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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2019) | Viewed by 30792

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Prof. Dr. Kyoung-Woong Kim

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Guest Editor

School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 500-712, Korea
Interests: arsenic geochemistry; soil remediation; appropriate technology; removal of As in water
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Elevated concentrations of As in groundwater have been reported in Taiwan, West Bengal and Bangladesh, resulting in a major public health issue. Despite these concerns, groundwater is still a major source of drinking water in the developing world, especially in Southeast Asia. Recently, unsafe level of As also been revealed in the delta of the Mekong River. There has been a great deal of research about the enrichment process, geographic characteristics and mitigation of As enriched groundwater to avoid the consumption of this unsafe groundwater.

Arsenic is also gained great notoriety because of the toxic properties of a number of its compounds. Arsenic contamination in soil is mainly derived from the mining and smelting activities. Remediation of As-contaminated soil can be achieved by many technologies, including biological treatment, phytoremediation, solidification/stabilization, and so on. However, these techniques cannot be a final solution due to the difficulty in application and their high costs.

In order to overcome these uncertainties in the issue of As geochemistry and human health, in this Special Issue, all the research outcomes in the field of geochemistry, toxicity, risk assessment and its mitigation and remediation will be welcome.

Prof. Dr. Kyoung-Woong Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Arsenic
groundwater
mining and smelting
geochemistry
toxicity
risk assessment
mitigation and remediation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arsenic (As) Removal Using Talaromyces sp. KM-31 Isolated from As-Contaminated Mine Soil

by In-Hyun Nam, Kumarasamy Murugesan, Jungho Ryu and Jae Hwan Kim

Minerals 2019, 9(10), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9100568 - 20 Sep 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4053

Abstract

Bioremediation is an environmentally-benign and cost-effective approach to removing arsenic from contaminated areas. A fungal strain hyper-tolerant to arsenic was isolated from soil from a mine site and used for the removal of arsenic. The isolated fungus was identified as Talaromyces sp., and its growth rate, arsenic tolerance, and removal rates were investigated for As(III) and As(V). Arsenic tolerance tests revealed that the fungus was highly resistant to arsenic, tolerating concentrations up to 1000 mg/L. Robust mycelial growth was observed in potato dextrose broth containing either As(III) or As(V), and there was no difference in growth between that in arsenic-free medium and medium amended with up to 300 mg/L of either arsenic species. The isolate showed relatively low growth rates at As(V) concentrations >500 mg/L, and almost no growth at As(III) concentrations >300 mg/L. Both arsenic species were effectively removed from aqueous medium (>70%) in tests of the biosorption of arsenic onto mycelial biomass. Surface modification of the biomass with Fe(III) (hydr)oxides significantly enhanced arsenic removal efficiency. The findings indicate that this soil fungal strain has promise for use in bioremediation strategies to remove arsenic from highly contaminated aqueous systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Geochemistry and Health)

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17 pages, 2762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Spectral Variation of Pine Needles as an Indicator of Arsenic Content in Soils

by Ji Hye Shin, Jaehyung Yu, Lei Wang, Jieun Kim and Sang-Mo Koh

Minerals 2019, 9(8), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9080498 - 19 Aug 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4568

Abstract

The spectral response to arsenic (As) stress of pine needles (Pinus densiflora Siebold and Zucc.) from an abandoned lead (Pb)–zinc (Zn) mine was investigated based on chemical and spectroscopic analyses. The correlation analysis between the content of As in needle samples and that of soils and spectral parameters of the needle samples were conducted. The results showed very high correlation between As content in pine needles and soils. The major spectral response of pine needles to the As stress were characterized by the increase in the green and red color reflectance, the decrease in the first derivatives at 1648 nm, and the shrink in the red absorption feature. These changes were caused by the pigment content loss and the structural changes of phenolic compounds in the pine needles due to the As content. The linear regression analysis with the stepwise method showed the first derivatives at 668 nm and 1648 nm were the most useful variables in the regression model for As content prediction in pine needles. The As index of pine needles could be used to detect As content in soils associated with As and heavy metals contamination and/or mineralization in coniferous forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Geochemistry and Health)

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15 pages, 1979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pilot-Scale Removal of Arsenic and Heavy Metals from Mining Wastewater Using Adsorption Combined with Constructed Wetland

by Ha T. H. Nguyen, Bien Q. Nguyen, Thuy T. Duong, Anh T. K. Bui, Hang T. A. Nguyen, Ha T. Cao, Nhuan T. Mai, Khai M. Nguyen, Thuy T. Pham and Kyoung-Woong Kim

Minerals 2019, 9(6), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9060379 - 23 Jun 2019

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6131

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the removal of arsenic (As) and heavy metals from mining wastewater by the combination of adsorption, using modified iron-ore drainage sludge, and horizontal-subsurface-flow constructed wetland with common reed (Phragmites australis). The pilot-scale experiment with a constant flow rate of 5 m³/day was operated for four months using real wastewater from a Pb–Zn mine in northern Vietnam. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for elemental analysis in wastewater and plant. X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface charge measurements (by a particle charge detector (PCD)), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and surface area Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) measurements were performed to determine the characteristics of the adsorbent. The results showed that the average removals of As, Mn, Cd, Zn, and Pb by the combined system with limestone substrate during four months were 80.3%, 96.9%, 79.6%, 52.9%, and 38.7%, respectively. The use of another constructed wetland substrate, laterite, demonstrated better removal efficiency of As than limestone. The concentrations of As and heavy metals in the effluent were lower than the limits established by the QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT for industrial wastewater, which indicated the feasibility of combining adsorption and constructed wetland for the treatment of mining wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Geochemistry and Health)

