Increase In Total Organic Carbon Research Articles

Impacts on seafloor geology of drilling disturbance in shallow waters

This paper describes the effects of drilling disturbance on the seafloor of the upper continental slope of the Campos Basin, Brazil, as a result of the project Environmental Monitoring of Offshore Drilling for Petroleum Exploration--MAPEM. Field sampling was carried out surrounding wells, operated by the company PETROBRAS, to compare sediment properties of the seafloor, including grain-size distribution, total organic carbon, and clay mineral composition, prior to drilling with samples obtained 3 and 22 months after drilling. The sampling grid used had 74 stations, 68 of which were located along 7 radials from the well up to a distance of 500 m. The other 6 stations were used as reference, and were located 2,500 m from the well. The results show no significant sedimentological variation in the area affected by drilling activity. The observed sedimentological changes include a fining of grain size, increase in total organic carbon, an increase in gibbsite, illite, and smectite, and a decrease in kaolinite after drilling took place.

Wetting process and soil water retention of a minesoil amended with composted and thermally dried sludges

Composting or thermally-drying sludges are becoming commonly used in soil rehabilitation of degraded land. Sludge amendments increase soil organic matter, but can reduce soil wettability due to hydrophobic compounds. The main objective of this study is to analyse how composted and thermally dried sludges influence soil wettability and water retention properties of a minesoil obtained from limestone extraction during quarrying rehabilitation activities. Three composted (Blanes, Manresa and Vilaseca) and three thermally dried (Besós, Mataró and Sabadell) municipal sludges from different wastewater plants of medium-sized towns located in Catalonia (NE Spain) were mixed with a minesoil and filled into lysimeters The minesoil water retention curves and, the time required for their measurement were analyzed together with various soil key parameters. Throughout the wetting process, three characteristic points of the water retention curve were identified: (i) the air soil dryness point corresponding to a soil suction of − 25 MPa, (ii) the critical point where high suction regime changes to low suction regime, located around − 6 MPa and (iii) the wilting point, corresponding to a soil suction of − 1.5 MPa. One month after sludge amendments (S1), two composted sludges increased the vapour wetting time corresponding to wilting point ( t wp) of minesoil, while 1 year after sludge amendments (S2) two thermally dried sludges decreased t wp. On the other hand, all composted sludges and one thermally dried sludge increased minesoil water retention corresponding to wilting point ( w wp) at sampling one (S1), while at sampling two (S2) similar effects were observed except in one composted sludge treatment. Regarding to soil biophysical properties, the addition of composted and thermally dried sludges to minesoil increased total organic carbon, soil–water contact angle, microbial biomass, pH and electrical conductivity at both experimental time scales (S1 and S2), while extractable carbohydrates was only modified at S1. The sludge effects on soil wetting properties and biophysical parameters were dependent on sewage sludge origin and the type of post-treatment. Increases in total organic carbon, extractable carbohydrates, contact angle, microbial biomass or electrical conductivity and decreases in pH corresponded with increases in t wp and w wp. It was observed that under similar conditions of water vapour adsorption, minesoil amended with composted sludge could have more difficulties to overcome the permanent wilting point under wetting process.

Some sediment-geochemical evidence for the recent environmental changes of the lakes from the middle and lower Yangtze River basin, China

The lakes along the middle-lower Yangtze River Basin have undergone dramatic water quality deterioration and eutrophication during recent decades. The nutrient and metal accumulation in the lake sediments through time were investigated using the sedimentary-geochemical records of the drilling cores from several typical lakes. The results showed a general increase in total organic carbon and total nitrogen concentration with lower depth in the profiles. Increased delivery of organic matter to the lake system could be responsible for the nutrient enrichments in the lake bottom sediments. The general trend of nutrients matter enriched upwards in the core indicated that these lakes had become eutrophic since the mid-1950s (macrophyte-type lake), or late 1980s (algae-type lake). In addition, the results have also shown that human activities have exerted a great influence on the past lake environmental changes since the 1950s, inferred from the changes in the sedimentary rate and the anthropogenic metal accumulation in the sediment cores. Enhanced human activities seem to occur around the early 1970s.

