Solubility In Seawater Research Articles

Mechanisms and drivers controlling spatio-temporal evolution of pCO2 and air-sea CO2 fluxes in the southern Java coastal upwelling system

Upwelling systems are known for their complex dynamic processes spanning a wide variety of spatio-temporal scales, due to strong coupling between the ocean and atmosphere. One such upwelling system is found at the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean along the southern coast of Java during the southeast monsoon (SM). This study examines the mechanisms and drivers involved in the spatial and temporal evolutions of surface pCO2 in this upwelling system over seasonal to inter-annual timescales using a coupled, high-resolution regional model. A decomposition analysis was used to quantify the changes in pCO2 in response to changes in surface-temperature (T), surface-salinity (S), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and total alkalinity (ALK). The upwelling of deeper, cooler waters decreases the surface pCO2 by 50 ± 1.48 μatm from June to September. However, the presence of DIC-rich waters at significantly shallower depths increases the surface pCO2 by 27 ± 0.9 μatm. The surface pCO2 increases by 5 ± 0.50 μatm due to changes in salinity, which exerts less control than T-driven changes. Biological changes increase the surface pCO2 by 17.54 ± 2.74 μatm. The maximum seasonal amplitudes of the variations in pCO2 caused by seawater solubility and biology are in counterbalance during the SM. Therefore, the upwelling-driven combined effect of physical mechanisms dominates the effect of biological mechanisms in reducing surface pCO2 under these conditions. During the SM, the southern coast of Java acts as a seasonal CO2 sink (−1.36 ± 6.48 g C m−2 year−1), although consideration of the mean flux over 2006–2017 shows that the region acts as a source of CO2 (1.31 ± 5.03 g C m−2 year−1). Furthermore, following a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) year, a strong sink of atmospheric CO2 is observed during the SM.

DOUBLE SOLUBILITY OF KEROGEN AND CARBONATES FROM TARFAYA OIL SHALE (MOROCCO) BY POTABLE WATER, DISTILLED WATER OR SEAWATER FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

The solubility of the materials contained in oil shale has often been questioned. Ordinary water coming directly from purification stations or partially distilled water are of primary interest in the energy industry for exploitation or research. Similarly, given that a large proportion of the Tarfaya oil shale is immersed in the Atlantic Ocean, we thought it would be interesting to study the effect of these types of water on the solubility of kerogen under physical conditions of moderate temperature. Ultra-violet and infra-red spectroscopy was used in this work. As the identification energy of the ultraviolet is fairly high compared with the infrared and visible. We were able to follow the evolution of heavy matter from kerogen. The effect of temperature was also highlighted. Spectroscopic identification uses radiation of varying energies depending on the compounds to be detected. For example, for infrared, the energy used to identify substituted unsaturated aliphatic is higher than that used to identify substituted unsaturated monocyclic. As far as our work is concerned, the energy used for identification by UV is sufficiently higher than that for infrared, which means that the compounds to be detected from oil shale can only be heavy hydrocarbons (branched and multisubstituted unsaturated aliphatic chains). Similarly, supercritical fluid extraction using water and other solvents such as toluene is often used to determine the different fractions of organic compounds in oil shale. We are going to use three analytical methods to highlight this solubility in seawater (subsequently the solubility in distilled water), which are ultra-violet spectroscopy, infra-red spectroscopy and the determination of carbonates (mineral matter) by complexometry.

3,4-Dioxygenated xanthones as antifouling additives for marine coatings: in silico studies, seawater solubility, degradability, leaching, and antifouling performance

Marine biofouling pollution is a process that impacts ecosystems and the global economy. On the other hand, traditional antifouling (AF) marine coatings release persistent and toxic biocides that accumulate in sediments and aquatic organisms. To understand the putative impact on marine ecosystems of recently described and patented AF xanthones (xanthones 1 and 2), able to inhibit mussel settlement without acting as biocides, several in silico environmental fate predictions (bioaccumulation, biodegradation, and soil absorption) were calculated in this work. Subsequently, a degradation assay using treated seawater at different temperatures and light exposures was conducted for a period of 2 months to calculate their half-life (DT50). Xanthone 2 was found to be non-persistent (DT50 < 60 days) at 50 μM, contrary to xanthone 1 (DT50 > 60 days). To evaluate the efficacy of both xanthones as AF agents, they were blended into four polymeric-based coating systems: polyurethane- and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based marine paints, as well as room-temperature-vulcanizing PDMS- and acrylic-based coatings. Despite their low water solubility, xanthones 1 and 2 demonstrated suitable leaching behaviors after 45 days. Overall, the generated xanthone-based coatings were able to decrease the attachment of the Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae after 40 h. This proof-of-concept and environmental impact evaluation will contribute to the search for truly environmental-friendly AF alternatives.

