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Papers by Sasiganeshraja Vijairaman

Soil Science, Jan 1, 1952

Applied Geochemistry, Jan 1, 2002

The range of As concentrations found in natural waters is large, ranging from less than 0.5 μg l−... more The range of As concentrations found in natural waters is large, ranging from less than 0.5 μg l−1 to more than 5000 μg l−1. Typical concentrations in freshwater are less than 10 μg l−1 and frequently less than 1 μg l−1. Rarely, much higher concentrations are found, particularly in groundwater. In such areas, more than 10% of wells may be ‘affected’ (defined as those exceeding 50 μg l−1) and in the worst cases, this figure may exceed 90%. Well-known high-As groundwater areas have been found in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, China and Hungary, and more recently in West Bengal (India), Bangladesh and Vietnam. The scale of the problem in terms of population exposed to high As concentrations is greatest in the Bengal Basin with more than 40 million people drinking water containing ‘excessive’ As. These large-scale ‘natural’ As groundwater problem areas tend to be found in two types of environment: firstly, inland or closed basins in arid or semi-arid areas, and secondly, strongly reducing aquifers often derived from alluvium. Both environments tend to contain geologically young sediments and to be in flat, low-lying areas where groundwater flow is sluggish. Historically, these are poorly flushed aquifers and any As released from the sediments following burial has been able to accumulate in the groundwater. Arsenic-rich groundwaters are also found in geothermal areas and, on a more localised scale, in areas of mining activity and where oxidation of sulphide minerals has occurred. The As content of the aquifer materials in major problem aquifers does not appear to be exceptionally high, being normally in the range 1–20 mg kg−1. There appear to be two distinct ‘triggers’ that can lead to the release of As on a large scale. The first is the development of high pH (>8.5) conditions in semi-arid or arid environments usually as a result of the combined effects of mineral weathering and high evaporation rates. This pH change leads either to the desorption of adsorbed As (especially As(V) species) and a range of other anion-forming elements (V, B, F, Mo, Se and U) from mineral oxides, especially Fe oxides, or it prevents them from being adsorbed. The second trigger is the development of strongly reducing conditions at near-neutral pH values, leading to the desorption of As from mineral oxides and to the reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxides, also leading to As release. Iron (II) and As(III) are relatively abundant in these groundwaters and SO4 concentrations are small (typically 1 mg l−1 or less). Large concentrations of phosphate, bicarbonate, silicate and possibly organic matter can enhance the desorption of As because of competition for adsorption sites. A characteristic feature of high groundwater As areas is the large degree of spatial variability in As concentrations in the groundwaters. This means that it may be difficult, or impossible, to predict reliably the likely concentration of As in a particular well from the results of neighbouring wells and means that there is little alternative but to analyse each well. Arsenic-affected aquifers are restricted to certain environments and appear to be the exception rather than the rule. In most aquifers, the majority of wells are likely to be unaffected, even when, for example, they contain high concentrations of dissolved Fe.

Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, Jan 1, 1953

Several hundred samples of carbon from various geologic sources have been analyzed in a new surve... more Several hundred samples of carbon from various geologic sources have been analyzed in a new survey of the variation of the ratio C13/C12 in nature. Mass spectrometric determinations were made on the instruments developed by H. C. Urey and his co-workers utilizing two complete feed systems with magnetic switching to determine small differences in isotope ratios between samples and a standard gas. With this procedure variations of the ratio C13/C12 can be determined with an accuracy of ±0.01% of the ratio.The results confirm previous work with a few exceptions. The range of variation in the ratio is 4.5%. Terrestrial organic carbon and carbonate rocks constitute two well defined groups, the carbonates being richer in C13 by some 2%. Marine organic carbon lies in a range intermediate between these groups. Atmospheric CO2 is richer in C13 than was formerly believed. Fossil wood, coal and limestones show no correlation of C13/C12 ratio with age. If petroleum is of marine organic origin a considerable change in isotopic composition has probably occurred. Such a change seems to have occurred in carbon from black shales and carbonaceous schists. Samples of graphites, diamonds, igneous rocks and gases from Yellowstone Park have been analyzed. The origin of graphite cannot be determined from C13/C12 ratios. The terrestrial distribution of carbon isotopes between igneous rocks and sediments is discussed with reference to the available meteoritic determinations. Isotopic fractionation between iron carbide and graphite in meteorites may indicate the mechanism by which early fractionation between deep seated and surface terrestrial carbon may have occurred.

... Hedges, Bill Keene, RWPM Laane, Jim LaBaugh, Cindy Lee, Jerry Leenheer, Bill Lewis, Ron Malco... more ... Hedges, Bill Keene, RWPM Laane, Jim LaBaugh, Cindy Lee, Jerry Leenheer, Bill Lewis, Ron Malcolm, RFC Mantoura, 3. Marinsky, Larry Mayer, Diane McKnight, Bob Meade, Judy Meyer, Barry Oliver, Michael Perdue, Willie Pereira, Ron Rathbun, Mike Reddy, 3.H. Reuter, Ann ...

