Isotopes and hydrochemistry of Daihai Lake recharging sources,Northern China

Daihai Lake has faced severe shrinkage in recent years due to over-exploitation. Stable isotopes (D and ¹⁸O) and hydrochemistry are employed to investigate the source of lake water to better understand its recharge dynamics. Results show that, in additional to local rainfall, groundwater is also an important water supply to the lake and accounts for a greater proportion. The groundwater is not recharged by local rainfall, but originates from other sources with significantly depleted isotope values. Combined with springs and artesian wells in the basin, it is consistent with the recent discover of external groundwater recharging in Northern China.     

A survey of isotopic composition (2H, 3H, 18O) of groundwater from Vojvodina

Isotopes of hydrogen (³H, ²H) and oxygen (¹⁸O) are perfect candidates for groundwater tracers. A survey of isotopic composition of 34 groundwater samples and one Lake from Vojvodina region (Serbia) is presented here. Tritium activity concentration and stable isotope composition (δ²H, δ¹⁸O), as well as deuterium excess, were determined. The groundwater samples lie on the groundwater regression line. Minor deviations and a few lower deuterium excess values indicate waters recharged in a different climate regime and subjected to evaporation, respectively. According to the obtained results, most of the analyzed groundwater can be characterized as modern waters, recharged mostly from precipitation.

     

A simplified method of developing a local meteoric water line equation for Beijing,China

The local meteoric water line (LMWL) is a benchmark in regional isotope hydrology research. Because of the limitation in the number of monitoring stations, most sites cannot develop the LMWLs with the conventional method. A new simplified method of obtaining the LMWL is proposed. The principle is to get the δD and δ¹⁸O data from the groundwater recharged by the local precipitation and derive the LMWL. Compared with the conventional method, the new method is shown to have many advantages such as saving human and physical resources and monitoring time, simple to be implemented, more practical, and better fitting.     

Use of isotope hydrology for groundwater resources study in Upper Chi river basin

The Upper Chi river basin is located in the vicinity of Chaiyaphum province, northeastern Thailand. Groundwater management in the drought affected area of fractured Mesozoic siliciclastic rocks groundwater system was challenged by the approaches of isotope and chemical techniques. The local meteoric water line (LMWL) of the study area provide lower slope (δD = 6.8508δ¹⁸O ? 0.8013) and more depleted average annual rainfall (δ¹⁸O = ?7.6 %ο) when compare to LMWL of Bangkok due to higher evaporation. The surface water mainly exhibits an evaporation effect and can be clearly divided into two groups, the upper reaches and the downstream areas, with approximate separated in δ¹⁸O by ?4.0 %ο. The groundwater system in the area can be divided into seven subareas based on the stable isotope characteristics and groundwater dating by radiocarbon and tritium methods. Nong Bua Deang subarea, Kang Kro subarea, and Thep Satit subarea, the most upstream system which were separated by thick aquitards of Phra Wihan sandstones, are classified as the upper reach area. The groundwater samples are characterized in two traits: the upstream group shows older groundwater ages (<80.0 % modern carbon, PMC) because of less interaction with surface water and the downstream group, near main channels and reservoirs, exhibit younger groundwater ages because of contribution of surface water in the recharge area. Bamnet Narong subarea and Muang Chaiyaphum subarea are classified as the middle reach area. The groundwater shows rapidly recharge from rainfall, the results of radiocarbon provide younger ages. The downstream characteristic which is closely interaction of extremely evaporated surface, were found in Kon Sawan-Mancha Kiri subarea and Ban Phai subarea. Almost all the groundwater samples are related to younger ages except the wells near the upper tributaries. The groundwater management can be proposed by attending to conservation policy in the upper reach area, and some parts of Ban Phai subarea in which groundwater is slowly replenished slowly, as well as groundwater exploration will be expanded in the Bamnet Narong subarea and the Muang Chaiyaphum subarea which is the most effective zones for groundwater developments.     

Understanding the groundwater dynamics in the Southern Rift Valley Lakes Basin (Ethiopia): multivariate statistical analysis method, oxygen (δ 18O) and deuterium (δ 2H)

Multivariate statistical analysis is very important to classify waters of different hydrochemical groups. Statistical techniques, such as cluster analysis, can provide a powerful tool for analyzing water chemistry data. This method is used to test water quality data and determine if samples can be grouped into distinct populations that may be significant in the geologic context, as well as from a statistical point of view. Multivariate statistical analysis method is applied to the geochemical data in combination with δ ¹⁸O and δ ²H isotopes with the objective to understand the dynamics of groundwater using hierarchical clustering and isotope analyses. The geochemical and isotope data of the central and southern rift valley lakes have been collected and analyzed from different works. Isotope analysis shows that most springs and boreholes are recharged by July and August rainfalls. The different hydrochemical groups that resulted from the multivariate analysis are described and correlated with the geology of the area and whether it has any interaction with a system or not.     

