含滑石粉的环保型聚乙烯包装材料的可环境消纳性能研究

借助人工加速老化、自然土壤填埋等实验方法 ,采用力学性能测试、扫描电镜 (SEM)、热重 -红外联用仪 (TG IR)等测试方法 ,对所研制的含滑石粉的环保型聚乙烯 (PE)塑料包装材料的可环境消纳性能进行探讨。实验结果表明 ,以PE为主材料 ,添加不易分解的滑石粉、生物活性剂、FeSt3 MnSt2 复合光敏剂 ,研制出的高填充可降解的PE塑料薄膜 ,具有良好的光 -生物降解性能 ,且可适用于焚烧处理。     

RESt3／NiDBC可环境消纳聚乙烯地膜研锒及NiDBC晶体结构表征

以硬脂酸共生稀土（RESt3）和二丁基二硫代氨基甲酸镍（NiDBC）为复合光敏剂研制可环境消纳聚乙烯（PE）地膜,采用X-射线单晶衍射仪表征了NiDBC晶体结构,对其光敏调节机理作了初步探讨。将研制的PE地膜进行人工加速老化实验、户外曝晒实验及自然环境土壤填埋试验,以断裂伸长率保留率（F）和羰基指数（CI）作为评价PE地膜的光降解性能指标。结果表明：改变RESt3／NiDBC的用量能生产出不同光降解诱导期的PE地膜,可实现PE地膜降解的可控性;将经生物活性剂表面处理过的白云石粉,N、P、K肥料和RESt3／NiDBC复合光敏剂按一定比例添加到PE地膜中,既能有效提高其降解的彻底性,又可适当改良酸性土壤。     

RESt3/NiDBC可环境消纳聚乙烯地膜研制及NiDBC晶体结构表征

以硬脂酸共生稀土(RESt₃)和二丁基二硫代氨基甲酸镍(NiDBC)为复合光敏剂研制可环境消纳聚乙烯(PE)地膜,采用X-射线单晶衍射仪表征了NiDBC晶体结构,对其光敏调节机理作了初步探讨。将研制的PE地膜进行人工加速老化实验、户外曝晒实验及自然环境土壤填埋试验,以断裂伸长率保留率（F）和羰基指数（CI）作为评价PE地膜的光降解性能指标。结果表明：改变RESt₃/NiDBC的用量能生产出不同光降解诱导期的PE地膜,可实现PE地膜降解的可控性;将经生物活性剂表面处理过的白云石粉,N、P、K肥料和RESt₃/NiDBC复合光敏剂按一定比例添加到PE地膜中,既能有效提高其降解的彻底性,又可适当改良酸性土壤。     

硬脂酸改性磁铁矿在含油污水处理中的应用

研究了水溶液中硬脂酸改性后磁铁矿吸附石油的特性,测定了温度、改性剂用量和时间等因素对改性以及吸附的影响,并对吸附后磁铁矿进行了再生。通过对红外图谱、扫描电镜图谱等的分析,对改性及吸附机理进行了探讨。结果表明,硬脂酸改性磁铁矿的最佳改性条件为常温20℃,改性时间45 min,改性剂用量硬脂酸与磁铁矿的质量比为4%,改性过程中伴随着物理和化学变化,硬脂酸在磁铁矿表面形成了双分子层包覆。改性后的磁铁矿表面湿润性降低,改性磁铁矿吸附石油符合Langmu ir型吸附等温线,最大吸附量为749.23 mg/g,最大去除率达93%。对饱和吸附后的改性磁铁矿经再生处理后,石油去除率稳定在85%。     

棕刚玉渣的硬脂酸湿法改性

以棕刚玉渣、硬脂酸为原料,在乙醇体系中进行机械力化学改性研究。分别研究了球磨过程中球料比、球磨时间、转速、硬脂酸用量、浆料浓度等参数对实验样品亲油化度、活化指数的影响。在最佳工艺基础上进行了正交实验,实验结果表明,适宜条件为硬脂酸用量3.5%,球料比4∶1,球磨时间30 min,球磨转速450 r/min,浆料浓度25%时,实验样品的亲油化度和活化指数分别达到46.8%和100%,且完全疏水。     

RESt3/NiDBC可环境消纳聚乙烯地膜研制及NiDBC晶体结构表征

以硬脂酸共生稀土(RESt3)和二丁基二硫代氨基甲酸镍(NiDBC)为复合光敏剂研制可环境消纳聚乙烯(PE)地膜,采用X-射线单晶衍射仪表征了NiDBC晶体结构,对其光敏调节机理作了初步探讨.将研制的PE地膜进行人工加速老化实验、户外曝晒实验及自然环境土壤填埋试验,以断裂伸长率保留率(F)和羰基指数(CI)作为评价PE地膜的光降解性能指标.结果表明:改变RESt3/NiDBC的用量能生产出不同光降解诱导期的PE地膜,可实现PE地膜降解的町控性;将经生物活性剂表面处理过的白云石粉,N、P、K肥料和RESt3/NiDBC复合光敏剂按一定比例添加到PE地膜中,既能有效提高其降解的彻底性,又可适当改良酸性土壤.     

