Sample Surface Research Articles

In situ measurement of three-dimensional intergranular stress localizations and grain yielding under elastoplastic axial-torsional loading

The three-dimensional grain-averaged response of solid bar samples under non-proportional (NP) elastoplastic axial-torsional loading was investigated using in situ high energy diffraction microscopy (HEDM) and companion crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) modeling. Important stress metrics including applied shear (σθZ) and axial (σZZ) stress tensor components, stress and stress deviator tensor invariants (I1, J2, and J3), von Mises equivalent stress (σVMgrain), maximum resolved shear stress (mRSS), stress triaxiality (η), and lode angle parameter (θ‾) values were tracked for ∼ 300 grains under two different loading conditions: (1) Torsion-dominated loading (low NP) and (2) Tension-torsion loading (high NP) in equiatomic NiCoCr, a representative multicomponent face-centered cubic (FCC) superalloy. Overall, significant stress localizations existed within both samples as evidenced by the radial dependence of grain-resolved σθZ, σVMgrain , and J2; by comparison, I1, J3, η, and θ‾ metrics did not show discernible trends within the volume. These stress localizations reveal a complex interplay between axial and shear stress components (e.g., stress coupling) resulting in grain yielding near the sample surface largely driven by shear stress, whereas internal grain yielding was largely accommodated by axial stress. Grain-resolved stress localization trends were described well by the CPFE model, although some discrepancies in magnitude occurred, particularly for volumetric stress metrics (I1 and η) due to initial type II residual stress distributions. The superposition of initial residual stress states onto CPFE grain-resolved data significantly improved model accuracy for η. This suggests that residual stresses more strongly influence the simulation of volumetric rather than deviatoric (yield) stress metrics.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-assisted non-destructive transient thermoreflectance characterizations.

The conventional pump-probe thermoreflectance (pump-probe TR) techniques are routinely performed on a thin (typically <100nm) metal transducer deposited on samples, ensuring the most fundamental principle of thermoreflectance: the reflectance change (∆R/R) of the sample surface is directly and linearly related to the temperature change (∆T) within a finite temperature range. However, general metal coating methods may damage the sample by forming a mixed layer with the sample. In this article, we present a non-destructive pump-probe transient thermoreflectance (TTR) characterization using the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-assisted metal transfer technique. Our method utilizes PDMS dry transfer to transfer common transducer metals (Au and Al) to the target substrate. This method effectively avoids impurities and damage to the sample. In particular, we have utilized Au as a transition layer to study the application of Al transfer in TTR measurements. The substrate thermal conductivity measurement results show that they can all be used for TTR measurement, and the thermal boundary conductance results show that the transferred metals have low bonding to the substrate. In addition, Al/Au can be transferred over a large area at room temperature compared to Au. After measurement, the samples can be restored to their original state by a simple cleaning method. This method provides a simple and reliable way to characterize samples without metal coating for TTR.

Pedological features of a sustainable halophyte wetland: El Hito saline pond (Central Spain)