Spatiotemporal distributions of air-sea CO2 flux modulated by windseas in the Southern Indian Ocean

The Southern Indian Ocean is a major reservoir for rapid carbon exchange with the atmosphere, plays a key role in the world’s carbon cycle. To understand the importance of anthropogenic CO2 uptake in the Southern Indian Ocean, a variety of methods have been used to quantify the magnitude of the CO2 flux between air and sea. The basic approach is based on the bulk formula—the air-sea CO2 flux is commonly calculated by the difference in the CO2 partial pressure between the ocean and the atmosphere, the gas transfer velocity, the surface wind speed, and the CO2 solubility in seawater. However, relying solely on wind speed to measure the gas transfer velocity at the sea surface increases the uncertainty of CO2 flux estimation. Recent studies have shown that the generation and breaking of ocean waves also significantly affect the gas transfer process at the air-sea interface. In this study, we highlight the impact of windseas on the process of air-sea CO2 exchange and address its important role in CO2 uptake in the Southern Indian Ocean. We run the WAVEWATCH III model to simulate surface waves in this region over the period from January 1st 2002 to December 31st 2021. Then, we use the spectral partitioning method to isolate windseas and swells from total wave fields. Finally, we calculate the CO2 flux based on the new semiempirical equation for gas transfer velocity considering only windseas. We found that after considering windseas’ impact, the seasonal mean zonal flux (mmol/m2·d) increased approximately 10%-20% compared with that calculated solely on wind speed in all seasons. Evolution of air-sea net carbon flux (PgC) increased around 5.87%-32.12% in the latest 5 years with the most significant seasonal improvement appeared in summer. Long-term trend analysis also indicated that the CO2 absorption capacity of the whole Southern Indian Ocean gradually increased during the past 20 years. These findings extend the understanding of the roles of the Southern Indian Ocean in the global carbon cycle and are useful for making management policies associated with marine environmental protection and global climatic change mitigation.

An Accurate Model for Estimating H2 Solubility in Pure Water and Aqueous NaCl Solutions

By employing a specific particle interaction theory and a high-precision equation of states for the liquid and vapor phases of H2, respectively, a new H2 solubility model in pure water and aqueous NaCl solutions is proposed in this study. The model established by fitting the experimental data of H2 solubility can be used to estimate H2 solubility in pure water at temperatures and pressures of 273.15–423.15 K and 0–1100 bar, respectively, and in salt solutions (NaCl concentration = 0–5 mol/kg) at temperatures and pressures of 273.15–373.15 K and 0–230 bar, respectively. By adopting the theory of liquid electrolyte solutions, the model can also be used to predict H2 solubility in seawater without fitting the experimental data of a seawater system. Within or close to experimental data uncertainty, the mean absolute percentage error between the model-predicted and experimentally obtained H2 solubilities was less than 1.14%.

Development of fish gelatin-based artificial fish baits incorporating bioattractants from seafood processing waste

The study dealt with evolving an artificial fish bait by incorporating bioattractant concentrates derived from seafood processing wastes by enzymatic hydrolysis namely fish waste concentrate (FWC), squid waste concentrate (SWC), and shrimp processing concentrate (SPWC). They were characterized based on amino acid content and presence of different functional groups using FTIR. Among them, SWC was found to have the highest amino acid content of 60.85mg/100 mg followed by FWC (42.21mg/100 mg) and SPWC (24.82mg/100 mg). The developed artificial fish baits were subjected to protein leaching, solubility in seawater besides testing for acceptability by the red snapper. The study revealed that the bait incorporated with SWC at 3% level was found be the most ideal, with the protein leaching rate of 24.82 mg/g/h, solubility rate of 36.6 mg/g/h and the attractability score of 29/30. The amino acid leaching rate was 3.11 mg/h/100 mg and it was found to contain five amino acids such as glycine, proline, glutamic acid, alanine and serine. The study revealed that the hydrolyzed squid waste concentrate can be incorporated at 3% (w/w) with fish gelatin based biomatrix during gelation to prepare artificial bait.