Isotopic and hydrochemical approach to the functioning of an aquifer system in the region of Marrakech (Morocco)

A geochemical and isotopic (water and dissolved sulphate) study was performed on groundwater in the region of Marrakech, Morocco, with the aim of better understanding the regional hydrogeological system in order to improve water resources management. Significant differences in stable isotope contents and chemical compositions were observed between groundwater collected in the northern part of the region (Jbilets massif), where the basement schists outcrop, and that sampled in the southern part (Haouz basin), where the basement schists are overlaid by Plio-Quaternary deposits. The stable isotope composition of the groundwater showed that in the southern part the aquifer is mainly recharged from high-altitude precipitation over the High-Atlas Mountains, which may reach 600 mm per year or more, whereas, in the northern part, it is only recharged by lower-altitude local precipitation, which does not exceed 240 mm per year. Because of this limited supply, the groundwater flux in the northern compartment is much lower than in the southern compartment. This affects the water-rock interaction and the modalities of groundwater mineralization: the schist alteration is more developed in the southern compartment than in the northern one, leading to different behaviours of the conservative elements dissolved in groundwater. The observed geochemical and isotopic zonation of the studied area corresponds to a hydrogeological compartmentalisation, where the wells located in the north of the area generally produce less water than those located in the south of the area.     

Methane content and isotopic composition of shallow groundwater: implications for environmental monitoring related to shale gas exploitation

The baseline methane for shallow groundwater can provide an important evidence to interpret possible methane stray associated with shale gas exploration. This study investigated and traced methane content and its origin of shallow groundwater in a karst aquifer in the Fuling shale gas block, SW China. The results show that methane contents of shallow groundwater are all less than 0.01 mg L^?1 and volumetric content in dissolved gas ranges from not detected to 0.0064%. The δ¹³C-CH₄ ranges from ?74.4 to ?49.1‰, suggesting biogenic origin. For the first time, the δ¹³C-CH₄ and ³He/⁴He end-numbers were determined.     

Determination of bromine, chlorine and iodine in environmental aqueous samples by epithermal neutron activation analysis and Compton suppression

Summary Halides, particularly Br^- and Cl^-, have been used as indicators of potential sources of Na⁺ and Cl^- in surface water and groundwater with limited success. Contamination of groundwater and surface water by Na⁺ and Cl^- is a common occurrence in growing urban areas and adversely affects municipal and private water supplies in Illinois and other states, as well as vegetation in environmentally sensitive areas. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) can be effectively used to determine these halogens, but often the elevated concentrations of sodium and chlorine in water samples can give rise to very high detection limits for bromine and iodine due to elevated backgrounds from the activation process. We present a detailed analytical scheme to determine Cl, Br and I in aqueous samples with widely varying Na and Cl concentrations using epithermal NAA in conjunction with Compton suppression.     

Determination of cephalosporin antibiotics in water samples by optimised solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector

A reliable and robust analytical method based on solid phase extraction (SPE) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detector was developed for the simultaneous determination of five cephalosporin antibiotics (Ceftazidime, Cefradine, Cefaclor, Cefotaxime and Cefoperazone) in various water samples. Under optimised conditions, it was applicable to preconcentrate up to 500?ml of water samples in the OASIS HLB cartridges with reasonable recoveries for all the cephalosporin antibiotics tested. Recoveries were as follows: deionised water, tap water and groundwater, between 84.2 and 98.9%; surface water, between 71.2 and 81.0%; influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), between 56.9 and 72.1%. The method detection limits (MDLs) for different water samples were in the range of 26 to 59?ng?l^?1. Real water samples were analysed using the proposed approach to demonstrate the applicability and validation. Negative results were obtained for the tap water and groundwater. However, all the selected cephalosporin antibiotics were identified in the influent and effluent of a local WWTP at ng?l^?1–µg?l^?1 level. In addition, Ceftazidime was found in surface water with a concentration of 0.75–2.60?µg?l^?1. The results indicate that the ‘pseudo-persistent’ contamination of cephalosporin antibiotics in the water environment could not be neglected.     

