Net N immobilisation during the biodegradation of mucilage in soil as affected by repeated mineral and organic fertilisation

Repeated fertilisation of crops with manure commonly increases both the amount and the quality of soil organic matter, the mineralisation of which strongly determines the availability of N to plants. In the rhizosphere, the microbial mineralisation/immobilisation of N is enhanced due to rhizodeposition (release of organic compounds from roots). In this work, we studied N transformations during incubation of maize root mucilage in soils that had been previously fertilized with composted pig manure or with ammonium nitrate for 7 years. Our work revealed mucilage was rapidly mineralised (average half-life of 3 days), inducing a rapid N immobilisation of 94 mg N g⁻¹ of mucilage C, followed by a slow remineralisation. Fertilisation with manure induced a persistent stimulation of the soil organic matter mineralisation, leading to an enhanced content of soil inorganic N (+23% in 58 days of incubation). Due to this stimulation of microbial activity in the soil fertilized with manure, the decrease in inorganic N during the biodegradation of mucilage lasted a shorter time as compared to the mineral fertilisation. However, the type of fertilisation did not significantly change the amount of N immobilised.     

Photocatalytic degradation of pesticide contaminants in water

Photocatalysis has been proved to be an effective and inexpensive tool for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from water. Of particular interest in this context, in recent years, has been the complete photocatalytic mineralisation of a variety of pesticides into harmless products. The technique is now reaching the pre-industrial level, with several pilot plants and prototypes being operational in various countries. This paper reviews the major developments in the area, with special reference to the mechanism of the process involved, nature of the reactive intermediates and final products.     

Increased emissions of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide following tillage of a perennial pasture

About 40% of the agricultural land in the European Union (EU) is grassland used for animal production. When grassland is tilled, organically bound carbon and nitrogen are released, providing substrates for nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms. The aim of this study was to examine the immediate effects of tillage of a perennial grassland carried out on different dates, on the emissions of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), monitored intensively over a 5-day period, in a humid, dairy farming area of northern Spain. Soil was tilled 12 days and 2 days prior to fertiliser application. Tillage, time of tillage, and N fertiliser application affected NO and N₂O emissions. Tillage 12 days before the start of the flux measurements resulted in higher emissions than tillage one day before, the difference being related to differences in soil mineral N and water-filled pore space (WFPS). Emissions of NO peaked at a WFPS of 50–60%, while N₂O fluxes peaked at 70–90% WFPS. Loss of N was greater as N₂O than as NO. The total loss of N as N₂O plus NO ranged from 0.027 kg N ha^–1 in unfertilised plots to 0.56 kg N ha^–1 in the tilled and N fertilised plot. Thereafter emissions decreased rapidly to low values. The results of this study indicate that tillage of perennial grassland may release large amounts of NO and N₂O, the amounts also depending on moisture conditions and addition of N fertiliser. We suggest that in order to reduce such emissions, application of N fertiliser should not immediately follow tillage of perennial grassland, as there is an extra supply of N from mineralisation of organic matter at this time.     

Nitrous oxide emission from soils amended with crop residues

Crop residues incorporated in soil are a potentially important source of nitrous oxide (N₂O), though poorly quantified. Here, we report on the N₂O emission from 10 crop residues added to a sandy and a clay soil, both with and without additional nitrate (NO₃). In the sandy soil, total N₂O emission from wheat, maize, and barley residues was not significantly different from the control. The total N₂O emission from white cabbage, Brussels sprouts, mustard, sugar beet residues and broccoli ranged from 0.13 to 14.6 % of the amount of N added as residue and were higher with additional NO₃ than without additional NO₃. In the clay soil, similar effects of crop residues were found, but the magnitude of the N₂O emission was much smaller than that in the sandy soil: less than 1 % of the residue N evolved as N₂O. The C-to-N ratio of the residue accounted for only 22–34% and the mineralizable N content of the residue for 18–74% of the variance in N₂O emission. We suggest that the current IPCC methodology for estimating N₂O emission from crop residues may be considerably improved by defining crop specific emission factors instead of one emission factor for all crop residues. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Crystal structure and surface species of CuFe2O4 spinel catalysts in steam reforming of dimethyl ether