Explicit solvation thermodynamics in ionic solution: extending grid inhomogeneous solvation theory to solvation free energy of salt\u2013water mixtures

Hydration thermodynamics play a fundamental role in fields ranging from the pharmaceutical industry to environmental research. Numerous methods exist to predict solvation thermodynamics of compounds ranging from small molecules to large biomolecules. Arguably the most precise methods are those based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in explicit solvent. One theory that has seen increased use is inhomogeneous solvation theory (IST). However, while many applications require accurate description of salt–water mixtures, no implementation of IST is currently able to estimate solvation properties involving more than one solvent species. Here, we present an extension to grid inhomogeneous solvation theory (GIST) that can take salt contributions into account. At the example of carbazole in 1 M NaCl solution, we compute the solvation energy as well as first and second order entropies. While the effect of the first order ion entropy is small, both the water–water and water–ion entropies contribute strongly. We show that the water–ion entropies are efficiently approximated using the Kirkwood superposition approximation. However, this approach cannot be applied to the water–water entropy. Furthermore, we test the quantitative validity of our method by computing salting-out coefficients and comparing them to experimental data. We find a good correlation to experimental salting-out constants, while the absolute values are overpredicted due to the approximate second order entropy. Since ions are frequently used in MD, either to neutralize the system or as a part of the investigated process, our method greatly extends the applicability of GIST. The use-cases range from biopharmaceuticals, where many assays require high salt concentrations, to environmental research, where solubility in sea water is important to model the fate of organic substances.

Effect of iron speciation on growth and heat resistance of Symbiodiniaceae

Iron is a limiting nutrient for Symbiodiniaceae (colloquially known as zooxanthellae), with low solubility in seawater. The use of stable, soluble, and chemically defined iron complexes is proposed as a strategy to control the supply of this metal to target organisms. In this work, we investigated the effect of iron(II) and derivatives of iron(III) (desferrioxamine, deferiprone, deferasirox, and HBED) over the growth and metal loading of five Symbiodiniaceae species. Iron supplementation did not affect growth or metal load in species with high iron stocks. In contrast, for species with low iron stocks, hydrophobic Fe(DFX)2 was very efficient in inducing growth and iron loading. Also, the desferrioxamine derivative of iron Fe(DFO) appeared as an interesting, ecologically friendly source of the nutrient. The effect of iron supplementation on the growth of Breviolum minutum submitted to heat shock was also studied. Iron supplementation prior to the heat shock episode increased the heat tolerance of B. minutum. Such findings provide new insights for the strategy of iron supplementation to improve the fitness of Symbiodiniaceae, both in vitro and in the environment.

Performance evaluation and environment risk assessment of steel slag enhancement for seawater to capture CO2

Major CO2 emitters are concentrated in coastal areas of China. The seawater with potential to capture CO2 was used as an absorbent and the addition of steel slag (SS) enhanced CO2 absorption by seawater. CO2 solubility in steel-slag-enhanced seawater was measured by an on-line chromatography apparatus, and the characterization analysis, thermodynamics, and kinetics were researched. CO2 solubility in seawater with a steel slag of 1.00 wt% increases by 64.27% relative to that in seawater, but is smaller than that in simulated-steel-slag-seawater (increasing by 29.86% relative to that in seawater with real steel slag). The results of XRD, TGA, IR and SEM-EDS show that Ca(OH)2 in the steel slag reacts with CO2 to form CaCO3. More quantity of CaO in simulated steel slag reacted with CO2 compared to real steel slag from XRF analysis. Increasing the concentration of steel slag and decreasing particle size of steel slag can also improve CO2 solubility and CO2 absorption rate. The steel slag and products after capturing CO2 are not hazardous waste and the steel slag can operate the solidification/stabilization of toxic metals. Steel slag can enhance CO2 absorption by seawater and perennially segregate CO2, providing CO2 capture and storage for coastal zones.

