Éditeur(s) : Estuaries Research Federation
Résumé : Estuarine systems are complex environments where seasonal and spatial variations occur in concentrations of suspended particulate matter, in primary constituents, and in organic matter content. This study investigated in the laboratory the flocculation potential of estuarine-suspended particulate matter throughout the year in order to better identify the controlling factors and their hierarchy. Kinetic experiments were performed in the lab with a "video in lab" device, based on a jar test technique, using suspended sediments sampled every 2 months over a 14-month period at three stations in the Seine estuary (France). These sampling stations are representative of (1) the upper estuary, dominated by freshwater, and (2) the middle estuary, characterized by a strong salinity gradient and the presence of an estuarine turbidity maximum. Experiments were performed at a constant low turbulent shear stress characteristic of slack water periods (i.e., a Kolmogorov microscale > 1,000 A mu m). Flocculation processes were estimated using three parameters: flocculation efficiency, flocculation speed, and flocculation time. Results showed that the flocculation that occurred at the three stations was mainly influenced by the concentration of the suspended particulate matter: maximum floc size was observed for concentrations above 0.1 g l(-1) while no flocculation was observed for concentrations below 0.004 g l(-1). Diatom blooms strongly enhanced flocculation speed and, to a lesser extent, flocculation efficiency. During this period, the maximum flocculation speed of 6 A mu m min(-1) corresponded to a flocculation time of less than 20 min. Salinity did not appear to automatically enhance flocculation, which depended on the constituents of suspended sediments and on the content and concentration of organic matter. Examination of the variability of 2D fractal dimension during flocculation experiments revealed restructuring of flocs during aggregation. This was observed as a rapid decrease in the floc fractal dimension from 2 to 1.4 during the first minutes of the flocculation stage, followed by a slight increase up to 1.8. Deflocculation experiments enabled determination of the influence of turbulent structures on flocculation processes and confirmed that turbulent intensity is one of the main determining factors of maximum floc size.
Estuaries and coasts : Journal of the Estuarine Research Federation (1559-2723) (Estuaries Research Federation), 2009-07 , Vol. 32 , N. 4 , P. 678-693

Droits : 2009 Springer
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6631.pdf
DOI:10.1007/s12237-009-9160-1
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6631/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Water Quality Research Journal of Canada
Résumé : International audience
The adsorption of some major pharmaceutical products (sulfamethoxazole, caffeine, iopromide and carbamazepine) in water was evaluated using four types of activated carbon, three powdered activated carbon (PAC) and one fluidized, coagulated and flocculated activated carbon (FAC) extracted from a Carboplus®P pilot. These substances were the most frequently quantified (in 50% of samples at least) in surface waters of the Vilaine's basin (Brittany, France) during three sampling campaigns. Jar test experiments were carried out in order to assess the removal efficiency of the four activated carbons. Carbamazepine and caffeine were well removed with PAC with a maximum removal rate of 80% whereas it was more difficult for sulfamethoxazole and iopromide with a maximum of 39%. For each molecule, removal rates are clearly dependent on PAC nature. The overall results with FAC are clearly distinguishable from PAC tests with gains of performance on all target molecules (from 80 to >95%).
Water Quality Research Journal of Canada

hal-00878098
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00878098
DOI : 10.2166/wqrjc.2013.138

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : The analysis of humic compounds by elemental analysis, PY-GC-MS and HPLC techniques permitted determination of the origin of organic inputs, essentially terrestrial, and the effects of environmental conditions in the deposits along a north-south transect through the Rhone delta, from the river mouth to the open sea. In the prodelta the sedimentation of fine particles enriches the sediments in organic matter. The humic compound contents were relatively low in sediments, perhaps due to a rapid burying of organic matter which leads to anoxic conditions. In sediments fulvic acids are more abundant than humic acids. Elemental analysis indicated that fulvic acids were enriched in hydrogen and nitrogen as compared to humic acids. Furthermore, H/C and N/C ratios increased in the fulvic and humic acids towards the open sea, related to a more marine character. Pyrolysis analysis showed some differences between the chemical composition of fulvic acids which correspond to low molecular weights enriched in carbohydrates, and that of humic acids, high molecular weight compounds which are enriched in phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons. The pyrolysis-derived phenols were abundant near the river mouth, decreasing towards the open sea as nitrogen-containing-compounds increased. Near the river mouth, the abundance of phenolic aldehydes demonstrated by HPLC emphasized the existence of fresh organic matter. On the other hand, off the mouth, an increase in phenolic acids could indicate a more degraded organic material. The fractionation of humic acids in various classes of molecular weight species using ultrafiltration (Amicon membranes) and their analysis showed that, close to the river mouth, the large proportion of the high molecular weight humic compounds observed was enriched in phenols and carbohydrates, probably inherited from the terrestrial ligno-cellulosic complex. This process seemed to be superimposed on the increase of molecular weights which is usually observed as the environment becomes purely marine. These humic compounds would derived either from organic matter from terrestrial soils swept along by the river flow, after deposition on its bed or, more probably, from high molecular weight compounds which, associated with the mineral phase, flocculated when reaching the fluvio-marine front. Generally, the low molecular weight fractions were enriched in hydrogen and nitrogen. Near the river mouth, nitrogen-containing compounds were concentrated in the low molecular weight classes which correspond to organic molecules regarded as humic precursors. Off the mouth, they were incorporated into the high molecular weight complexes, certainly of marine origin.
Oceanologica Acta (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1992 , Vol. 15 , N. 1 , P. 61-74

