The Ganga River exhibits elevated concentrations of dissolved strontium (Sr) and a higher radiogenic Sr (Sr-87/Sr-86) among global rivers, which impacts oceanic Sr composition. This has implications for understanding weathering and sediment flux into open oceans. The Nepal Himalayan section is a significant part of the upstream Ganga River catchment. We analyzed Sr and Nd isotopes and major element concentrations in water and sediments to trace compositional and seasonal variability in dissolved and particulate matter. The Sr and Nd isotopes, in particular, are crucial in this study as they provide unique signatures that can be used to trace the origin and composition of the dissolved and particulate matter. Representative rivers draining monolithological terrains were selected to investigate the isotopic and elemental provenance and weathering intensity. The elemental ratios (Ca/Na, Mg/Na) indicate the watersheds are carbonate-rich terrains. The Lesser Himalaya (LH) rivers transport radiogenic Sr with high values compared to rivers draining the Tethyan Sedimentary Series (TSS), Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC), Mahabharat, and Siwalik Hills. The dry season records a higher Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio than the monsoon. Due to the faster dissolution of carbonates compared to silicates, monsoon waters transport less radiogenic Sr. The significant correlation of Sr-87/Sr-86 in dissolved and particulate phases signifies that short-term interactions between sediment and water may alter the Sr-87/Sr-86 composition. Notably, sediments originating from continental rocks exhibit an inverse correlation between Sr-87/Sr-86 and epsilon(Nd). In conclusion, the Sr and Nd isotopic records in this study categorize the fluvial catchments into geological clusters aligned with the TSS, LH, and Siwaliks, which advance our understanding regarding the provenance besides providing crucial insights into geological processes, weathering, landscape evolution, and sediment flux.

This study evaluates a simultaneous assessment of organic matter (OM) and trace elements (TE) bio-accessibility in substrate and digestate from a full-scale anaerobic digester by a sequential OM extraction method. Simultaneous release of TE was determined along with the extraction of different OM fractions and the effects of extracting reagents on characteristics of OM were evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The reagents used for sequential extraction of OM were not enough selective. However, proteins were particularly removed by 0.1 M NaOH, while 72% H2SO4 mainly extracted hemicellulose and cellulose. The OM fractionation allowed for simultaneous extraction of greater than60% of total As, Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn, while the extraction was limited for Al, Cr, Cu, Mo, and Pb. In substrate, greater than50% of total As, Co, Mn and Ni and less than40% of total Fe, Zn and Mo were identified in bio-accessible fractions. In digestate, all elements demonstrated poor bio-accessibility except for As.less thanbr /greater than (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pretreatment of anaerobic digester samples by hydrochloric acid (HCl) resulted in removal of Fe-based mineral and coordination compounds, attenuating their interferences with solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic characterization of the solid phase organic matter. Substrate (influent) and digestate (effluent) samples from two full-scale anaerobic digesters, designated CD (co-digester) and SSD (sewage sludge digester), were investigated. Pretreatment of CD samples with 0.2-2.0 mol l(-1) HCl and pretreatment of SSD samples with 1.0-3.0 mol l(-1) HCl removed 96-100% and 76-80% of total Fe, respectively. Pretreatment declined overall paramagnetic characteristics of digestate samples, manifested by 50% (CD) and 70% (SSD) decrease in electron paramagnetic resonance signal intensities. As a result, meaningful solution-state H-1,C-13 heteronuclear single quantum coherence and H-1 NMR spectra of DMSO-d(6) soluble organic matter could be acquired. Sample pretreatment with the lowest concentration of HCl resulted in alteration of C:N ratios in solid phase, likely due to removal of labile organic and inorganic C- and N-containing compounds, while elevating the HCl concentration did not further change the C:N ratios. Furthermore, sample pretreatment increased the solubility of carbohydrates and proteins in DMSO-d(6), enabling the detection of NMR resonances from certain structural units of carbohydrates (e.g. anomeric O2CH) and proteins (e.g. CH alpha in amino acids). Both attenuation of the paramagnetic matrix as well as art enhanced solubility of carbohydrate and protein fractions of the samples in DMSO-d(6) solvent contributed to an improved molecular characterization of anaerobic digester samples by solution-state NMR analysis.

An elevated level of arsenic (As) in the Indo-Gangetic delta plain aquifers has been reported since the 1990s. Organic matter (OM) present in groundwater and aquifer sediments supports the microbial communities in these aquifers. During installation of a drinking water well, 26 sediment intervals of 6 m each were retrieved up till 156 m from a Pleistocene brown sand aquifer (BSA). Grain size distribution, sequential extraction of metals and total extractable lipids were analyzed in each sample. These parameters were statistically correlated in order to establish relationship between the physical vs. inorganic and organic characteristics, and how these properties affected the distribution of As in BSAs. The aquifer sediments consisted of medium to coarse sand except the surface sediments and those at the bottom of the well, which had high clay and slit content. Arsenic (As) concentration in sediments ranged from 2 to 21 mg/kg and indicated a strong correlation with grain size. Arsenic was mostly associated with crystalline oxides and silicate-rich minerals. Arsenic showed significant correlation with Fe in all fractions, and suggests presence of pyrite bound As-bearing minerals in these sediments. The diagnostic sedimentary lipid biomarkers indicated presence of compounds derived from vascular plants and microbial cell wall. This inference was supported by various diagnostic lipid ratios. The biomarkers were abundant in surface and deeper layers, which had high clay and silt content. The BSA sediments indicated preferential preservation of n-alkanes over other functional compounds, which were more reactive and subject to degradation. The thick clay layer at 132-156 m contained visible plant fragments, and OM in this layer indicated preferential preservation of organic carbon most likely due to the absence of specific microbial communities that degraded these compounds and mobilized As. Statistical analyses indicated the influence of selective inorganic and organic components (As, Fe and fatty acids) controlling the co-distribution of various inorganic and organic components in the aquifer.

Organic substances present in radioactive waste lower the sorption of metal ions at the high pH in cement matrices and, hence, enhance their possible migration. The aim of this study was to develop a method to compare organic substances or their degradation products with respect to what extent they affect metal sorption. Batch sorption studies were performed with cement or TiO 2 as solid phase and Eu(III) as a model element for trivalent lanthanides and actinides at pH 12.5 (representative of a cement waste matrix during the first approximately 100,000 years). Different kinds of ligands were studied in a broad concentration range, e.g., organic acids, cement additives, cleaning agents and degradation products from ion-exchange resin. © 2006 Akadémiai Kiadó.