A method for calibrating seawater polyaromatic hydrocarbons sensor

To solve the problems in the calibration of polyaromatic hydrocarbons sensor used in seawater, we proposed a new method that using 1,5-Naphthalenedisulfonic acid, disodium salt dihydrate instead of polyaromatic hydrocarbons standard substances to calibrate seawater polyaromatic hydrocarbons sensor. Relative to polyaromatic hydrocarbons standard substances, 1,5-Naphthalenedisulfonic acid, disodium salt dihydrate shows higher solubility in seawater, better stability under the detection wavelength of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and lower toxicity to organisms. Our results showed that the relative errors between real concentrations of standard substances and measuring concentrations of these standard substances via 1,5-Naphthalenedisulfonic acid, disodium salt dihydrate-calibrated sensor varied from 5~15%. Our method can reduce the complexity of calibration procedures, and keep the accuracy and precision of sensors in the determination of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in seawater.

Medusa–Aqua system: simultaneous measurement and evaluation of novel potential halogenated transient tracers HCFCs, HFCs, and PFCs in the ocean

Abstract. This study evaluates the potential usefulness of the halogenated compounds HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HFC-134a, HFC-125, HFC-23, PFC-14, and PFC-116 as oceanographic transient tracers to better constrain ocean ventilation processes. We do this mainly in terms of four aspects of the characteristics of the potential tracers: input function (including atmospheric history and historical surface saturation), seawater solubility, feasibility of measurement, and stability in seawater; of these, atmospheric history and seawater solubility have been investigated in previous work. For the latter two aspects, we collected seawater samples and modified an established analytical technique for the Medusa–Aqua system to simultaneously measure these compounds. HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HFC-134a, and HFC-125 have been measured in depth profiles in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time and for reproducibility in the Baltic Sea. We found that the historical surface saturation of halogenated transient tracers in the Mediterranean Sea is estimated to have been nearly constant at 94 % based on historical data. Of the investigated compounds, HCFC-142b, HCFC-141b, and HFC-134a are found to currently be the most promising transient tracers in the ocean. The compounds that have the greatest potential as future tracers are PFC-14 and PFC-116, mainly hampered by the low solubility in seawater that creates challenging analytical conditions, i.e., low concentrations. HCFC-22 is found to be likely unstable in warm seawater, which compromises the potential as an oceanic transient tracer, although it is possibly useful in colder water. For the compounds HFC-125 and HFC-23, we were not able to fully evaluate their potential as tracers due to inconclusive results, especially regarding their solubility and stability in seawater, but also with regard to potential analytical challenges. On the other hand, HFC-125, HFC-23, and HCFC-22 might not need to be considered because there are alternative tracers with similar input histories that are better suited as transient tracers.

In a pinch: Skeletal carbonate mineralogy of crabs (Arthropoda: Crustacea: Decapoda)

Skeletal carbonate mineralogy data from the literature was combined with new X-ray diffractometry data from New Zealand crabs, in order to elucidate mineralogical patterns related to body part, habitat, latitude, and phylogeny, with a view to understanding both the potential vulnerability and the preservation potential of crab shells. In general, crab carbonate is 100% Mg-calcite. In nine specimens from three New Zealand species (Austrohelice crassa, Charybdis japonica, and Hemigrapsus crenulatus) we found the first record of aragonite in brachyurid crab carbonate. Brachyurid crabs tested here generally produce Mg-calcite with mean of 6–7 wt% MgCO3, though families Epaltidae, Majidae, Menippidae and Oziidae produ\\ce high-Mg calcite (8–9 wt% MgCO3), while Eiphiidae and Hymenosomatidae produce low-Mg calcite (3–4 wt% MgCO3). Anomurid crabs showed no aragonite in any specimen, but varied more in Mg content, with the family Porcellanidae producing the highest mean Mg content found (9.3 wt%MgCO3). In most cases the standard deviation and range of values within species is small (SD 0–1.5, range 1–3 wt% MgCO3. There is little evidence of partitioning of Mg in skeletal elements; Mg in the claw, for example, is not significantly different than that of the carapace, legs, or abdomen, whether considered across all species, or within individuals. Latitude (as a proxy for water temperature), too, does not appear to affect Mg in crabs, though it is possible that environment (rocky vs sandy shore) does. The strong tendency for crabs to produce mid-range Mg in calcite suggests that they may be striking a balance between mechanical strengthening of calcite while limiting solubility in sea water.

