scholarly journals Distribution, fractionation and sources of rare earth elements in suspended particulate matter in a tropical agricultural catchment, northeast Thailand

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10853
Author(s):  
Kunhua Yang ◽  
Guilin Han ◽  
Jie Zeng ◽  
Wenxiang Zhou

Forty-eight suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples were collected from the Mun River, northeast Thailand and its junction with the Mekong River, to investigate the relationship between the distribution of rare earth elements (REE) in SPM and the soils in the watershed. The total REE contents (∑REE) in SPM in the Mun River ranged from 78.5 to 377.8 mg/kg with the average of 189.3 mg/kg, which was lower than ∑REE of 222.3 mg/kg at the Mekong River (one sample at junction). The Post Archean Australia Shale (PAAS)-normalized ratios of light REE (LREE), middle REE (MREE) and heavy REE (HREE) were averaged to 1.0, 1.3 and 1.0, which showed a clear enrichment in MREE. In short, along the Mun River, the REE contents in SPM were decreasing, and the PAAS-normalized patterns of REE showed gradually flat. The REE content in SPM and soils are highest in the upper catchment, indicating that soil/bedrock is the most important source of REE in SPM. Additionally, the positive Eu anomaly was enhanced by the higher Ca content in SPM (R = 0.45), which may be caused by more feldspars or carbonates with Ca and Eu substituting Ca. The results present the REE behaviors of SPM in the Mun River and relationship between REE in SPM and soil/bedrock, the findings may support the other studies in catchment weathering.

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12414
Author(s):  
Man Liu ◽  
Guilin Han

Background In the river system, the geochemistry of rare earth elements (REEs, a series of elements from La to Lu) in suspended particulate matter (SPM) is generally controlled by rock weathering processes and hydrochemical characteristics, as well as being affected by anthropogenic activities. However, the variations of geochemical characteristics and behaviors of REEs in SPM with a salinity gradient from the inland river to the estuary have been short of a systematic understanding. Methods The REE concentrations, Post Archean Australia Shale (PAAS)-normalized REE, La/Yb, La/Sm, and Sm/Yb ratios of SPM were investigated in the Jiulongjiang River, which is a coastal river mainly flowing through granite rocks in Southeast China. The correlation relationships between physicochemical parameters (including water pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), HCO3– concentrations, and the concentrations of major elements of SPM) and PAAS-normalized REE ratios of SPM were analyzed to determine the factors that affect the REE concentration and fractionation of SPM in the different regions of Jiulongjiang River, including the main stream and tributary of Beixi River, Xixi River, Nanxi River, and estuary. Additionally, the Ce, Eu, and Gd anomalies of SPM were estimated. Results The average ∑REE concentration of SPM (352 mg/kg) in the granite rock basin was twice higher than the mean value (175 mg/kg) of the world’s rivers. The PAAS-normalized REE ratios of SPM in the main rivers including Beixi River (main stream), Xixi River, and Nanxi River were near due to the same lithologic distribution. In the tributary of Beixi River, the input of low-weathered carbonate minerals which contain very few REE caused the lower REE concentrations of SPM. The PAAS-normalized REE ratios of SPM in the estuary were significantly lower than those in the main rivers, which was mainly attributed to the significant REE removal with the increment of salinity. The enrichment of LREE relative to HREE in SPM increased with decreasing water pH in the main rivers. In the estuary, the preferential removal of dissolved LREE occurred compared to HREE with the increment of salinity. The negative Ce and Eu anomalies of SPM occurred in both the main rivers and estuary region and rare Gd pollution was present in the basin. Additionally, human activities caused the increment of REE concentrations and more negative Ce anomaly at some specific sites, such as dam effect and agricultural pollution. Conclusions The REE concentrations and fractionations of SPM in river water mainly depend on lithologic distribution and riverine pH, while they are affected by salinity in the estuary.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZHU Zhaozhou ◽  
◽  
LIU Congqiang ◽  
WANG Zhongliang ◽  
LI Jun ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kumar ◽  
R. Ramesh ◽  
N. B. Bhosle ◽  
S. Sardesai ◽  
M. S. Sheshshayee

Abstract. We present the first measurement of nitrogen isotopic composition (δ15N) in suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the surface Bay of Bengal (BOB) at 24 different locations during pre- (April–May 2003) and post- (September–October 2002) monsoon seasons. The δ15N of particulate organic nitrogen (PON) in surface suspended matter of coastal as well as northern open BOB shows signatures of a two end-member mixing between continental inputs and marine sources. Dilution by the organic and detrital continental material brought in by rivers leads to consistently lower δ15N, evident from the relationship between surface salinity and δ15N. δ15N of surface PON of open ocean locations during both seasons, and also at coastal locations during pre-monsoon suggest the nitrate from deeper waters as a predominant source of nutrient for planktons. The depth profiles of δ15N of SPM during pre-monsoon season at nine different locations are also presented. These indicate an increase in δ15N by a maximum of 2.8‰ between euphotic depth and 300 m, which is lower than that observed in the eastern Indian Ocean, indicating the role of higher sinking rates of particles ballasted by aggregates of organic and mineral matter in BOB.


2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kumar ◽  
R. Ramesh ◽  
N. B. Bhosle ◽  
S. Sardesai ◽  
M. S. Sheshshayee

Abstract. We present the first measurement of nitrogen isotopic composition (δ15N) in suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the surface Bay of Bengal (BOB) at 24 different locations during pre- (April–May 2003) and post- (September–October 2002) monsoon seasons. The δ15N of particulate organic nitrogen (PON) in surface suspended matter of coastal as well as northern open BOB shows signatures of a two end-member mixing between continental inputs and marine sources. Dilution by the organic and detrital continental material brought in by rivers leads to consistently lower δ15N, evident from the relationship between surface salinity and δ15N. δ15N of surface PON of open ocean locations during both seasons, and also at coastal locations during pre-monsoon suggest the nitrate from deeper waters as a predominant source of nutrient for planktons. The depth profiles of δ15N of SPM during pre-monsoon season at nine different locations are also presented. These indicate an increase in δ15N by a maximum of 2.8‰ between euphotic depth and 300 m, which is lower than that observed in the eastern Indian Ocean, indicating the role of higher sinking rates of particles ballasted by aggregates of organic and mineral matter in BOB.


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