Effect of Combined Bacillus subtilis on the Sorption of Phenanthrene and 1,2,3‐Trichlorobenzene onto Mineral Surfaces

In the natural environment, minerals are often associated with coexisting microorganisms. These interactions have profound impacts on the fate of a wide variety of contaminants. However, little information is available on the sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOC), such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated benzenes, onto the composites of minerals with bacteria, and knowledge of the influence of combined bacteria on HOC sorption to minerals is limited. In our study, sorption isotherms of phenanthrene (Phen) and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene (TCB) onto Bacillus subtilis, minerals (kaolinite, montmorillonite, and goethite), and mineral-B. subtilis composites were studied to determine the role of B. subtilis in sorption. For pure mineral systems, the order of Phen and TCB sorption affinity was montmorillonite > kaolinite > goethite. For mineral-B. subtilis composites, the trend was montmorillonite > goethite > kaolinite, consistent with that of their ability to combine with bacteria. The coating of B. subtilis with minerals enhanced the sorption due to the strong sorption of Phen and TCB onto B. subtilis cells and the increase of total organic carbon of minerals. With increasing B. subtilis concentration, sorption of Phen and TCB on pure B. subtilis cells decreased, but sorption on kaolinite surface increased. Sodium azide can greatly reduce sorption capacity but increases sorption linearity for B. subtilis and mineral-B. subtilis composites. Compared with TCB, Phen had higher sorption affinity due to its high hydrophobicity. Our results may be useful for understanding the role of bacteria in regulating the distribution and transport of HOCs in the environment.

Conditioning film and initial biofilm formation on electrochemical CaCO3 deposition on a metallic net in the marine environment

Electrochemical deposition of minerals is a unique technology for artificial reef constructions, relying on calcium carbonate (CaCO3) build-up over metallic structures through electrolysis of seawater. The present study traces the first 72 h following electric current termination on bacterial biofilm build-up on a metallic net covered with CaCO3. 16S rRNA clone libraries indicated a dynamic succession. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were evident at all sampling times while Cyanobacteria appeared only within the first 8 h. A significant increase in total organic carbon (TOC) and total protein was observed after 48 h with a significant correlation (R 2 = 0.74), indicating TOC is a good tool for characterizing initial biofilm formation. 18S rRNA gene sequences obtained 72 h following current termination indicated a significant presence of Cnidarians (51%). Understanding the dynamics among primary bacterial settlers is important because they play a crucial role in driving the colonization of sessile invertebrate communities on artificial, as well as natural surfaces.

Carbon Isotope Records Indicative of Paleoceanographical Events at the Latest Permian Dalong Formation at Shangsi, Northeast Sichuan, China

Paired organic and carbonate carbon isotope compositions of Late Permian Wujiaping and Dalong formations at Shangsi, Northeast Sichuan were analyzed by MAT 251. An abrupt negative excursion in the two isotope records was observed in the middle part of Dalong Formation, in association with a drop in the carbon isotope difference of the two records and an increase of total organic carbon (TOC) content. The negative drop of the paired carbon isotope records is suggestive of the input of 12 C-enriched CO 2 . The molecular ratios of pristane to phytane and dibenzothiophene to phenanthrene indicate the anoxic condition in this interval. The enhanced TOC content is indicative of the elevated preservation of organic matter due to the anoxic condition. These isotopic and organic geochemical data probably infer the occurrence of the upwelling in this interval. The additional contribution of volcanism activity observed in South China cannot be excluded to the input of 12 C-enriched CO 2 and the negative shifts in carbon isotope composition of bulk organic matter and carbonate.

Laminated sediments from the central Peruvian continental slope: A 500 year record of upwelling system productivity, terrestrial runoff and redox conditions

Sedimentological studies including X-ray digital analyses, mineralogy, inorganic contents, and organic geochemistry on cores of laminated sediments accumulated in the oxygen minimum zone of the central Peruvian margin reveal variable oceanographic and climate conditions during the last 500 yr. Coherent upcore variations in sedimentological and geochemical markers in box cores taken off Pisco (B0405-6) and Callao (B0405-13) indicate that variability in the climate proxies examined has regional significance. Most noteworthy is a large shift in proxies at ∼1820 AD, as determined by 210Pb and 14C radiometric dating. This shift is characterized by an increase in total organic carbon (TOC) in parallel with an abrupt increase in the enrichment factor for molybdenum Mo indicating a regional intensification of redox conditions, at least at the sediment water interface. In addition there was lower terrestrial input of quartz, feldspar and clays to the margin. Based on these results, we interpret that during several centuries prior to 1820, which corresponds to the little ice age (LIA), the northern Humboldt current region was less productive and experienced higher terrestrial input related to more humid conditions on the continent. These conditions were probably caused by a southward displacement of the inter-tropical convergence zone and the subtropical high pressure cell during the LIA. Since 1870, increases in TOC and terrigenous mineral fluxes suggest an increase of wind-driven upwelling and higher productivity. These conditions continued to intensify during the late 20th century, as shown by instrumental records of wind forcing.