The application of catalytic ozonation processes for the decolourisation and mineralisation of coloured aqueous solutions was studied. One acid azo dye, CI Acid Blue 113, and two reactive dyes, CI Reactive Yellow 3 and CI Reactive Blue 5, with azo and anthraquinone chromophores, respectively, were used as representative textile dyes. The catalytic activities of activated carbon, cerium oxide and a ceria-activated carbon composite were evaluated in the removal of the selected dyes. In all cases, with an initial dye concentration of 50 mg/L, a complete decolourisation was achieved by single ozonation in short reaction times (less than 10 min). The ceria-activated carbon composite allowed the highest removal of total organic carbon. For dye concentrations of 50 mg/L, mineralisation degrees of 100%, 98% and 97% were achieved with the composite after 2 h of reaction, respectively for CI Reactive Blue 5, CI Acid Blue 113 and CI Reactive Yellow 3. The activity of the catalyst containing cerium was affected by the presence of carbonate and bicarbonate ions due to their scavenging effect towards hydroxyl radicals; for example the mineralisation degree of CI Reactive Blue 5 (C₀ = 300 mg/L) after 120 min of reaction was only 63%, contrasting with the value of 85% obtained in the absence of carbonates. All the catalytic systems were evaluated in the treatment of textile effluents, collected before or after conventional biological treatment. Catalytic ozonation was proven to be effective when used as tertiary treatment for bio-treated effluents.     

Photocatalytic mineralisation of four model azo dyes in the presence of nanocomposite thin film Pt‐ZnO catalysts coated on glass from aquatic environment

This paper reports on work with a nanocomposite to achieve remedial degradation of azo dyes. The intention is to improve quality of discharge waters produced by the textile industry in Iran. We used a nanocomposite of Pt/ZnO coated on glass as a photocatalyst to degrade four different azo dyes. We found that 3 mol% Pt/ZnO thin film exhibited better performance than the pure ZnO thin film. In this regard, Pt/ZnO thin film nanocatalysts offer the prospect of developing a new generation of efficient photocatalysts for remediation of textile dye wastewaters.     

The Mineralisation of Organic Nitrogen: Relationship with Variations in the Water-Table Within a Floodplain of the River Adour in Southwest France

The phenomenon of mineralisation of organic nitrogen has been investigated in a section of the floodplain of the River Adour, between Saubusse and Le Vimport, in southwest France. Water quality parameters have been measured at a number of piezometers within the floodplain: nitrate concentrations measured at the sites were generally negligible during the 15-month period studied, significant levels of dissolved ammonium ion were, however, observed during this period. A mechanism of partial mineralisation has been invoked that considers the breakdown of organic nitrogen within the sediments of the floodplain. The level of the water-table is observed to modulate further oxidation of ammonium ion to nitrite and nitrate ion: low groundwater levels allow aerobic oxidation but increased water levels reduce the production of nitrate. Denitrification and uptake by riparian vegetation appear to be combining rapidly to reduce the nitrate as it is produced. The fine particle size of the floodplain sediments permits the storage of considerable quantities of organic nitrogen and the high level of mineralisation of this stock, responding to variations in the water table, provides an explanation for the increasing nitrate concentrations observed in the river channel in recent years. It is estimated that ca. 24% of the sub-surface organic nitrogen is removed each year.     

Mineralisation of coloured aqueous solutions by ozonation in the presence of activated carbon

The degradation of organic matter in coloured solutions of different classes of dyes by ozonation in the presence of activated carbon is investigated. The kinetics of the decolourisation and mineralisation of three different dyes solutions (CI Acid Blue 113, CI Reactive Red 241 and CI Basic Red 14) were studied in a laboratory scale reactor by three different processes: adsorption on activated carbon, oxidation with ozone and ozonation in the presence of activated carbon. The mineralisation of the solutions was followed by measuring the total organic carbon (TOC). Under the experimental conditions used in this work, activated carbon was not capable of completely removing the colour of the solutions in reasonable time. On the other hand, ozonation quickly decolourised all the solutions, but satisfactory removal of TOC was never achieved by this process. The combination of activated carbon with ozone enhanced the decolourisation of the solutions and especially the mineralisation of the organic matter. Activated carbon acts both as an adsorbent and as a catalyst in the reaction of ozonation. The surface chemistry of the activated carbon is an important parameter; it was observed that basic samples improve TOC removal. The main conclusions of this work were validated by treating a real textile effluent collected after the conventional biological treatment.     

Electrochemical removal of gallic acid from aqueous solutions

Removal of gallic acid from aqueous solutions of different concentrations has been performed by electroprecipitation using a sacrificial iron anode, by indirect electrochemical oxidation carried out via electro- and photoelectro-Fenton processes using an oxygen-diffusion cathode, and by a combination of the first two methods (peroxicoagulation process). In all cases, chromatographic analyses have shown a very quick disappearance of gallic acid and its aromatic by-products within 30-90 min of electrolysis, depending on the method. A pseudo first-order kinetic decay of gallic acid was always observed under galvanostatic conditions. A decay of TOC and COD close to 90 and 95% is observed with electroprecipitation and peroxicoagulation processes, respectively, after electrolysis time lower than 2 h. The specific charge utilised in these two processes was about half of that theoretically required for the complete direct oxidation process (mineralisation). During electrolyses some carboxylic acids have been detected as main intermediates, which completely disappear at the end of the process, except oxalic acid in the case of electro-Fenton method.