雌酮在铁（Ⅲ）-草酸盐配合物体系中的光降解

以125W高压汞灯为光源，研究了水中雌酮（E1）在铁（Ⅲ）-草酸盐体系中的光降解；考察了初始pH值、铁（Ⅲ）／草酸盐配比、E1初始浓度对E1光降解的影响。结果表明，铁（Ⅲ）／草酸盐体系能引发E1的光降解。在pH=3．5，Fe（Ⅲ）／Ox配比为10／120／zmol／L时，2mg／LE1光照160min可以降解59％。在pH3-6范围内，pH为3～4时E1降解效率最高；在2-10mg／L范围内，光降解效率随水溶液中E1初始浓度的增加而降低。     

水中安替比林的紫外光降解研究

以波长为254 nm的紫外杀菌灯为光源,研究了水溶液中消炎镇痛药物安替比林（PZ）的光降解行为;考察了初始pH值及水中其他物质对PZ光降解的影响,探讨了PZ光解机制,并分析其降解产物及光解途径。结果表明,安替比林的光降解遵循拟一级反应动力学规律,pH值变化对光解速率基本没有影响。安替比林直接光降解占主导作用,活性氧类物种（ROS）对安替比林间接光解基本没有贡献。腐殖酸对安替比林光降解有抑制作用,而NO^-₃,HCO^-₃,Cl^-对安替比林光降解没有明显作用。GC-MS分析表明安替比林在紫外辐射下生成甲酰胺,乙酰胺,2-羟基吲哚-3-酮,2,4（1氢,3甲基）-喹唑啉二酮,1-甲基-2-羟基苯并咪唑,2-羟基苯并恶唑等一系列具有安替比林母体苯环结构的化合物,表明安替比林侧链上N—N键断裂导致其最终降解。     

纳米Pd／Fe双金属颗粒对单氯酚及二氯酚的还原脱氯

采用改进液相化学还原法制备纳米Pd／Fe双金属颗粒,研究其钯化率为0．045％和0．135％的条件下分别对3种单氯酚（2-CP、3-CP和4-CP）和3种二氯酚（2,3-DCP、2,4-DCP和2,6-DCP）的脱氯反应。结果表明,合成的纳米Pd／Fe颗粒分散性良好,粒径分布介于25～40nm。纳米Pd／Fe双金属颗粒对单氯酚及二氯酚具有良好的去除效果,3种单氯酚和3种二氯酚的脱氯难易程度分别为2-CP〉4-CP〉3-CP和2,6-DCP〉2,4-DCP〉2,3-DCP,脱氯反应均符合拟一级反应动力学方程。通过还原脱氯实验揭示了分子中氯原子的化学环境对还原脱氯过程具有明显影响。     

UV-Vis/Fe(Ⅲ)/H2O2体系对水中雌酮的光降解

以250W照明金属卤化物灯为光源,研究了水中雌酮（E1）在UV-Vis／Fe（Ⅲ）／H2O2体系中的光降解;考查了初始pH、Fe（Ⅲ）、H2O2、E1初始浓度对E1光降解的影响。结果表明,UV-Vis／Fe（Ⅲ）／H2O2体系能有效地光降解E1,在[Fe（Ⅲ）30-20．8μmol／L、[H2O2]0=1664μmol／L、pH=3．0时,光照160min,18．5btmol／L E1的光降解率可达98．4%;在pH3．0～8．0范围内,pH初始值越小,E1降解率越大,反应初始速率越大;实验条件下,Fe（Ⅲ）、H2O2初始浓度越大,E1降解率越大,反应初始速率越大;E1初始浓度越低,E1降解率越大,反应初始速率越小。pH=3．0,实验浓度范围内的表观动力学方程为：dCE1／dt=0．00093[H2O2]^0.47[Fe（Ⅲ）]^0.62[E1]0.24;Fe（Ⅲ）是影响反应速率的主要浓度因素。     

Isolation of a novel Pseudomonas sp from soil that can efficiently degrade polyethylene succinate

Purpose

Polyethylene succinate (PES) is a biodegradable synthetic polymer and therefore widely used as a base material in plastic industry to circumvent the environmental problems related with the non-biodegradability of other polymers like polyethylene. Till date only few organisms have been reported to have the ability to degrade PES. Therefore for better management of PES-related environmental waste, the present study is targeted towards isolating mesophilic organism(s) capable of more efficient degradation of PES.