Olive orchard amended with two experimental olive mill wastes mixtures: Effects on soil organic carbon, plant growth and yield

Amendments of olive orchard soil with two different preparations of olive mill solid waste (OMWMs) at the rate of 9 ton ha −1 per year for five years in two different plots were compared with an industry standard soil amendment using urea. Both the OMWMs amendments showed significant increases in total organic carbon and humic substances in soil of approximately 40% and 58%, respectively, without negative effects on tree growth and yield. This work has shown that olive oil mill waste (OMW) can be recycled safely using the bioremediation system used in this study. We suggest that this system is particularly beneficial to organic farming and is an alternative solution to direct spreading of raw OMW on farm lands.

Changes in organic matter and residual effect of amendment with two-phase olive-mill waste on degraded agricultural soils

Agricultural soils from many parts of the Mediterranean region are very poor in organic matter and are exposed to progressive degradation processes. Therefore, additions of the olive-mill waste from a continuous two-phase system as an organic amendment can improve soil quality and hence mitigate the negative environmental and agronomic limitations of these soils. A field study under semiarid Mediterranean conditions was conducted to evaluate the changes in organic matter after four consecutive annual additions of olive-mill watery husk (OMWH) waste and the de-oiled two-phase olive pomace (TPOP) waste on an olive grove soil: a cutanic Luvisol (CL). Treatments included a control, OMWH (30 and 60 Mg ha(-1), DW equivalent), and TPOP (27 and 54 Mg ha(-1), DW equivalent). Also, a two-year greenhouse study using wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was conducted to evaluate the residual effects of adding OMWH to CL soil and to a degraded Leptic Cambisol (LC). Treatments included five OMWH rates ranging from 0 to 40 Mg ha(-1). Significant increases in total organic carbon (TOC), water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), humic and fulvic acids, and aggregate stability were observed in the treated plots, and the highest humification index was obtained when OMWH was applied at the lowest rate. The increase in aggregate stability correlated positively and highly significantly (P<0.01) with the humic and fulvic acid and WSOC contents. In the greenhouse, significant increases in TOC, carbohydrates, aggregate stability, total N, available K, and cation exchange capacity were observed in both soils. However, available P decreased significantly. There was an increased residual fertilization effect of OMWH for both soils. The best fits to grain yield and OMWH rates were with a linear regression for the CL soil (R(2)=0.957 and P<0.01), and a quadratic regression for the LC soil (R(2)=0.960 and P<0.01).

Post-depositional modification of atmospheric dust on a granite building in central Rio de Janeiro: implications for surface induration and subsequent stone decay

Abstract Extensive contour scaling of a 200 year old granite church is associated with the breaching of an apparently iron-rich crust and the widespread deposition of atmospheric dust within the canyon-like streetscape of Rio de Janeiro. Contemporary dust, accumulated dust from within a depression on the building surface, the surface crust and the underlying granite are examined by a combination of total element analysis and sequential extraction, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Results indicate an increase in total organic carbon and marked decrease in pH within the accumulated dust, and a rapid mobilization of anions and cations from the water-soluble and carbonate phases. It is considered that the latter is linked to salt accumulation within and eventual salt weathering of the granite. Post-depositional alteration of the dust is also linked with the de-silicification of clay minerals (illite to kaolinite) and the loss of silica from the amorphous Fe/Mn phase of the accumulated dust under the initially saline and progressively more acidic conditions experienced at the stone-atmosphere interface. This mobilization of silica is associated with the formation of what is, in effect, a thin silica-rich surface crust or glaze. Within the glaze, accessory amounts of extractable iron are concentrated within the amorphous and crystalline Fe/Mn phases at levels that are significantly elevated with respect to the underlying granite, but much lower than in the equivalent phases of the accumulated dust from which it is principally assumed to derive. The protection afforded to the stonework by the crust is not, however, permanent and within the last 15 years it has been possible to observe a rapid increase in the surface delamination of the church close to street level.