AbstractIn semi‐arid Mediterranean regions, particularly in some wetland soils, salinity is thought to be an indicator of low‐quality soils. In this study, a characterization is presented of the soils surrounding El Hito saline pond (Castilla La Mancha, Central Spain), an ecological halophyte niche within a natural semi‐arid steppe land. The main aim is to classify the salt‐affected soils and their morphology, genesis, and physico‐chemical properties. Four soil profiles were opened with a backhoe machine for sampling and subsequent description on the basis of their pedogenetic morphology. Systematic surface sampling was also performed. Standard methods were followed to measure the soil properties of 27 samples. Overall electrical conductivity (EC) and pH levels of the wetland were mapped (using ArcGIS 3.1.3). Soil salinity at elevated levels was detected, inhibiting plant uptake of water and nutrients. Distinct sub‐areas of extreme elevated surface salinity providing specialized plant habitats and poor soil structure were observed, as well as a mainly whitened‐yellowish‐greenish soil colour due to salt accumulation and poor drainage. The soils also showed alkaline pH values. In most samples, the pH was over 8.5, and EC was higher than 4 (dS m−1), and in several samples higher than 20 (dS m−1). A low sodium (Na) content was detected in the saturation extract where magnesium (Mg+) was the dominant soluble cation, followed by both calcium (Ca+) and sodium (Na+), and then potassium (K+), present in lower proportions. Sulphate (SO42−) and then chloride (Cl−) anions were dominant, although carbon trioxide, (CO3−) and carbonate (CO32−) anions were also present. The percentages of organic carbon (C) were very low, while total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (P) were higher in the upper horizons, suggesting a degree of eutrophication. The present work will increase the existing knowledge about the role of El Hito saline pond, that play a vital ecological role in the broader biosphere, providing new suggestions to readers on how this knowledge can be used to improve these types of ecosystems. In particular, the agricultural pesticides and fertilizers continuously damage the soil fertility as evidenced by the high content of soluble phosphorus found in some points of the Hito saline pond.

Surface nanostructuring of Ti40Cu40Zr11Fe3Sn3Ag3 amorphous alloy by alkaline chemical treatment for potential use as a biocompatible material

Amorphous alloys show potential as implant materials due to their superior mechanical properties and good corrosion resistance. However, the presence of toxic elements in the alloy composition can pose challenges, as they can react with the surrounding tissue, leading to inflammation and cell death. To address this, Ti40Cu40Zr11Fe3Sn3Ag3 at% amorphous alloy is developed. This composition comprises of biocompatible elements (Ti, Zr, and Sn) and antimicrobial elements (Ag, Fe, and Cu), for potential use as implant materials. Chemical pseudo-dealloying using a solution of ammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide is employed to selectively remove copper from the sample surface, which may induce toxicity by prolonged contact, and promote the formation of a patterned passivating Ti/Zr oxide-rich surface to enable possible antimicrobial effects. The surface of the samples was analyzed using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The modified surfaces show titanium oxide-rich nanostructured topography with depleted amounts of copper from the surface. The kinetics of the selective removal of copper, and the influence of parameters such as electrolyte concentration, immersion time, and stirring velocity on the evolution of morphology were investigated. Our findings elucidate the mechanism of pseudo-dealloying using an ammonia-based solution and demonstrate its efficacy in enhancing the biocompatibility of the alloy. In detail, the pseudo-dealloyed samples exhibited hydrophilic interactions and demonstrated hemocompatibility, making them promising candidates for blood-contacting medical devices. This study underscores the significance of our approach in tailoring the surface properties of amorphous alloys for biomedical applications, paving the way for their utilization in implant materials with improved biocompatibility.

Innovative deep decontamination of radioactive solid surfaces using microemulsions of deep eutectic solvents in supercritical carbon dioxide

Radioactive solid wastes resulting from the application of nuclear energy pose a risk to the environment, yet traditional decontamination methods generate many secondary wastes. Thus, sustainability-driven innovations are receiving increasing attention to achieve eco-friendly decontamination methods characterized by minimizing secondary waste generation. Here, we proposed a sustainable and pioneering approach to decontaminate radioactive solid wastes using microemulsions of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). We also determined the optimal ratios of the additives as follows: prepared DESs with a molar ratio of choline chloride (ChCl) to p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (ptsa) of 1:2, and nonyl phenol polyoxyethylene ether (NP-10) to ChCl:ptsa DESs in a molar ratio of 0.8. Remarkably, after optimization of the decontamination process in terms of pressure, temperature and cleaning time, the radioactivity on the sample surface can be reduced to a level that is reusable in the nuclear field. Detailed analyses provided insights into the intermolecular interactions within the DESs. And the decontamination mechanisms involved the spontaneous evolution of microemulsions with ChCl:ptsa as the core to facilitate the solvation and removal of radioactive contaminants. Additionally, repeated cleaning was proved to be effective for ultra-deep decontamination, with the radioactivity on the sample surface reaching a clearance level and a decontamination efficiency of 99.8%. The DESs-in-CO2 systems successfully decontaminated various materials and simulated radionuclides, even real radioactive metal wastes from the nuclear industry. It was notable that the DESs-in-CO2 systems achieved decontamination efficiencies of more than 95.0% for radioactive contaminants on these solid surfaces. Overall, this innovative approach provided a green alternative to conventional radioactive solids decontamination, meeting the need for sustainable development of nuclear energy.