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00101/21187/18804.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00101/21187/

Éditeur(s) : Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research
Résumé : The objectives of this study were to observe foraminiferal colonization patterns and behavior in shrimp ponds in New Caledonia during a shrimp-growing (farming) cycle. Weekly collecting at 10 stations in 8 shrimp ponds yielded a total of 170 samples accompanied by environmental data. Seawater pumped from the nearby ocean filled the ponds at the beginning of the growth cycle and its daily renewal maintained salinity at 32-39, and supplied the ponds with influxes of smaller, mostly juvenile, foraminifera. A few days after initial filling, the pioneering species Ammonia tepida and Quinqueloculina seminula appeared, with A. tepida dominant. Their high reproduction rates increased both living and dead assemblage densities during the first 10 weeks. Populations of these two species then stabilized with higher oxygen demand (drop of redox) and consumption of living foraminifera by shrimp. Only a few colonizers subsequently appeared, which was attributed to the isolation of the pond, despite the high rate of water renewal. Only one pond had notably higher species richness, but it could not be distinguished from the others by its physicochemical parameters. The species that appeared in ponds initially barren of foraminifera also survived where there was water seepage between growing cycles, suggesting that the assemblages had already reached equilibrium with the environment. Despite the number of environmental parameters measured, only oxygen and reactive organic matter correlated with the microfauna on a weekly timescale. We assume that other parameters do not significantly affect foraminifera until they reach critical threshold. Consistent with previous studies, A. tepida was the species most tolerant of organic influx, but its relative abundance dropped once the organic matter flocculated and settled, leading to disoxic conditions in the sediment. Conversely, Q. seminula was able to climb through the floc and reach the oxygenated layer, where its relative abundance increased.
Journal of Foraminiferal Research (0096-1191) (Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research), 2009-10 , Vol. 39 , N. 4 , P. 249-266

Droits : 2009 Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6954.pdf
DOI:10.2113/gsjfr.39.4.249
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6954/

Éditeur(s) : Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd
Résumé : The environment is impacted by natural and anthropogenic disturbances that occur at different spatial and temporal scales, and that lead to major changes and even disequilibria when exceeding the resiliency capacities of the ecosystem. With an annual mean flow of 1700 m(3) s(-1), the Rhone River is the largest of the western Mediterranean basin. Its annual solid discharges vary between 2 and 20 Mt, with flood events responsible for more than 70% of these amounts. In the marine coastal area, close to the mouth, both flocculation and aggregation lead to the formation of fine-grained deposits, i.e. the prodelta. This area is characterized by sediment accumulation rates up to 20-50 cm yr(-1) and high accumulations of particle reactive contaminants such as various man-made radionuclides released into the river by nuclear facilities or arising form prior atmospheric nuclear tests (1954-1980) and the Chernobyl accident (April 1986). This prodelta, however, cannot be considered as a permanent repository for particle reactive pollutants since it is subjected to reworking processes. Sediment dynamics had to be linked to the influences of hydrodynamic and atmospheric events such as high flow rates or storms close to the Rhone River mouth. An experiment was carried out during the winter 2006 based on the deployment of two ADCPs and six altimeters at the Grand Rhone mouth for several months. This type of installation has never been used before in this area because of the hard meteorological conditions and the strong fishing activities. However, results showed pluricentimetric rises of the sedimentary level just after river flood events and decreases during storms, generated by southeast winds. Radiotracers and grain size depth profiles helped to characterise the studied events and to establish inventories of sediments and radionuclides. A cruise (CARMEX) was carried out during this same period to collect water samples, suspended particles and sediment cores. The results enabled us to link both river flow and wind characteristics to events recorded on the sea floor, i.e. resuspension, accumulation, consolidation, etc. Deposits of 11 cm of sediments were estimated during flood periods and bottom shear stresses up to 5 N m(-2) were calculated during sediment erosion phases. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Continental Shelf Research (0278-4343) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2010-05 , Vol. 30 , N. 9 , P. 1095-1107

Droits : 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00006/11695/8479.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.csr.2010.02.015
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00006/11695/