Environmental isotope-based integrated hydrogeological study of some Ethiopian rift lakes

Environmental isotope (²H and ¹⁸O) techniques supported by hydrochemical surveying, water balance and conventional hydrogeological mapping were used to study the hydrogeological system of four major lakes located in a closed central Ethiopian rift basin. The focus of attention is the groundwater and surface water interaction and the subsurface hydraulic connection of the lakes. The result shows that despite their geographic proximity, the lakes have highly variable isotopic and hydrochemical signature owing to geological and geomorphological factors. Two of the lakes are alkaline and found to be terminal from both surface water and groundwater point of view. They are in the state of high evaporation with respect to present day precipitation. The groundwater flow converges from all sides of the basin and plays very important role in the water balance of all the lakes. Major flow system in the rift and the hydraulic connection of the lakes is strongly controlled by the direction and extent of the extensional normal faults.     

Phase Transitions Wholly within the Liquid State

After a quite brief discussion of the quantal liquids ⁴He, ³He and H, 'classical' elemental liquids which are treated in turn are C, P, Se and S. Phase boundaries in the (p, T) plane exist for each of these liquids, characterized by a change in local coordination number across these boundaries. Corresponding changes in other physical properties are briefly noted. Finally, following this review of elemental liquids, some liquids with two types of atom are briefly considered, the most important but also the most controversial being water.     

Thermodynamic Chemical Equilibria of Cadmium and Lead in the Aquatic System of the King Talal Reservoir (Jordan)

Abstract

The King Talal Reservoir (KTR) is partially recharged with sewage water effluent produced from the Khirbit-Es-Samra Treatment Plant. Because of the enrichment of the KTR water with nutrients, and the subsequent eutrophication, the effect of biochemical activity on the thermodynamic chemical equilibria of Cd(II) and Pb(II) was investigated. Twenty water samples were periodically collected from both surface and bottom waters of the KTR during the period 13/5/1986—9/11/1987. The water samples were analyzed for major chemical constituents, including Cd and Pb. Ionic speciation of each sample was carried out using the GEOCHEM program. The results indicated that surface and bottom waters were undersaturated with respect to CdCO₃ and Cd(OH)₂. The surface water was in equilibrium with PbCO₃ for the samples having log {(H⁺)/(HCO₃ ^?)} lower than — 4.4. At values higher than — 4.4, Pb(II) was probably precipitated as lead phosphate. The bottom water was, in general, in equilibrium with PbCO₃. However, some data points showed supersaturation. This was attributed to the unsteady state of the biochemical reactions affecting the (H⁺)/(HCO₃ ^?) ratio, which may well cause the apparent supersaturation with Pb(II).     

Tritium in water bodies around the Kaiga generating station

Tritium concentration was monitored in different water sources collected around Kaiga Nuclear Power plant, India. The concentration was in the ranges?<?1.9–27.4 Bq L^?1 (GM?=?4.0 Bq L^?1) for groundwater,?<?1.9–42.1 Bq L^?1 (GM?=?3.5 Bq L^?1) for surface water and in 12.4–42.0 Bq L^?1 (GM?=?24.07 Bq L^?1) for reservoir water. The concentration values observed in this study are similar to those reported for other PHWR stations of the world. The radiation dose to the public due to ingestion of Tritium through groundwater was computed to be 0.08 μSvy^?1.

     

Radon isotope assessment of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in Coleroon River Estuary,Tamil Nadu,India

Submarine groundwater discharge is the fresh groundwater discharge to sea that impacts the coastal regions. Radon (²²²Rn) isotope has been used to quantify SGD in coleroon river estuary, India. Continuous ²²²Rn analyses were attempted for 10 days in groundwater and pore water samples at three different locations. ²²²Rn in groundwater ranges between 35.0 and 222.0 Bq m^?3 and in pore water between 14.0 and 150.0 Bq m^?3 irrespective of locations. The radon mass balance estimated total SGD rate ranges between 2.37 and 7.47 m days^?1. The SGD increases with distance from coast, influenced by tides and hydrological features.     

Corrosion of simulated nuclear waste glass

Glasses are suitable host matrices for the immobilization of high-level radioactive wastes. The corrosion behaviour of nuclear waste glass in water is of considerable importance, since a potential route for returning of radionuclides to the biosphere is their leaching from the waste form into groundwater and subsequent transport by the groundwater to the surface. In this study, the preparation and characterization of borosilicate glasses of different chemical composition were investigated. Borosilicate glasses were doped with simulated nuclear waste oxides. The chemical corrosion in water of these glasses was followed by measuring the leach rates (g·cm^–2·day^–1), as a function of time. It was found that a simulated nuclear waste glass with the chemical composition (weight %), 15.61% Na₂O, 10.39% B₂O₃, 45.31% SiO₂, 13.42% ZnO, 6.61% TiO₂ and 8.66% waste oxides, is characterized by low melting temperature and with good corrosion resistance in water. Influence of passive layers on the leaching behaviour of nuclear waste glasses is discussed.     