Polarimetric modeling and measurement approach for refractory material in the mid-wave infrared

Passive polarimetric imaging has gained substantial attention over the past three decades in various applications in defense. The complexity of polarimetry modeling and measurement in the thermal infrared exceeds that of the visible and near-infrared due to the complementary polarization orientation of reflected and emitted radiance. This paper presents a comprehensive polarimetric radiance model and a degree of linear polarization (DOLP) model, both of which are specifically tailored for the infrared spectrum, accounting for both reflected and emitted radiance. Building on this foundation, we conduct an analysis and simulation of the DOLP’s variation as the object temperature changes. This analysis enables the observation of relationships that can be strategically utilized in subsequent experiments focused on measuring polarized model parameters. To mitigate the influence of reflected radiance components, the samples are subjected to high temperatures. The observed Stokes images from the sample surfaces are normalized to eliminate the dependence of each Stokes image on temperature. This parameters acquisition measurement method is particularly well-suited for refractories. Finally, the efficacy of the polarized model parameters acquisition technique is demonstrated through experiments involving three distinct refractory materials in the MWIR.

Improving the bonding performance of new and old cement pastes by high-temperature treatment on the surface of old cement pastes

In concrete structure repair projects, patch repair is one of the most commonly used methods. However, the bonding interface is often the weakest part of the overall repaired structure, and its performance affects the safety of the entire structure. In this study, different groups of cement specimens with similar exposed surface were prepared by splitting the cement paste samples with water–cement ratio of 0.4 and 0.2 into two halves from the middle point. The exposed/split surfaces were then activated in an oven at 600 °C, 700 °C and 800 °C (heating time 30 min and holding time 5 min) respectively, and the new cement pastes were poured on the treated surface of the old cement paste samples after the treated samples were cooled down to room temperature. The interface bonding strengths of different groups of samples were tested through a three-point bending test, and the interface microstructure and composition were analyzed through micro indentation, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction tests. Among them, the interface bonding effect was the best with treatment temperature of 800 °C with an increase of more than 80 %. With this activation method, the old base cement can undergo rehydration reaction with the water in newly covered cement paste, thereby improving the bonding performance of the interface. However, high temperature can also cause microcracks on the surface of the old cement block, and it is necessary to control the activation temperature to achieve the required performance improvement. Combining mechanical tests, interface microstructure tests, and mechanism analysis, this study proposed and verified a method to improve the bonding interface strength between new and old cement pastes by high-temperature treatment on the surface of the old cement paste. Engineering applications were also discussed and explored.

Bubble Growth on Hydrophobic Rough Surfaces in the Shear Flow.

It is well known that bubbles will form on a hydrophobic rough surface immersed in water, which can create a surface covered with bubbles and leads to drag reduction. However, it is still not clear how bubbles grow on the surface under flow conditions. In this work, a rotating flow field is created using a parallel-plate setup of a rotational rheometer, and sample surfaces with different roughnesses and wettabilities are examined with different shear rates. The growth of bubbles is exclusively observed on the hydrophobic rough surface, and subsequent drag reduction is also detected simultaneously. The growth of bubbles is attributed to heterogeneous nucleation in the crevices under a local pressure reduction generated by the shear flow. A geometric model is established to describe the profile evolution of the trapped bubble in the crevice based on the contact angle and the pressure balance across the gas-liquid interface, which involves the variations of the Laplace pressure resulting from changes in the local liquid pressure. The growth of bubbles on the hydrophobic rough surface does not need a large decrease of the surrounding pressure or a high moving speed, which will have potential applications in drag reduction under the condition of a moderate shear rate.