Geochemical factors affecting the solubility of copper in seawater

Environmental contextMany trace metals, including copper, are only sparingly soluble in seawater and may exist in both dissolved and particulate forms (e.g. as precipitates). Aquatic organisms may experience different toxic effects from exposure to dissolved and particulate trace metals. This study investigates how concentration, reaction time and changes to precipitate composition/mineral formation affect copper solubility in seawater, thus influencing metal bioavailability and toxicity in the field and laboratory. AbstractA lack of knowledge on the solubility of metals such as copper affects the ability to predict the forms (dissolved and particulate) that organisms are exposed to in field and laboratory waters. Laboratory tests were conducted where copper (total concentrations of 0.5 to 20mg L−1) was added to natural and artificial seawater (pH 8.15, 22°C), equilibrated for 28 days and dissolved copper monitored at periodic intervals. At 0.5mg L−1, dissolved copper concentrations remained stable over 28 days and no precipitates were detected. However, at higher total copper concentrations, an initial rapid precipitation phase was followed by the establishment of a metastable equilibrium that persisted for periods of days to weeks, and whose solubility concentrations and duration were influenced by the total copper concentration and typically in the range 0.6 to 0.9mg L−1. After 5 to 15 days, a step change decrease in dissolved copper concentration followed by a slow decline was observed in the &amp;gt;2mg L−1 total copper treatments. The minimum solubility measured after 28 days was 0.053mg L−1. Elemental and X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that the copper precipitates comprised similar proportions of amorphous copper hydroxycarbonate and amorphous dicopper trihydroxide chloride after 1 day and transformed to predominantly mineralised dicopper trihydroxide chloride in the clinoatacamite polymorph form after 28 days. These observations have particular relevance for toxicity tests of less sensitive organisms and highlight the need to consider metal solubility, exposure to precipitates and changes in precipitate mineral phases.

Impact of Saharan dust events on radionuclides in the atmosphere, seawater, and sediments of the northwest Mediterranean Sea

In February 2004, anthropogenic radionuclides (137Cs, 236U, 239Pu and 240Pu), transported from the Sahara Desert, were observed in the Monaco air, and later in water and sediment samples collected at the DYFAMED site in the northwest (NW) Mediterranean Sea. While 236U and 137Cs in Saharan dust particles showed a high solubility in seawater, Pu isotopes were particle reactive in the water column and in the sediment. The impact of the Saharan deposition was found at 0–1.0 cm of the sediment core for 236U and 137Cs, and between 1.0 and 1.5 cm for Pu isotopes. The excess of 236U was observed more in the water column than in the sediment, whereas the 239+240Pu total inventories were comparable in the water column and the sediment. This single-day particle event represented 72% of annual atmospheric deposition in Monaco. At the DYFAMED site, it accounted for 10% (137Cs) and 15% (239+240Pu) activities of sinking particles during the period of the highest mass flux collected at the 200 and 1000 m water depths, and for a significant proportion of the total annual atmospheric input to the NW Mediterranean Sea (28–37% for 137Cs and 34–45% for 239+240Pu). Contributions to the total 137Cs and 239+240Pu sediment inventories were estimated to be 14% and 8%, respectively. The Saharan dust deposition phenomenon (atmospheric input, water column and sediment) offered a unique case to study origin and accumulation rates of radionuclides in the NW Mediterranean Sea.

Atmospheric histories, growth rates and solubilities in seawater and other natural waters of the potential transient tracers HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HFC-134a, HFC-125, HFC-23, PFC-14 and PFC-116