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17 pages, 749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accumulation of Arsenic and Heavy Metals in Native and Cultivated Plant Species in a Lead Recycling Area in Vietnam

by Ha T. T. Chu, Tu V. Vu, Tam K. B. Nguyen and Ha T. H. Nguyen

Minerals 2019, 9(2), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9020132 - 24 Feb 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5674

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the soil contamination and the accumulation of arsenic (As) and heavy metals including chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in 15 native and cultivated plant species in a Pb recycling area of Dong Mai village, Hung Yen Province, Vietnam. The analysis of 32 soil samples collected from seven different sites in the study area revealed that the contents of Al, Fe, As, Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the soils ranged from 6200–32,600, 11,300–55,500, 5.4–26.8, 24.9–290, 66.0–252, 143–455, 0.71–1.67, and 370–47,400 mg/kg, respectively. The contents of As, Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in rice grains and the shoots of 15 plant species ranged from 0.14–10.2, 1.00–10.2, 5.19–23.8, 34.7–165, 0.06–0.99, and 2.83–1160 mg/kg-dry weight (DW), respectively. Hymenachne acutigluma (Steud.) Gilliland, a potential hyperaccumulator of Pb (1160 mg/kg-DW), is considered the best candidate for phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soil. The cultivation of rice and vegetables, and the use of some native plants for food for humans, pigs, and cattle should be managed with consideration of the accumulation of Pb in their aboveground biomass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Geochemistry and Health)

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16 pages, 5224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Release Behaviors of Arsenic and Heavy Metals from Arsenic Sulfide Sludge during Simulated Storage

by Liwei Yao, Xiaobo Min, Yong Ke, Yunyan Wang, Yanjie Liang, Xu Yan, Hui Xu, Jiangchi Fei, Yuancheng Li, Degang Liu and Kang Yang

Minerals 2019, 9(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9020130 - 23 Feb 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4968

Abstract

Non-ferrous metal smelting enterprises produce hundreds of thousands of tons of arsenic sulfide sludge (ASS) each year in China. Most of the ASS are stored at the companies without enough preventive measures. During the storage and natural drying process, arsenic sulfide is easily oxidized, thereby causing secondary pollution and increasing environmental risks. In this paper, experiments of simulated storage were used to study the release characteristics of heavy metals. During the simulated storage, the release concentrations of As, Pb, and Cd increased rapidly at first and then slowly. Although the total amount of arsenic released was the largest, the release ratio was in the order of Cd > Pb > As. The effects of different atmospheres and conditions on the release of arsenic and heavy metals were explored. The more the H₂SO₄ in the sludge, the higher the release concentration, and the addition of an appropriate amount of Ca(OH)₂ is beneficial for reducing the release of heavy metals. Finally, SEM, XRD and TG-DTG techniques were carried out to confirm that the release of heavy metals was caused by the oxidation process resulting from the residual H₂SO₄ in the ASS and the air. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Geochemistry and Health)

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18 pages, 2145 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of pH and Contaminant Redox Form on the Competitive Removal of Arsenic and Antimony from Aqueous Media by Coagulation

by Muhammad Ali Inam, Rizwan Khan, Du Ri Park, Babar Aijaz Ali, Ahmed Uddin and Ick Tae Yeom

Minerals 2018, 8(12), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/min8120574 - 6 Dec 2018

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4737

Abstract

In most countries, arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) are regulated pollutants, due to their significant impacts on the environment and human health. Iron-based (Fe) coagulants play a fundamental role in the removal of both elements from aqueous media. This study aims to investigate the competitive removal of As and Sb in relation to Fe solubility. Coagulation experiments were conducted in synthetic water under various pH and contaminant loading, using ferric chloride (FC) as a coagulant. In the single system, the pentavalent species significantly reduced the Fe solubility and thereby enhanced the mobility of As and Sb under these environmental conditions. The coexistence of pentavalent and trivalent species in the binary system considerably decreases the Fe solubility at acidic conditions while enhancing the dissolution under alkaline conditions, thus affecting the overall removal of both species. The presence of four redox species in the quaternary system decreases the Fe solubility remarkably over a wide pH range, with better Sb removal, as compared to As under similar conditions. The adsorption study of the single system showed a decrease in As(V) adsorption capacity at higher concentration, while in the binary system, the Sb(III) showed strong adsorption potential, compared to other species. In the quaternary system, the presence of all four redox species has a synergistic effect on total Sb adsorption, in comparison to the total As. Furthermore, the results of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis of FC composite contaminant flocs confirm that the combined effect of charge neutralization and inner sphere complexation might be a possible removal mechanism. These findings may facilitate the fate, transport and comparative removal of redox species in the heterogeneous aquatic environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Geochemistry and Health)

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