Synergetic effects of micro-shot peening and gas nitriding on the fatigue performance of AISI 4140 steel

Gas-nitriding was performed to enhance the surface hardness and fatigue performance of 4140 steel pre-treated with micro-shot peening (MSP). The 4140 steel was solutionized and tempered at 200 °C/1 h, named as the base metal (BM) with the hardness of 500 HV0.05. Some BM samples were subjected to MSP (i.e., SPBM), and subsequently gas-nitrided at 520 °C/6 h (i.e., NBM). A compound layer of about 10 μm thickness formed on the surface of the NBM sample consisted of nano-grained Fe3N and Fe4N. The NBM sample showed a decline in hardness from the nitrided surface (750 HV0.05) to the matrix (300 HV0.05). In the as-peened condition, the peak residual compressive stress (RCS) was close to −500 MPa, and a very shallow stress field was obtained. After gas-nitriding, the peak RCS decreased to less than −400 MPa, while the affected depth expended to 300 μm. Defects in the compound layer did not deteriorate the fatigue strength/life of the nitrided 4140 steel. The RCS field effectively suppressed fatigue crack initiation and propagation at the surface of the NBM and SPBM samples. By contrast, surface cracks resulted in the fatigue failure of the BM sample.

Peculiarity of hydrogen absorption in duplex steels: Phase-selective lattice swelling and stress evolution

Electrochemical hydrogen absorption in duplex steels is not fully understood. In this work, an in-situ synchrotron cross-sectional X-ray micro-diffraction analysis is performed on steel with comparable phase fractions of ferrite and austenite, coupled with electrolytic hydrogen charging. The results reveal that charging with a constant current density of 10 mA/cm² for 5 h leads to expanding the austenitic lattice to a depth of approximately 250 µm, up to ≥0.15 %. In contrast, the lattice parameter of the ferrite phase remains unchanged during this process. As the austenite expansion progresses, it generates different amounts of equivalent in-plane compressive stresses, which amount to approximately -150 and -450MPa in the austenite and ferrite phases at the sample surface, respectively. Using a finite element model of grain interaction, this difference is qualitatively interpreted by mutual mechanical constraints between ferrite and austenite, as well as between the hydrogen-charged surface layer and the underlying material.

Investigation on high cycle fatigue performance of additively manufactured Alloys: Synergistic effects of surface finishing and Post-Heat treatment

The high-cycle fatigue (HCF) behavior of additively manufactured (AM) materials in structural applications remains insufficiently explored when contrasted with conventionally fabricated alloys. Addressing this research gap, we systematically investigate the potential to enhance HCF performance in AM alloys through a strategic interplay of surface finishing and post-heat treatment design. Concentrating on laser powder bed fusion, we evaluate surface roughness and post-heat treatment effects on HCF life across a300to1000 MPa stress range. Findings show that, at700to1000 MPa, surface finishing significantly extends HCF life by mitigating crack initiation. Paradoxically, at300to700 MPa, it shortens HCF life due to induced local residual stress on the sample surface. Additionally, post-aging finishing moderately enhances HCF life compared to pre-aging. This underscores the crucial role of sequence in surface finishing and heat treatment, emphasizing their collective impact on fatigue properties. Our study advances the understanding of post-processing factors influencing AM alloy fatigue properties, providing valuable insights for enhancing mechanical performance.

