulation of herbaceous peat in the early Holocene, which, given the similarity to other Northern Hemisphere peatlands, suggests a strong climate forcing of C accumulation. N accumulated with a time-weighted mean of 0.55 g N/m2/cal yr. Forest community composition was also affected by the changing climate. Pinus contorta dominated open forests near the site between at least 13,900 and 11,200 cal yr BP. Picea and Abies increased during Younger Dryas cooling (12,900-11,700 cal yr BP). Pseudotsuga menziesii was the most abundant tree species in the area during the early Holocene (11,200-7500 cal yr BP). Around 7000 cal yr BP there was a shift to Tsuga heterophylla dominated forest, which continues to the present. This multi-proxy 14,000-year record provides evidence of the importance of climate and local factors in bog development, C and N accumulation, and vegetation history since the last glaciation. / Graduate / 2019-04-12

Abstract This thesis deals with the Holocene development of palsa mires in continental Europe, especially permafrost dynamics and its consequences on vegetation succession and peat accumulation. Peat deposits of four permafrost mires in boreal and subarctic northeastern European Russia and in northern oroboreal Finland have been studied using plant macrofossil analysis, (AMS) radiocarbon dating, dry bulk density and carbon content measurements. In addition, preliminary results are available from another palsa mire in northeastern European Russia. Modern vegetation has been investigated to support the interpretation of fossil plant assemblages. Earlier literature on vegetation, stratigraphy and dating of permafrost mires in Europe has been reviewed. The vegetation of palsa mires in general is well known. As a rule, palsas are dry ombrotrophic habitats, surrounded by wet flarks of variable trophic levels. There is a lack of information about vegetation in different small-scale habitats within palsa mires, which would have been useful when studying the permafrost-vegetation relationship. Although no functional indicator species of permafrost have been found, permafrost dynamics in peat stratigraphy can often be detected with high degree of probability based on changes in vegetation. Some plant assemblages and vegetation successions are typical on permafrost, while many species rarely grow on or near to permafrost. Relatively sudden changes between dry and wet mire environments and continuously dynamic conditions are good signs of permafrost impact. Also gradual changes towards drier conditions may be caused by permafrost; in these cases the timing of first permafrost aggradation is more difficult to ascertain and can usually be pronounced only in terms of maximum and minimum ages. Changes in peat accumulation rates and even hiatuses in stratigraphy are additional tools to support the interpretation on permafrost history at the studied sites. Dry organic matter and carbon accumulation rates for different developmental stages are calculated for the five studied mires. From earlier studies this information is not available. Accumulation rates in the permafrost environment are very variable: from zero or negative rates in old palsas to as high as 100 gC/m2yr in incipient palsas. On moist plateau palsas, permafrost flarks and in unstable permafrost conditions, accumulation continues at low to moderate rates. Thermokarst processes result in decomposition of former peat deposits with important consequences for the ecosystem carbon balance, especially in plateau palsa mires. Radiocarbon datings are available from 27 permafrost mires in continental Europe; only 5 of these are situated in Russia. Many of the published dates cannot be considered reliable as dating permafrost aggradation. Based on limited material, permafrost started to develop at latest about 3000 BP in mires of northern Russia and 2500 BP in Fennoscandia. Older permafrost formation is suggested for a few sites, but the evidence is insufficient to confirm this interpretation. The oldest preserved palsas are ca. 2500–2000 14C years old. Most of the modern palsas are less than 600 14C years old. Permafrost aggradation follows the major climate development in the Holocene, with formation being most active during the coldest stages. Global warming is expected to greatly affect the Arctic in the near future, which would imply significant changes in ecosystem functioning and carbon balance of permafrost mires. This study contributes to the understanding of the possible impacts of climate change on these ecosystems using paleoecological techniques.

The objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the development of professional judgement during the two year work-based pre-admission training period (PEAT 2) required of Scottish solicitors so as to identify a model that allows them to respond to the changes the UK legal services sector is experiencing. The methodology adopted throughout reflects an emphasis on researching knowledge in the context of its application (Flyvbjerg 2001). Professional judgement is described as the ‘heart of professional practice’ (Fish and Coles 1998) and is therefore selected to provide a holistic method of evaluation. The UK legal profession is fragmenting in its response to market pressures, including the introduction of external regulation and ‘alternative business structures’ under the Legal Services Act 2007 and increased globalisation, specialisation and commoditisation. It is therefore important to identify the traditional method used by Scottish solicitors to develop their judgement as there is a risk that what was previously implicit and assumed in this ‘community of practice’ (Wenger 1998) becomes dissipated. As a result, the relevance and application of judgement is considered in the context of professional practice and solicitors in particular. The effect of external influences are interpreted, including in relation to the job of a solicitor, the future development of judgement and implications for legal education. The research method adopted enables confidential data to be obtained about the development of professional judgement and the PEAT 2 processes through completion of semi-structured interviews with a number of Scottish law firms, the Law Society of Scotland and related regulatory organisations, supplemented with Scottish trainee focus groups and comparative data from illustrative law firms and regulators in England and Wales. This allows 10 detailed case studies of law firms to be developed and analysed using Eraut’s (2007) model of early career learning and Fuller and Unwin’s (2003) model of expansive and restrictive apprenticeships as well as providing commentary from experienced solicitors and regulatory sources on the development of professional judgement. This allows 10 detailed case studies of law firms to be developed and analysed using Eraut’s (2007) model of early career learning and Fuller and Unwin’s (2003) model of expansive and restrictive apprenticeships as well as providing commentary from experienced solicitors and regulatory sources on the development of professional judgement. This data enables an analysis of the effectiveness of the current Scottish pre-admission training processes and the identification of methods used to develop the judgement of novices. Findings indicate that elements of the formal requirements of PEAT 2 are limiting the experiential and reflective learning of trainees and, in the wider context of work-based learning, that professional judgement is developed through exposure to reflective practice in a ‘community’ that provides an expansive apprenticeship and establishes parameters of acceptable choices. Recommendations include adjustments to pre-admission legal training and the introduction of a specialist qualification, accredited by the Law Society of Scotland.

Methanogenesis was studied in soils from two sawgrass wetlands of the Florida Everglades. Marl soils exhibited a significantly higher potential rate of methanogenesis than peat soils. In these wetlands, methanogenesis: (1) decreased rapidly with increasing soil depth, (2) increased at higher temperatures and lower Eh, (3) was stimulated by organic compounds (cellulose, glucose and acetate), and (4) remained unaffected by added ammonium. Lowering the Eh in the peat and marl soils with sulfide or sulfate stimulated methanogenesis. In January 1990, phosphate caused a significant increase in methanogenesis. The potential rates of methanogenesis decreased to undetectable levels when water levels dropped below the surface, and peaked one month after the start of the wet season. Methanogenesis appeared to be a relatively important process in carbon cycling in marl soils and these soils do not accumulate peat. Therefore, one possible explanation for peat accumulation in sawgrass wetlands may be their low rates of methanogenesis.