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Evidence from experiments, modeling, and field observations for effects of increased salinization on re-distribution of sediment base cations in Taihu Lake, China

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Abstract

Taihu Lake, the third largest freshwater lake in China, has experienced rapid salinization in the past decades; however, little is known about the impact of sodium (Na) on ion exchange in the lake environment. To explore the potential effect of increased Na on the migration of base cations (Ca and Mg) and resulting redistribution between the water and sediment, we used the adsorption-exchange experiment, MINTEQ modeling to explore the cation exchange induced by high Na input, and its impact on the redistribution of Ca and Mg in Taihu different media. The results indicated that exchanged quantity of Ca and Mg increased with time, and the exchange process reached 90% during 0–4 h and reached equilibrium after 24 h under 100 mg/L Na (the maximum Na concentration in Taihu sediment pore water). Our MINTEQ modeled result indicated that the exchanged quantity of Ca and Mg increased with the increasing Na concentration, with Ca being preferably exchanged over Mg at the same Na concentration. The MINTEQ model further predicted that, in the Taihu lake environment, the exchange adsorption would reach the equilibrium at the concentration of 6000 mg/L Na, with exchanged Ca2+ and Mg2+ accounting for 47% and 55% of the total exchangeable Ca and Mg in the sediment, respectively. Although current Na-induced exchange in the Taihu lake has been far from the equilibrium, the MINTEQ result confirmed the existence of this reaction and predicted the potential redistribution of base cations or Ca/Mg ratio in the lake sediment and water phase with further Na increase. Furthermore, our field observations not only confirmed the existence of Na-induced cation exchange in this lake environment but also were generally in agreement with our experimental and modeled results. The increased salinization-induced ion exchange would alter the re-distribution of base cations and the resulting potential ecosystem consequences should be given close attention in this large freshwater lake.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41871079) and the Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (No. SKLECRA2023OFP03).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environment Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225217, China

    Yu Tao, Zeng Deying, Xu Gaoying & He Chengda

  2. Chengdu Operation Center for Environmental Emergencies, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Jia Binyang

  3. Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Deng Yixiang

Authors
  1. Yu Tao
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  2. Zeng Deying
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  3. Jia Binyang
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  4. Xu Gaoying
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  5. Deng Yixiang
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  6. He Chengda
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Contributions

Yu Tao: design of the research, field sampling, data analysis, rewriting the manuscript, and funding acquisition; Zeng DeYing: field sampling, sample treatment and measurement, and drafting manuscript; Jia Binyang: field work coordination, data collection, and support; Xu Gaoying: field sampling, sample treatment and measurement, and writing original draft; Deng Yixiang: data analysis and model calculation; He ChengDa: sample test support and resource support. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submission.

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Correspondence to Yu Tao.

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Tao, Y., Deying, Z., Binyang, J. et al. Evidence from experiments, modeling, and field observations for effects of increased salinization on re-distribution of sediment base cations in Taihu Lake, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 28166–28177 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33036-z

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