The relationships between the basic properties and trace elements in soil argillans and corresponding matrix soils were studied by sampling from the B horizons of 26 Alfisols in croplands of the subtropical area in Central China. The soil elements(K, Na, Ca,Mg, Mn, Co, Cu, Cr, Cd, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn) were extracted by acid digestion and their contents were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES). The mean contents of clay and organic matter in the argillans were approximately 1.1 and 1.3 times greater than those in the matrix soils, respectively. The p H values and the contents of P2O5 and bases(K2O, Na2 O, Ca O, and Mg O) in the argillans were higher than those in the corresponding matrix soils. Cu, Cd, Ti, and V were enriched in the argillans. Correlation coefficients and factor analyses showed that Co, Cu, Li, and Zn were bound with phyllosilicates and manganese oxides(Mn-oxides) in the argillans. Cr and Pb were mainly associated with iron oxides(Fe-oxides), while Ni was bound with Mn-oxides. Cd, Ti, and V were chiefly associated with phyllosilicates, but Cr and Mo were rarely enriched in the argillans.In contrast, in the matrix soils, Co and Zn were associated with organic matter and Fe-oxides, Cr existed in phyllosilicates, and Mo was bound to Fe-oxides. Cd, Ti, and V were associated with organic matter. The results of this study suggest that clays, organic matter, and minerals in the argillans dominate the illuviation of trace elements in Alfisols. Argillans might be the active interfaces of elemental exchange and nutrient supply in cropland soils in Central China.
Manganese oxides are known as one type of semiconductors,but their photocatalysis characteristics have not been deeply explored.In this study,photocatalytic degradation of phenol using several synthesized manganese oxides,i.e,acidic birnessite （BIR-H）,alkaline birnessite （BIR-OH）,cryptomelane （CRY） and todorokite （TOD）,were comparatively investigated.To elucidate phenol degradation mechanisms,X-ray diffraction （XRD）,ICP-AES （inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy）,TEM （transmission electronic microscope）,N 2 physisorption at 77 K and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy （UV-Vis DRS） were employed to characterize the structural,compositional,morphological,specific surface area and optical absorption properties of the manganese oxides.After 12 hr of UV-Vis irradiation,the total organic carbon （TOC） removal rate reached 62.1%,43.1%,25.4%,and 22.5% for cryptomelane,acidic birnessite,todorokite and alkaline birnessite,respectively.Compared to the reactions in the dark condition,UV- Vis exposure improved the TOC removal rates by 55.8%,31.9%,23.4% and 17.9%.This suggests a weak ability of manganese oxides to degrade phenol in the dark condition,while UV-Vis light irradiation could significantly enhance phenol degradation.The manganese minerals exhibited photocatalytic activities in the order of：CRY BIR-H TOD BIR-OH.There may be three possible mechanisms for photochemical degradation：（1） direct photolysis of phenol;（2） direct oxidation of phenol by manganese oxides;（3） photocatalytic oxidation of phenol by manganese oxides.Photocatalytic oxidation of phenol appeared to be the dominant mechanism.
Qin ZhangXiaodi ChengChen ZhengXionghan FengGuohong QiuWenfeng TanFan Liu