Results

Strain AKS2 was isolated from soil based on survival on a selection plate wherein PES was used as sole carbon source. Ribotyping and biochemical tests revealed that AKS2 is a new strain of Pseudomonas. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopic analysis of the PES films obtained after incubation with AKS2 confirmed PES-degradation ability of AKS2, wherein an alteration in surface topology was observed. The kinetics of PES weight loss showed that AKS2 degrades PES maximally during its logarithmic growth phase at a rate of 1.65?mg/day. This degradation is mediated by esterase activity and may also involve cell-surface hydrophobicity. It has also been observed that AKS2 is able to degrade PES considerably even in the presence of glucose, which is likely to increase the bioremediation potential of this isolate.

Conclusion

A new strain of Pseudomonas has been isolated from soil that is able to adhere to PES and degrade this polymer efficiently. This organism has the potential to be implemented as a useful tool for bioremediation of PES-derived materials.     

Sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to low and high density polyethylene (PE)

Background, aim, and scope

According to their high sorption capacity polyethylene (PE) passive samplers are often used for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the aquatic environment. PE is also one of the primary synthetic polymers found in oceans, and sorption of PAHs to marine PE debris may determine PAH exposure and therefore hazards in marine ecosystems. Thus, an understanding of the sorption process is of great importance. In the present study, the sorption of several PAHs with different polarities to low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was studied in order to improve our understanding of the influence of material properties on the Fickian diffusion of PAHs into PE.

Materials and methods

Batch sorption experiments were performed with aqueous solutions containing acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and LPDE or HDPE pellets. Samples were shaken in the dark at 20?±?1°C for 16 time intervals within one week. Concentrations of PAHs were determined in the aqueous samples using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The distribution coefficients (K _PE) between PE and water were estimated from different models reported in the literature. Kinetic sorption of the PAHs into the plastic pellets was described by a diffusion model based on Fick’s second law in spherical coordinates.

Results and discussion

A comparison between different models describing the equilibrium distribution of PAHs between PE and water revealed that the sorption equilibrium seemed to be driven by parameters other than, or in addition to, organic carbon. For both plastic types, diffusion coefficients decreased while the molecular weight of the PAHs increased which indicates a hindered diffusion through the matrix as a result of a larger molecule size. Higher diffusion coefficients were derived for LPDE than for HDPE indicating a greater sorption velocity for LPDE according to the lower polymer density.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that equilibrium time could be shortened during passive sampling as polymer membranes of lower density are used. In some areas, marine ecosystems may not be in equilibrium with respect to concentrations of organic contaminants and abundance of marine plastic debris. In such cases, different polymer densities should be taken into account in risk assessments.

     

Changes in character of organics in the receiving environment of effluent from a sulphite pulp mill

Purpose

The characteristics of organics in sulphite pulp mill effluent and in the receiving environment of effluent discharge were investigated to assess the basis for the persistence or attenuation of colour.

Methods

Characterization of organics was conducted through determination of SUVA, specific colour, and molecular weight distribution of organics using high performance size exclusion chromatography and by solid-state ¹³?C cross polarization (CP) NMR. The characteristics of organics from mill wastewater before and after secondary aerobic treatment, followed by lime treatment and from the receiving environment, an enclosed brackish lake were compared. Changes in the character of organics in lake water over a period of 14?years were studied in the context of changes in mill processing and climate impacts.

Results

High colour in mill effluent and in receiving waters correlated with high SUVA and specific colour levels, high molecular weight range and aromatic content. Conversely, lake waters with low colour had UV absorbing compounds of much lower molecular weight range and low relative abundance of aromatic compounds. Attenuation of colour and changes in the character of organics in the receiving environment coincided with increased concentrations of metal cations.

Conclusions

These increased concentrations appear to be due to the effects of climate change, lake management and their presence in mill effluent, with subsequent discharge to the lake. Attenuation of colour was found to be predominantly through removal of high molecular weight aromatic compounds where the removal processes could be through adsorption and co-precipitation with divalent metals, as well as through dilution processes.     