Abstract. We present consistent annual mean atmospheric histories and growth rates for the mainly anthropogenic halogenated compounds HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HFC-134a, HFC-125, HFC-23, PFC-14 and PFC-116, which are all potentially useful oceanic transient tracers (tracers of water transport within the ocean), for the Northern and Southern Hemisphere with the aim of providing input histories of these compounds for the equilibrium between the atmosphere and surface ocean. We use observations of these halogenated compounds made by the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE), the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of East Anglia (UEA). Prior to the direct observational record, we use archived air measurements, firn air measurements and published model calculations to estimate the atmospheric mole fraction histories. The results show that the atmospheric mole fractions for each species, except HCFC-141b and HCFC-142b, have been increasing since they were initially produced. Recently, the atmospheric growth rates have been decreasing for the HCFCs (HCFC-22, HCFC-141b and HCFC-142b), increasing for the HFCs (HFC-134a, HFC-125, HFC-23) and stable with little fluctuation for the PFCs (PFC-14 and PFC-116) investigated here. The atmospheric histories (source functions) and natural background mole fractions show that HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HFC-134a, HFC-125 and HFC-23 have the potential to be oceanic transient tracers for the next few decades only because of the recently imposed bans on production and consumption. When the atmospheric histories of the compounds are not monotonically changing, the equilibrium atmospheric mole fraction (and ultimately the age associated with that mole fraction) calculated from their concentration in the ocean is not unique, reducing their potential as transient tracers. Moreover, HFCs have potential to be oceanic transient tracers for a longer period in the future than HCFCs as the growth rates of HFCs are increasing and those of HCFCs are decreasing in the background atmosphere. PFC-14 and PFC-116, however, have the potential to be tracers for longer periods into the future due to their extremely long lifetimes, steady atmospheric growth rates and no explicit ban on their emissions. In this work, we also derive solubility functions for HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HFC-134a, HFC-125, HFC-23, PFC-14 and PFC-116 in water and seawater to facilitate their use as oceanic transient tracers. These functions are based on the Clark–Glew–Weiss (CGW) water solubility function fit and salting-out coefficients estimated by the poly-parameter linear free-energy relationships (pp-LFERs). Here we also provide three methods of seawater solubility estimation for more compounds. Even though our intention is for application in oceanic research, the work described in this paper is potentially useful for tracer studies in a wide range of natural waters, including freshwater and saline lakes, and, for the more stable compounds, groundwaters.

Effects of Superdispersant-25 on the sorption dynamics of naphthalene and phenanthrene in marine sediments

The present study evaluated the effects of Superdispersant-25 (SD25), a commercial dispersant stockpiled in the UK for oil spill response, on the sorption dynamics of two polyaromatic hydrocarbons, naphthalene (NAP) and phenanthrene (PHE), in sediment-seawater systems using three sediments near hydrocarbon exploration areas in the Faroe-Shetland Channel and North Sea. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of SD25 on the solubility (analysed by gas chromatography), distribution coefficients and desorption hysteresis of NAP and PHE separately as well as SD25 in the three sediments (analysed by UV-vis spectroscopy and surface tension measurements, respectively). The results revealed that SD25 readily adsorbed to all sediment types but did not desorb from silty loam. SD25 application increased the solubility in seawater of PHE but not of NAP. Adsorbed SD25 increased the distribution coefficients of both polyaromatic hydrocarbons in sand but not silty loam and the solubilising effect of SD25 appeared to drive increased adsorption of PHE rather than sediment-adsorbed SD25 concentration. The findings highlight the influence of SD25 application on the sorption dynamics of NAP and PHE in marine sediments from areas near hydrocarbon exploration and production regions. An understanding of these interactions may aid responders in the decision-making process of dispersant application in the event of a spill as seabed characteristics affect oil-dispersant-sediment interactions.

Henry's Law constant for CO2 in aqueous sodium chloride solutions at 1 atm and sub-zero (Celsius) temperatures

The solubility of CO2 in seawater is known to increase at colder temperatures, but few studies have examined the CO2 solubility in seawater and in sea-ice brines at sub-zero (Celsius) temperatures. The thermodynamic Henry's Law constant (KH) for CO2 in concentrated NaCl solutions was determined for the first time at sub-zero temperatures and salinities resembling those of the cryospheric seawater and sea-ice brine environments in polar and sub-polar oceans. The temperature (T, in Kelvin) dependence of the KH within the temperature and salinity ranges of this study (263 ≤ T ≤ 272 K and 35 ≤ S ≤ 152) is described by the following best-fit equation: ln KH = −2.484 + 2.775 × 10−2(274 − T) − 9.854 × 10−2/(274 − T) − 1.009 × 10−1 ln (274–T). The results show that the general practice, in geochemical and coupled climate‑carbon cycling models, of extrapolating KH values from above-zero to sub-zero temperatures underestimates the solubility of CO2 by up to 19%.