Miocene deep-water agglutinated foraminifera from ODP Hole 909c: Implications for the paleoceanography of the Fram Strait Area, Greenland Sea

Deep-water agglutinated Foraminifera (DWAF) are investigated from Miocene sediments recovered from ODP Hole 909C in the Fram Strait, Norwegian-Greenland Sea. We studied 125 samples from Cores 909C-50R to -103R, and recovered over 60 species of DWAF. The faunal succession in Hole 909C is subdivided into three assemblages based on the stratigraphic ranges of charac- teristic cosmopolitan taxa. These are: (1) a diverse Reticulophragmium amplectens - Reophanus berggreni Assemblage in Cores 909C-100R-2 to -91R-1 (1040.71-952.78mbsf); (2) a Reticulophragmium amplectens Assemblage in Cores 909C-87R-2, to -71R-3 (915.7-762.68mbsf); and (3) a low-diversity Reticulophragmium rotundidorsatum Assemblage in Cores 909C-71R-1 to -55R-1 (759.68-605.52mbsf). The DWAF assemblages are correlated to the standard chronostratigraphy using dinoflagellate cysts and magnetostratigraphy. The stratigraphic ranges of some well-known Paleogene DWAF species extend far into the Miocene at this local- ity, confirming the hypothesis that the Arctic and northern Norwegian Sea basins served as a refuge for these species long after they dis- appeared from the North Atlantic stratigraphic record. The taxonomic affinities of the Miocene assemblages from Hole 909C supports the idea that an estuarine circulation pattern has been in place between the Arctic Ocean and Greenland Sea basins since at least the early Miocene. Changes in the benthic foraminiferal morphogroups within the R. rotundidorsatum Assemblage correlate with an increase in total organic carbon, indicating an increase in oceanic productivity in the Fram Strait region during the late Miocene.

Chemical and biological indicators of soil quality in organic and conventional farming systems in Central Italy

Abstract In the past decade, there has been increased scientific interest in the so-called organic farming, especially in comparison with conventional agriculture. Many recent studies compare these two fundamentally different systems for soil properties, in different regions of the world. In this study, two adjacent fields in Central Italy, one managed according to organic, and the other according to conventional farming methods, were studied to determine the effects of these two agricultural systems on soil quality indicators at the farm level. Chemical and microbiological properties were chosen as indicators of soil quality and were measured at soil depth intervals of 5–20 and 20–35 cm, after 7 years of organic certified and conventional management methods. The field under organic management showed significantly better soil nutritional and microbiological conditions; with increased level of total nitrogen, nitrate and available phosphorus, and an increased microbial biomass content, and enzymatic activities (acid phosphatase, protease and dehydrogenase). No consistent increase in total organic carbon was observed. Results of the study suggest that, over the period of 7 year, organic management method strongly affects soil quality indicators. Large differences between the two soils were found in terms of microbiological properties, which are sensitive soil indicators of changes occurred under the different farming systems.

Ultrasound assisted method to increase soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) of sewage sludge for digestion

The aim of this study was to clarify the possibilities to increase the amount of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and methane production of sludge using ultrasound technologies with and without oxidising agents. The study was done using multivariate data analyses. The most important factors affected were discovered. Ultrasonically assisted disintegration increased clearly the amount of SCOD of sludge. Also more methane was produced from treated sludge in anaerobic batch assays compared to the sludge with no ultrasonic treatment. Multivariate data analysis showed that ultrasonic power, dry solid content of sludge (DS), sludge temperature and ultrasonic treatment time have the most significant effect on the disintegration. It was also observed that in the reactor studied energy efficiency with high ultrasound power together with short treatment time was higher than with low ultrasound power with long treatment time. When oxidising agents were used together with ultrasound no increase in SCOD was achieved compared the ultrasonic treatment alone and only a slight increase in total organic carbon of sludge was observed. However, no enhancement in methane production was observed when using oxidising agents together with ultrasound compared the ultrasonic treatment alone. Ultrasound propagation is an important factor in ultrasonic reactor scale up. Ultrasound efficiency rose linearly with input power in sludge at small distances from the transducer. Instead, ultrasound efficiency started even to decrease with input power at long distances from the transducer.