Soil Science, Jan 1, 1952

Applied Geochemistry, Jan 1, 2002

The range of As concentrations found in natural waters is large, ranging from less than 0.5 μg l−... more The range of As concentrations found in natural waters is large, ranging from less than 0.5 μg l−1 to more than 5000 μg l−1. Typical concentrations in freshwater are less than 10 μg l−1 and frequently less than 1 μg l−1. Rarely, much higher concentrations are found, particularly in groundwater. In such areas, more than 10% of wells may be ‘affected’ (defined as those exceeding 50 μg l−1) and in the worst cases, this figure may exceed 90%. Well-known high-As groundwater areas have been found in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, China and Hungary, and more recently in West Bengal (India), Bangladesh and Vietnam. The scale of the problem in terms of population exposed to high As concentrations is greatest in the Bengal Basin with more than 40 million people drinking water containing ‘excessive’ As. These large-scale ‘natural’ As groundwater problem areas tend to be found in two types of environment: firstly, inland or closed basins in arid or semi-arid areas, and secondly, strongly reducing aquifers often derived from alluvium. Both environments tend to contain geologically young sediments and to be in flat, low-lying areas where groundwater flow is sluggish. Historically, these are poorly flushed aquifers and any As released from the sediments following burial has been able to accumulate in the groundwater. Arsenic-rich groundwaters are also found in geothermal areas and, on a more localised scale, in areas of mining activity and where oxidation of sulphide minerals has occurred. The As content of the aquifer materials in major problem aquifers does not appear to be exceptionally high, being normally in the range 1–20 mg kg−1. There appear to be two distinct ‘triggers’ that can lead to the release of As on a large scale. The first is the development of high pH (>8.5) conditions in semi-arid or arid environments usually as a result of the combined effects of mineral weathering and high evaporation rates. This pH change leads either to the desorption of adsorbed As (especially As(V) species) and a range of other anion-forming elements (V, B, F, Mo, Se and U) from mineral oxides, especially Fe oxides, or it prevents them from being adsorbed. The second trigger is the development of strongly reducing conditions at near-neutral pH values, leading to the desorption of As from mineral oxides and to the reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxides, also leading to As release. Iron (II) and As(III) are relatively abundant in these groundwaters and SO4 concentrations are small (typically 1 mg l−1 or less). Large concentrations of phosphate, bicarbonate, silicate and possibly organic matter can enhance the desorption of As because of competition for adsorption sites. A characteristic feature of high groundwater As areas is the large degree of spatial variability in As concentrations in the groundwaters. This means that it may be difficult, or impossible, to predict reliably the likely concentration of As in a particular well from the results of neighbouring wells and means that there is little alternative but to analyse each well. Arsenic-affected aquifers are restricted to certain environments and appear to be the exception rather than the rule. In most aquifers, the majority of wells are likely to be unaffected, even when, for example, they contain high concentrations of dissolved Fe.

Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, Jan 1, 1953

Several hundred samples of carbon from various geologic sources have been analyzed in a new surve... more Several hundred samples of carbon from various geologic sources have been analyzed in a new survey of the variation of the ratio C13/C12 in nature. Mass spectrometric determinations were made on the instruments developed by H. C. Urey and his co-workers utilizing two complete feed systems with magnetic switching to determine small differences in isotope ratios between samples and a standard gas. With this procedure variations of the ratio C13/C12 can be determined with an accuracy of ±0.01% of the ratio.The results confirm previous work with a few exceptions. The range of variation in the ratio is 4.5%. Terrestrial organic carbon and carbonate rocks constitute two well defined groups, the carbonates being richer in C13 by some 2%. Marine organic carbon lies in a range intermediate between these groups. Atmospheric CO2 is richer in C13 than was formerly believed. Fossil wood, coal and limestones show no correlation of C13/C12 ratio with age. If petroleum is of marine organic origin a considerable change in isotopic composition has probably occurred. Such a change seems to have occurred in carbon from black shales and carbonaceous schists. Samples of graphites, diamonds, igneous rocks and gases from Yellowstone Park have been analyzed. The origin of graphite cannot be determined from C13/C12 ratios. The terrestrial distribution of carbon isotopes between igneous rocks and sediments is discussed with reference to the available meteoritic determinations. Isotopic fractionation between iron carbide and graphite in meteorites may indicate the mechanism by which early fractionation between deep seated and surface terrestrial carbon may have occurred.

... Hedges, Bill Keene, RWPM Laane, Jim LaBaugh, Cindy Lee, Jerry Leenheer, Bill Lewis, Ron Malco... more ... Hedges, Bill Keene, RWPM Laane, Jim LaBaugh, Cindy Lee, Jerry Leenheer, Bill Lewis, Ron Malcolm, RFC Mantoura, 3. Marinsky, Larry Mayer, Diane McKnight, Bob Meade, Judy Meyer, Barry Oliver, Michael Perdue, Willie Pereira, Ron Rathbun, Mike Reddy, 3.H. Reuter, Ann ...