Peningkatan Ikatan Adhesi terhadap Pengurangan Retak Lapisan PVA pada Ti-6Al-4V ELI untuk Aplikasi Biomedis

The lack of adhesion bonding of the hydroxyapatite (HA) coating layer on the surface of implant material can cause the coating layer to peel off during implantation and will increase the risk of metallic ion release to human body and may also to increase inflammatory effect and slow down the osseointegration process. In order to increase the adhesion of HA coated Ti-6Al-4V ELI by adding Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) into the coating layer.The coating process of the HA suspension with addition ZrO2 into Ti-6Al-4V ELI sample surfaces was conducted by using dip-coating method. The samples were then heated at 800, 900, and 950 °C. The improvement of adhesion coating was correlated by calculating the removed area. The low value of removed coating area indicated the adhesion coating is good. The test specimen with the addition of ZrO2, has a removed area fewer than the test specimen without the addition of PVA- ZrO2 has. This shows that the test specimen with the addition of ZrO2 has good coating adhesion.The addition of PVA- ZrO2 to the HA suspension increases adhesion bonding of the coating layer, as indicated by the low removed area as compared to that of without PVA- ZrO2 coating.

A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation at a storage and distribution centre in England: an assessment of worker- and workplace-related risk factors

An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (1 March to 10 May 2021) with an attack rate of 26.5% among approximately 1150 workers at a storage and distribution centre in England prompted a multidisciplinary outbreak investigation (5 May to 6 August 2021), with the aim of better understanding worker- and workplace-related risk factors for viral transmission in the warehousing sector. Overall, environmental factors (e.g., ventilation, humidity and temperature) were assessed to be appropriate at the facility. Nevertheless, 39 (51.3%) surface samples from across the site tested positive for low/ very low levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (Ct value ≥ 32.0 for all). Among the study participants, of whom 35.6% were confirmed or suspected cases, 95.5% reported having received COVID-19 prevention training, 100.0% reported handwashing, and 80.0% reported use of face coverings at work. Notably, 43.9% and 19.0% reported working with a symptomatic and a positive contact respectively. Furthermore, 80.5% and 46.3% had concerns regarding reduction in their income and future unemployment, respectively, due to self-isolation. The findings of this study suggest that, in addition to targeted workplace infection control measures and tailored work area specific risk assessments, an enhanced and equitable sick leave policy may help limit presenteeism and viral transmission in large workplaces.

Effect of Preheating on Microhardness, Degree of Conversion, and Depth of Cure of Various Bulk-Fill Composites

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effect of preheating on microhardness, degree of conversion, and depth of cure of bulk-fill composites (Tetric EvoCeram Bulk-Fill, SonicFill2) and a conventional composite (Tetric EvoCeram). Methods: Layers of Tetric EvoCeram (2 mm), Tetric EvoCeram Bulk-Fill (4 mm), and SonicFill2 (5 mm) were placed in 4-mm diameter molds and polymerized at room temperature or heated to 55oC for 10 s with a total number of 60 samples. Then, the top surfaces of samples were polished. 30 samples’ Vickers microhardness was measured from the top and bottom surfaces. The other 30 samples were pulverized into a fine powder, and the composites’ degree of conversion was measured with attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Obtained data were analyzed statistically with a significance level of p&amp;lt;0.05. Results: The degree of conversion of Tetric EvoCeram was higher than the minimum rate of clinically acceptable value, which is 55%, but the scores of Tetric EvoCeram Bulk-Fill and SonicFill2 were below the threshold. Preheating increased the degree of conversion of Tetric EvoCeram Bulk-Fill and SonicFill2. In addition, preheating did not affect depth of cure of SonicFill2 but decreased the rate of Tetric EvoCeram Bulk-Fill. Conclusion: The results showed that the effect of preheating on the degree of conversion and depth of cure varied according to the material. Keywords: Preheating, bulk-fill composite, degree of conversion, depth of cure, microhardness.