Radioactivity in groundwater along the borders of Oman and UAE

Characterizing the quality and radioactivity of groundwater is vital as it represents valuable resource in arid regions. Here we present radioactivity level in groundwater collected from wells in a region along the border between Sultanate of Oman and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aquifers are alluvium deposits (silt, sand and gravel) and the measured groundwater radioactivity (including ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U, ²²⁶Ra, ²²²Rn, gross-α and gross-β) indicates values below the WHO permissible limits for drinking water. The results also show large difference in radioactivity fingerprints, in particular for ²²⁶Ra and ²²²Rn within the investigated aquifers. The data further indicate lower radioactivity in groundwater of the alluviums compared to the carbonate aquifers in the region. This feature makes the alluvium aquifers valuable reservoirs that should be carefully exploited as a source of groundwater. As this is the first investigation on the radioactivity of groundwater in alluvial aquifers in the region, it suggests that other alluvial deposits, particularly those inland and far from the marine water intrusion or seepage from carbonate rocks would have low radioactivity fingerprints.     

An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of norfloxacin in waters using a specific polyclonal antibody

A specific polyclonal anti-norfloxacin antibody was obtained, and a sensitive indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) was developed for determining trace amounts of norfloxacin in various waters. Good linearity was achieved in the range from 0.1 to 10 μg L⁻¹. The average IC₅₀ value was determined to be 2.2 μg L⁻¹ and the limit of detection was 0.016 μg L⁻¹ at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 in phosphate-buffered saline buffer. Recoveries of norfloxacin at various spiking levels ranged from 74 to 105% in groundwater, surface water, treated and untreated wastewater samples, with relative standard deviations of 3–5%. The assay was applied for determining norfloxacin in municipal wastewater, surface water, and groundwater collected in a metropolis of China. Raw wastewater samples were only submitted to filtration and pH adjustment while the other water samples were pre-concentrated by solid phase extraction prior to the icELISA assay. Good agreement of the results obtained by the icELISA and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry further confirmed the reliability and accuracy of the icELISA for rapid detection of norfloxacin in waters.     

Density of states and evaporation rate of helium clusters

The density of states of⁴He clusters is calculated on the assumption that only surface vibrations are thermally excited. Results for mixed³He-⁴He and³He clusters are also given. The Weisskopf procedure is used to calculate the evaporation rates and the cooling laws of helium clusters at low temperatures.     

Surface potentials and A3He bound state on liquid 4He

Continuous surface potentials are calculated for both ⁴He and ³He at T = OK. Comparison of the derived heats of vaporization with the experimental ones shows good agreement. The energy of a ³He bound state on liquid ⁴He is also calculated: our results, —5.85K, is to be compared with the experimental one, —5.20K.     

Use of 222Rn to trace submarine groundwater discharge in a tidal period along the coast of Xiangshan, Zhejiang, China

²²²Rn is one of the operative tracers for submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), which plays a significant role in the land–ocean interaction of the estuarine and coastal regions. By the distribution pattern of ²²²Rn in atmosphere, groundwater and surface seawater, in a full tidal period (25 h) in March 2012, SGD was estimated along the coast of Xiangshan, Zhejiang, China. ²²²Rn activity in Xiangshan coast was in range of 2.4 × 10⁴–1.7 × 10⁵ Bq/m³ with an average of 9.6 × 10⁴ Bq/m³ for groundwater; 0.2 × 10²–2.8 × 10² Bq/m³ with an average of 1.1 × 10² Bq/m³ for surface seawater. ²²²Rn activities in groundwater were much greater than those in surface water, suggesting that the major source of radon came from coastal groundwater discharge. Rn fluxes of atmospheric emissions, sediment, and of ²²⁶Ra in situ decay can be negligible in this study, but the tidal effects play a crucial role in Rn fluxes. Using a radon inventory equilibrium model, we estimated that the average SGD was 13.2 cm/day and the average terrestrial SGD flux was 1.8 × 10⁸ m³/day. Furthermore, SGD may have a vital impact on the composition and structure of nutrients in seawater, and contribute to eutrophication events occurring in spring season along the coast of the East China Sea.