Sedimentology and geochemistry of an urban coastal lake system: Coombabah Lake Nature Reserve, Gold Coast, Queensland

A study was initiated to address environmental concerns associated with changes in land use in the catchment area of Coombabah Lake, a brackish coastal lake system located in southeast Queensland. Sedimentological and geochemical data derived from a series of cores that penetrate the ca. 0–6000 year‐old lacustrine sequence indicate that throughout much of its history, Coombabah Lake has remained a quiet, shallow, water body fed by fine‐grained sediment dropped from suspension. Discrete and laterally continuous, shelly horizons form the basis for the stratigraphy developed for the lake sequence. A lithological transition in the upper 50 cm of the sediment column, from mud to shell‐rich, sandy mud, suggests that the depositional regime changed ∼500 years ago as accommodation space was filled. At this time, the dominant sedimentary processes changed to include reworking, partial bypass of sediment, the intermittent concentration of shell debris by winnowing, and the development of a flood‐tidal delta complex in the lower reaches of the lake. Sharp increases in total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus concentrations below the lithological transition at 50 cm depth suggest that the capacity of the system to preserve organic matter and trap nutrients decreased significantly after the transition in depositional regime. Results indicate that current conditions in Lake Coombabah are governed by natural processes associated with the long‐term evolution of coastal lake systems, and reveal little to suggest that there were any adverse affects resulting from recent human activities in the surrounding catchment.

Simultaneous use of geochemical and geophysical methods to characterise abandoned landfills

Groundwater sampling and geophysical methods determined a serious contamination problem associated with refilled exploitation sites at the Cal Dimoni area, Llobregat delta, Barcelona, Spain. To characterise this process, hydrogeochemical analyses were performed and showed the following modifications to groundwater chemical composition: increasing pH values, changing redox conditions, significant increases in total organic carbon (TOC) and certain trace elements, and high groundwater conductivity values. Major ion content accumulations were found under the refilled area. In contrast, elements involved in the oxidation–reduction processes, such as iron, manganese and nitrates, clearly diminished. Electromagnetic prospecting methods were also performed and delineated the contamination plume extent. These methods also showed separate sources of contamination, one clearly related to the groundwater–refilled zone leachate interaction, another as a consequence of the manure–accumulation surface site. Geochemical and geophysical methods have shown similar results for locating groundwater contamination sources, and for determining leachate generation mechanisms and flow paths.

Identification of a Waipawa Formation equivalent in the upper Te Uri Member of the Whangai Formation ‐ implications for depositional history and age

Stable isotopes and biomarkers have identified a unit with similar organic geochemistry to the Waipawa Formation, in the upper Te Uri Member of the Whangai Formation, exposed in the Akitio River, at Tawanui, southern Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. At Tawanui, the uppermost greensand of the Te Uri Member contains a large positive 813C isotopic excursion from ‐27.0%o to ‐20%e and an increase in total organic carbon from 0.1% to 1.0%. Biomarker analyses demonstrate a similar C30 sterane fingerprint to other deposits of the Waipawa Formation. We propose that the uppermost greensand of the Te Uri Member at Tawanui is a condensed stratigraphic equivalent of the Waipawa Formation at nearby Angora Stream and other East Coast Basin localities. This correlation demonstrates that Waipawa Formation is middle Teurian (middle Paleocene) and precedes the late Paleocene thermal maximum event by c. 5 m.y. The likely upwelling event that resulted in deposition of the Waipawa Formation was geographically widespread but probably restricted to the outer shelf/upper slope. In places, biogenic activity prevented the preservation of organic carbon in equivalent condensed stratigraphic intervals. Localised restriction of upwelling and black shale deposition may be demonstrated by the occurrence of a thick black shale at Angora Stream only c. 10 km from the coeval greensands at Tawanui. Alternatively, Oligocene‐Miocene east‐west shortening and structural reorganisation in the East Coast Basin may have juxtaposed facies that were originally many tens of kilometres apart. Our correlation also implies that the Te Uri Member is diachronous. It may have been on the outermost shelf to upper slope during lowstand conditions, where it is oldest, to higher on the shelf during transgression and highstand conditions.

Palaeoenvironmental Evolution Deduced from Organic Carbon Stable Isotope Compositions of Napahai Lake Sediments, Northwestern Yunnan, China