Contamination Characteristics and Degradation Behavior of Low-Density Polyethylene Film Residues in Typical Farmland Soils of China

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film residues left in farmlands due to agricultural activities were extensively investigated to evaluate the present pollution situation by selecting the typical areas with LDPE film application, including Harbin, Baoding, and Handan of China. The survey results demonstrated that the film residues were ubiquitous within the investigaed areas and the amount reached 2400–8200 g ha^?1. Breakage rates of the film residues were almost at the same level in the studied fields. There were relatively small amounts of film residues remaining in neighboring farmland fields without application of LDPE film. The studies showed that the sheets of LDPE residues had the same oxidative deterioration, which was probably due to photodegradation instead of biodegradation. The higher molecular weight components of the LDPE film gradually decreased, which were reflected by the appearance of some small flakes detached from the film bodies. LDPE films in the investigated fields gradually deteriorated and the decomposing levels developed with their left time increasing. The degradation behaviors of LDPE films were confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopic (SEM), and gel permeation chromatography analyses.     

Inactivation of bacteria under visible light and in the dark by Cu films. Advantages of Cu-HIPIMS-sputtered films

Introduction

The Cu polyester thin-sputtered layers on textile fabrics show an acceptable bacterial inactivation kinetics using sputtering methods.

Materials and methods

Direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) for 40?s of Cu on cotton inactivated Escherichia coli within 30?min under visible light and within 120?min in the dark. For a longer DCMS time of 180?s, the Cu content was 0.294% w/w, but the bacterial inactivation kinetics under light was observed within 30?min, as was the case for the 40-s sputtered sample.

Results and discussion

This observation suggests that Cu ionic species play a key role in the E. coli inactivation and these species were further identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The 40-s sputtered samples present the highest amount of Cu sites held in exposed positions interacting on the cotton with E. coli. Cu DC magnetron sputtering leads to thin metallic semi-transparent gray?Cbrown Cu coating composed by Cu nanoparticulate in the nanometer range as found by electron microscopy (EM). Cu cotton fabrics were also functionalized by bipolar asymmetric DCMSP.

Conclusion

Sputtering by DCMS and DCMSP for longer times lead to darker and more compact Cu films as detected by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and EM. Cu is deposited on the polyester in the form of Cu₂O and CuO as quantified by XPS. The redox interfacial reactions during bacterial inactivation involve changes in the Cu oxidation states and in the oxidation intermediates and were followed by XPS. High-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS)-sputtered films show a low rugosity indicating that the texture of the Cu nanoparticulate films were smooth. The values of R _q and R _a were similar before and after the E. coli inactivation providing evidence for the stability of the HIPIMS-deposited Cu films. The Cu loading percentage required in the Cu films sputtered by HIPIMS to inactivate E. coli was about three times lower compared to DCMS films. This indicates a substantial Cu metal savings within the preparation of antibacterial films.     

The association between maternal nonylphenol exposure and parity on neonatal birth weight: A cohort study in Taiwan

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the association between NP exposure and parity and their effect on neonatal birth weight.

Methods

A cohort of pregnant women was established in a medical center in North Taiwan. Urinary NP concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescent detection and adjusted using creatinine. A multivariable regression model was fit to determine the association between the maternal NP level in each trimester and neonatal birth weight. The odds ratios (ORs) of infant birth weight below the 10th, 25th, and 50th percentiles, comparing pregnant women with the different NP exposure levels, was estimated using a logistic regression.

Results

Of the 162 pregnant women in the study, 99 were multiparas and 63 were primiparas. After adjusting for other covariates, the NP level in the second trimester had a significant association with birth weight in the primiparas (β = −182.49 g, p value = 0.02). The OR of low infant birth weight, comparing pregnant women with different NP levels, was increased by decreasing the cutoff percentile for birth weight (OR = 1.18 for the 50th percentile, 2.12 for the 25th percentile, and 7.81 for the 10th percentile). The odds of primiparas with high NP level having a low neonatal birth weight increased to 3.87, 11.77, and 9.40 for the three different percentiles (p value < 0.05).

Conclusion

Maternal NP exposure level is associated with an increased risk of low neonatal weight. Primiparas are especially at risk, and the second trimester of pregnancy may be the critical stage of exposure.     