Study of CO2 capture by seawater and its reinforcement

Numerous coal-fired power plants, cement plants and steel mills are concentrated in coastal areas of China, and are three major CO2 emitters. Seawater may be a potential resource to capture CO2 in coastal areas. In this study, we used seawater as a CO2 absorbent to capture CO2. An online chromatography apparatus was used to determine CO2 solubility in seawater with different temperatures, pressures and salinities. Then, the thermodynamics and kinetics were studied for the influences of temperature and salinity on CO2 capture in seawater. The experimental results show that increasing temperature and salinity were adverse to CO2 capture by seawater because of an increase in Henry's constant from a thermodynamics aspect. The kinetic results show that high temperature and low salinity can increase the CO2 absorption rate. In order to improve the CO2 absorption ability of seawater and promote CO2 fixation in carbonate precipitation, we added CaO as major components of industrial alkaline substances to enhance the seawater absorption of CO2. CO2 solubility in seawater with 0.4% CaO increased by 79.25%. It shows that the addition of CaO can enhance greatly seawater capture of CO2. The seawater and its reinforcement with CaO is a potential method to capture CO2.

Advective pore-water transport of hydrocarbons in North East Scotland coastal sands.

Oil spills in the marine environment can cause ecosystem-level impacts. Dispersant application as an oil spill response measure leads to the widespread distribution of hydrocarbons in the water column and marine sediments. The North Sea is an area of intense hydrocarbon production and is at risk of oil spills, which are of concern to its benthic ecosystem due to its sediments' high permeability. Here, entrainment of hydrocarbons via pore-water advection into permeable North Sea sands and the associated effect of Superdispersant-25, a commercial oil dispersant, were evaluated in a laboratory. Centrally stirred chambers that induce advective pore-water fluxes in sediments were filled with sediment, seawater and mixtures of oil and Superdispersant-25. Dispersant application had contrasting effects on hydrocarbon interactions with sediment: (1) it reduced accumulation of hydrocarbons in surface sediments and (2) facilitated the entrainment of hydrocarbons up to 8cm deep into sediments by increasing hydrocarbon solubility in seawater and its subsequent washout or pumping into sediment by pore-water movement. Results here show that dispersant application can have counter-intuitive effects on hydrocarbon interactions with marine sediments and highlight the need for further research in this area to make better informed decision in an oil spill response scenario.

Toxicity assessment and histopathological analysis of nano-ZnO against marine fish (Mugilogobius chulae) embryos

The toxicity of nano-materials has received increasing attention in recent years. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have focused on their oceanic distributions and toxicities. In this study, we assessed nano-ZnO toxicity in marine organisms using the yellowstriped goby (Mugilogobius chulae). The relative differences in nano-ZnO dissolution and dispersal in seawater and fresh water were also investigated. The effects of nano-ZnO on embryonic development, deformity, hatching, mortality, and histopathology were analyzed. In addition, the effects of the Zn2+ concentration on M. chulae hatching and mortality were compared. The results showed that nano-ZnO had higher solubility in seawater than in fresh water. Nano-ZnO significantly inhibited hatching. By the fifth day of exposure, the LC50 of nano-ZnO was 45.40mg/L, and the mortality rate spiked. Hatching inhibition and lethality were dose-dependent over a range of 1–25mg/L nano-ZnO. Zn2+ inhibited hatching and increased lethality, but its effects were weaker than those of nano-ZnO at the same concentrations. Nano-ZnO also induced spinal bending, oedema, hypoplasia, and other deformities in M. chulae embryos and larvae. Histopathology revealed vacuolar degeneration, hepatocyte and enterocyte enlargement, and morphological abnormalities of the vertebrae. Therefore, nano-ZnO caused malformations in M. chulae by affecting embryonic growth and development. We conclude that nano-ZnO toxicity in seawater was significantly positively correlated with the associated Zn2+ concentration and sedimentary behaviour. The toxicity of nano-ZnO was cumulative and showed a critical point, beyond which embryonic and developmental toxicity in marine fish was observed.