The Napahai Lake, situated in the hinterland of the Hengduan Mountains, is a basin by the erosion of carbonate rocks. The lake levels have experienced great fluctuation between low stand and high stand stages. The lake level changes directly influences the amount and distribution of aquatic plant communities that used different sources of carbon for photosynthesis, thereby imprinting the organic sediments with a characteristic 13 C composition. Another reason influencing the 13 C composition for bulk organic sediment, in this case, is the change of reduction oxidation condition in the alternative stages. In addition with the strong dissolution of carbonate strata in humid cool conditions, the lake level fluctuations and climatic changes could be reconstructed using HI, TOC and δ 13 C. The results show that increase in total organic carbon and hydrogen index correlates in general, with decrease in δ 13 C values, which could be attributed to the flourishing of emerging and floating aquatic plants as well as a relative reduction environment in a low lake level associated with a warm dry or temperate dry climate. The decreases of TOC and HI often correlate well with δ 13 C value increasing in a high lake level stage accompanied with a cool humid climate, which might be attributed to low productivity of aquatic plants, oxidation that triggers decomposition of organic matters and strong dissolution of carbonate strata in humid cool conditions. The palaeo environmental reconstruction shows that major environmental changes took place at 32kaBP and 15kaBP respectively. The lake levels exhibited frequent fluctuations between ca.57-43kaBP, and then the lake level slightly rose from ca.43kaBP to ca.37kaBP. After then, the lake level dropped dramatically when the climate became warm and dry. From ca.32kaBP, the lake level had a distinct rise due to cool humid climate and kept high until the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. A warm dry climate returned to the areas again and the lake level remained lowering during the Holocene. After the lake level rose in a minor amplitude from ca.3-2kaBP., modern climate dominates the Napahai lake.

MICROBIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL AMELIORATION OF ALKALINE SOIL BY GROWING KARNAL GRASS AND GYPSUM APPLICATION

In a field experiment, microbiological and chemical amelioration of a highly deteriorated alkaline soil (pH 10.6, exchangeable sodium percentage 95) was undertaken during 1989–92 using two reclamation technologies: namely, growing Karnal grass (Leptochloa fusca) as a first crop in the absence of any amendment (biological reclamation) or applying gypsum as a chemical amendment for different cropping sequences. After ten months average dehydrogenase activity, used as a measure of catabolic activity of micro-organisms under anaerobic conditions, was 49.5 μg triphenylformazan (TPF) per g soil in treatments where the soil was reclaimed by growing Karnal grass, compared with 26.8 μg TPF by applying 50% of the estimated requirement of gypsum. After three years of reclamation, average dehydrogenase activity was 118.7 μg TPF per g soil with Karnal grass and 96.1 μg TPF with gypsum. After three years average microbial biomass carbon was 28% greater in the gypsum treatments (206.5 mg per kg soil) compared with Karnal grass treatments (161.7 mg). However, at this stage the ratio between average dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass carbon was greater with Karnal grass (0.77) than in gypsum treatments (0.47). The microbiological properties changed more than the chemical properties of alkali soil as the time period advanced. After three years of reclamation, the average pH of the alkali soil dropped from 10.6 to 9.45 and the average exchangeable sodium percentage was reduced from 95 to 47.5. The increase in total organic carbon was 64% and in available nitrogen about 38% compared with the original soil. Higher microbial biomass carbon in gypsum treatments corresponded with lower exchangeable sodium percentage, higher availability of nitrogen and potassium and greater total yield of sensitive winter clovers.

Short-term effects of a secondary paper mill sludge application on soil properties in a Psammentic Haplumbrept under cultivation

Paper mill sludges (paper pulps) are proposed for use in agriculture to improve soil fertility. The organic matter composition of paper pulp, slurry and treated soils was investigated by means of wet chemistry and cross polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The pulp consists of about 70% O-alkyl carbon, whereas dry matter of the slurry only contains 40% O-alkyl carbon, but 37% alkyl carbon. All soil organic matter (SOM) data indicate no significant modification of the SOM quality due to the unique application of pulp and slurry, despite the fact that organic matter of both materials differs considerably from SOM. In addition, an increase of total organic carbon (TOC) due to the paper mill pulp application disappears within 1 year. From the ecological point of view, the data suggests that the application of paper mill pulp combined with cattle slurry within the crop rotation will not affect the soil ecosystem in a negative way. The effect of an annual application has to be proved by further studies.

Poly(triacontamethylene triacontanedioate) as polyethylene analogue: Properties and enzymatic degradation

AbstractDiethyl triacontanedioate (CH3CH2O2C(CH2)28CO2CH2CH3) and triacontane‐ 1,30‐diol (HO(CH2)30OH) were prepared and condensed to synthesize poly(triacontamethylene triacontanedioate) (PTRM). The properties of (PTRM) were compared with those of commercial low density polyethylene (LDPE), and enzymatic degradation of the PTRM was investigated. PTRM showed not only high melting point of 113°C and a thermal stability comparable to LDPE. The elongation at break is low (about 5%) and the tensile strength is around 12.5 MPa, higher than that of LDPE. The small contact angles indicate that PTRM has good wettability compared with LDPE. The increase of total organic carbon by Rhizopus arrhizus lipase and the resulting change of surface morphology confirmed that PTRM is biodegradable.