Size-exclusion chromatographic study of ECF and TCF softwood kraft pulp bleaching liquors

Background, aims, and scope  

Currently, elemental chlorine-free (ECF) and totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching systems are widely used for pulp production. Low and medium molecular weight lignin break-down products are known to have harmful effects on the environment. According to some recent results, also high molecular weight (HMW) material consisting mainly of lignin and carbohydrates may cause toxic effects to the environment. For these reasons, toxicity and structure studies of HMW materials are of great importance. This investigation is a part of a larger project to obtain more structure information of HMW materials and toxicity of ECF and TCF bleaching effluents. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) has been commonly used for the characterization of organic macromolecules such as lignin, but to our knowledge, no reports have appeared dealing with the comparison of SEC of ECF and TCF bleaching liquors. The aim of the present study was to get more information about the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of HMW fractions of waste liquors from ECF and TCF bleaching sequences by SEC.     

Surface modification of phosphogypsum and application in polyolefin composites

Phosphogypsum (PG) is one of solid wastes with large amount of yield and serious pollution, which has attracted wide attention. The aim of this study is to investigate filling performance of PG on polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix. In this work, PG was calcined initially to improve whiteness and fix impurities. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that after calcined at 500 °C, the PG phase changed from CaSO₄·2H₂O to CaSO₄. The modification effects of the three modifiers were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), oil absorption value, water floatability, and contact angle analysis. The effects of weight fraction of PG in PP and HDPE matrix on mechanics and morphology were observed by tensile test, impact test, and scanning electron microscope. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that modified PG can be dispersed uniformly in the matrix at low filling content. With the increase of PG filling content, the analysis of mechanical properties showed that the tensile strength of HDPE matrix increased, while the tensile strength of PP matrix decreased gradually. The impact strength of HDPE matrix would decrease, but the impact strength of PP matrix increased first and then decreased. Compared with calcium carbonate (CC), the mechanical properties of HDPE filled with PG performed better. The apparent density showed that polymer composites filled with PG have the characteristics of light weight.

Graphical abstract

     

Contamination characteristics and degradation behavior of low-density polyethylene film residues in typical farmland soils of China

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film residues left in farmlands due to agricultural activities were extensively investigated to evaluate the present pollution situation by selecting the typical areas with LDPE film application, including Harbin, Baoding, and Handan of China. The survey results demonstrated that the film residues were ubiquitous within the investigated areas and the amount reached 2,400-8,200 g ha(-1). Breakage rates of the film residues were almost at the same level in the studied fields. There were relatively small amounts of film residues remaining in neighboring farmland fields without application of LDPE film. The studies showed that the sheets of LDPE residues had the same oxidative deterioration, which was probably due to photodegradation instead of biodegradation. The higher molecular weight components of the LDPE film gradually decreased, which were reflected by the appearance of some small flakes detached from the film bodies. LDPE films in the investigated fields gradually deteriorated and the decomposing levels developed with their left time increasing. The degradation behaviors of LDPE films were confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopic (SEM), and gel permeation chromatography analyses.     

Microbial dechlorination of three PCB congeners in river sediment.

We investigated the potential for the anaerobic degradation of three PCB congeners (2,3,5,6-CB, 2,3,4,5-CB, and 2,3,4,5,6-CB) in sediments collected from five monitoring sites along the Keelung River in northern Taiwan. Optimal conditions for congener dechlorination were 30 degrees C and pH 7.0. Intermediate 2,3,4,5-CB products were identified as 2,3,5-CB, 2,4,5-CB, and 2,5-CB. Intermediate 2,3,4,5,6-CB products were identified as 2,3,5,6-CB, 2,3,6-CB, and 2,5-CB. For 2,3,5,6-CB, intermediate products were identified as 2,3,6-CB and 2,5-CB. Dechlorination rates for PCB congeners were observed as (fastest to slowest): 2, 3, 4-CB > 2, 3, 4, 5-CB > 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-CB > 2, 3, 5, 6-CB > 2, 2', 3, 3', 4, 4'-CB > 2, 2', 4, 4' 6, 6'-CB > 2, 2', 3, 4, 4', 5, 5'-CB > 2, 2', 3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5'-CB. Rates decreased for mixtures of the eight congeners. Dechlorination rates for the three primary congeners under different reducing conditions occurred in the order of (fastest to slowest): methanogenic condition > sulfate-reducing condition > nitrate-reducing condition. Under methanogenic and sulfate-reducing conditions, dechlorination rates were enhanced by the addition of lactate, pyruvate, or acetate, but delayed by the addition of manganese oxide, or ferric chloride. Under nitrate-reducing condition, dechlorination rates were delayed by the addition of lactate, pyruvate, acetate, manganese oxide or ferric chloride. Treatment with such microbial inhibitors as bromoethanesulfonic acid (BESA) or molybdate revealed that methanogen and sulfate-reducing bacteria were involved in the dechlorination of these three PCB congeners.