Extended measurement range of optical profiler using chirped fiber Bragg grating-based chirped spectral-domain interferometry

A conventional spectral-domain interferometer (SDI) has limitations in measurement range due to using broadband sources with low coherence lengths and spectrometers with limited pixel numbers. We propose chirped spectral-domain interferometry (CSDI) to extend the measurement range. The CSDI exploits chirped fiber Bragg gratings (CFBG) to induce dispersion in the reference arm and generates a chirped interference signal from an unbalanced interferometer. Convolution-based signal processing allows us to uniquely determine the surface position of the sample from the chirped interference signal. The sample surface geometry could then be reconstructed by analyzing the change in position of the convolution peaks. From the theoretical background, we know that the maximum measurable range of the CSDI is determined by the effective refractive index and length of the CFBG used. Experimentally, a maximum measuring range of 59 mm was measured. It is a significant improvement over conventional SDI, despite using a broadband light source and a limited number of pixels. We developed the surface profiler and demonstrated its performance in surface imaging on various samples with different reflectivity.

Time-varying damage evolution of concrete under cyclic disturbance loading- an experimental observation utilizing AE and DIC

Cyclic disturbance loading affects the continuous operation of concrete structures. This study aims to better understand the failure behavior of concrete structures under cyclic disturbance loading. This study combined acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) technologies to study mechanical failure behavior and damage evolution of concrete materials under cyclic disturbance loading and unloading. The AE event time-frequency characteristics, surface principal strain program, and damage parameters of samples with different cyclic disturbance amplitudes were obtained by theoretical calculation. The results reveal that when minor disturbance amplitudes are applied, the elastic modulus of concrete specimens tends to increase. When the disturbance amplitude is too large, the elastic modulus of the specimens drops, leading to faster specimen failure. The AE characteristic parameters exhibit a Felicity effect after the sample is subjected to a cyclic disturbance loading. Moreover, the larger the amplitude of the disturbance load, the more frequent the low-frequency and high-amplitude events generated during the final rupture, the higher the concentration of the principal strain on the sample's surface, and the wider the crack band distribution. AE energy and Effective crack are consistent in characterizing damage, and the changing trend of these two damage parameters can better reflect the deterioration process of concrete. The research results will provide practical and theoretical insights for safely operating and maintaining concrete structures.

Experimental evidence for defect tolerance in Pb-halide perovskites

The term defect tolerance (DT) is used often to rationalize the exceptional optoelectronic properties of halide perovskites (HaPs) and their devices. Even though DT lacked direct experimental evidence, it became a "fact" in the field. DT in semiconductors implies that structural defects do not translate to electrical and optical effects (e.g., due to charge trapping), associated with such defects. We present pioneering direct experimental evidence for DT in Pb-HaPs by comparing the structural quality of 2-dimensional (2D), 2D-3D, and 3D Pb-iodide HaP crystals with their optoelectronic characteristics using high-sensitivity methods. Importantly, we get information from the materials' bulk because we sample at least a few hundred nanometers, up to several micrometers, from the sample's surface, which allows for assessing intrinsic bulk (and not only surface-) properties of HaPs. The results point to DT in 3D, 2D-3D, and 2D Pb-HaPs. Overall, our data provide an experimental basis to rationalize DT in Pb-HaPs. These experiments and findings will help the search for and design of materials with real DT.

Point-StyleGAN: Multi-scale point cloud synthesis with style modulation

A point cloud is a set of discrete surface samples. As the simplest 3D representation, it is widely used in 3D reconstruction and perception. Yet developing a generative model for point clouds remains challenging due to the sparsity and irregularity of points. Drawn by StyleGAN, the forefront image generation model, this paper presents Point-StyleGAN, a generator adapted from StyleGAN2 architecture for point cloud synthesis. Specifically, we replace all the 2D convolutions with 1D ones and introduce a series of multi-resolution discriminators to overcome the under-constrained issue caused by the sparsity of points. We further add a metric learning-based loss to improve generation diversity. Besides the generation task, we show several applications based on GAN inversion, among which an inversion encoder Point-pSp is designed and applied to point cloud reconstruction, completion, and interpolation. To our best knowledge, Point-pSp is the first inversion encoder for point cloud embedding in the latent space of GANs. The comparisons to prior work and the applications of GAN inversion demonstrate the advantages of our method. We believe the potential brought by the Point-StyleGAN architecture would further inspire massive follow-up works.

Enhanced Oxidation Resistance of ZrB2–SiC–WC Composite below 1800 °C

The effect of 3.6 vol% WC addition to ZrB2–20 vol% SiC (ZSW) on oxidation resistance is studied over a broad range of oxidation temperatures, 1000–1800 °C. Non‐WC‐containing samples (ZS) show significant surface damage and degradation during oxidation, losing protective B2O3 and SiO2‐based surface layers and exposing a porous ZrO2 layer and base material for further oxidation. ZSW samples preserve their surface protective layers during oxidation up to 1800 °C while the underlying ZrO2 scale remains dense. The appearance of convection cells on the surface of ZSW samples during oxidation above 1600 °C is reported. This confirms the presence of boron‐rich phases, suppressing oxygen permeation into the material and enhancing oxidation resistance of ZSW samples. During exposure of the samples to 1800 °C for 15 min, ZS and ZSW samples gain 11.1 ± 1.5 and 7.8 ± 0.3 mg cm−2, respectively, due to oxidation. Exposure of the composites for 5 h at 1600 °C results in weight gains of 10.5 and 7.0 mg cm−2 for ZS and ZSW samples, respectively. Cross sections of oxidized samples at 1800 °C show a tight zirconia layer below a glassy surface in ZSW and complete loss of surface glass in ZS, demonstrating the effectiveness of WC addition.

Spatial distribution of trace and rare earth elements of bottom sediments in Lake Ostrowite, Bory Tucholskie National Park, Poland

AbstractLake pollution has attracted concerns worldwide; especially the excessive accumulation of trace elements (TEs) and rare earth elements (REEs) in bottom sediments can pose a serious threat to ecosystem health. However, there is still a knowledge gap on the level of sediment pollution in lakes isolated from the direct impact of pollution sources, their spatial variability, and also on the factors influencing this state. The aim of this study is to investigate the level and spatial variability of TEs and REEs concentrations, as well as to determine their source and the factors determining their distribution in the bottom sediments of Lake Ostrowite. Lake Ostrowite is the largest and deepest water body located in the Bory Tuholskie National Park (in northern Poland), which completely isolates the lake from the direct impact of pollution sources. The study covered analyses of 32 surface samples of bottom sediments. The concentrations of 24 TEs and 14 REEs were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐QQQ‐MS). The assessment of the enrichment of bottom sediments in TEs and REEs employed geochemical background values (GBV) that provided the basis for the calculation of relative concentrations and geochemical indices. The determination of their sources and supply routes was based on the cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The obtained results point to the enrichment of the bottom sediments with TEs and REEs. Relative concentration values of TEs and REEs in reference to geochemical background values were in ranges from 0.01 to 7.31, at an average of 0.99, and from 0.03 to 4.29, averaging 1.76, respectively. The enrichment factor values show moderately severe enrichment of sediments at the study sites. This was primarily determined by the concentrations of Ag (from the TEs group) and Lu (from the REEs group). The metal pollution index values showed an approximate spatial distribution of points in terms of the presence of TEs and REEs. The lowest concentrations of TEs and REEs occurred on the eastern shore of the western basin of Lake Ostrowite. TEs and REEs concentrations in sediments are positively correlated with the content of organic matter and depth and negatively correlated with distance of the sampling point from the river outflow from Lake Ostrowite. On the eastern shore of the western basin, TEs and REEs concentrations are additionally shaped by wind, predominantly from the western direction. With water wave action, organic matter is transported to the central part of the western basin, where it is accumulated. Since the lake is isolated from point and nonpoint pollution sources, relevant from a biogeochemical point of view are dry and wet depositions from the atmosphere as well as aquatic vegetation, shoreline vegetation, forest litter, soil, and groundwater.