Effect of copper on the degradation of pesticides cypermethrin and cyhalothrin

The influence of coexisting copper (Cu) ion on the degradation of pesticides pyrethroid cypermethrin and cyhalothrin in soil and photodegradation in water system were studied.Serial concentrations of the pesticides with the addition of copper ion were spiked in the soil and incubated for a regular period of time,the analysis of the extracts from the soil was carried out using gas chromatography (GC).The photodegradation of pyrethroids in water system was conducted under UV irradiation.The effect of Cu~(2 ) on the pesticides degradation was measured with half life (t_(0.5)) of degradation.It was found that a negative correlation between the degradation of the pyrethroid pesticides in soil and Cu addition was observed.But Cu~(2 ) could accelerate photodegradation of the pyrethroids in water.The t_(0.5) for cyhalothrin extended from 6.7 to 6.8 d while for cypermethrin extended from 8.1 to 10.9 d with the presence of copper ion in soil.As for photodegradation,t_(0.5) for cyhalothrin reduced from 173.3 to 115.5 rain and for cypermethrin from 115.5 to 99.0 min.The results suggested that copper influenced the degradation of the pesticides in soil by affecting the activity of microorganisms.However, it had catalyst tendency for photodegradation in water system.The difference for the degradation efficiency of pyrethroid isomers in soil was also observed.Copper could obviously accelerate the degradation of some special isomers.     

Laboratory scale studies on removal of chromium from industrial wastes

Chromium being one of the major toxic pollutants is discharged from electroplating and chrome tanning processes and is also found in the effluents of dyes,paint pigments,manufacturing units etc.Chromium exists in aqueous systems in both trivalent(Cr^3 )and hexavalent (Cr^6 )forms.The hexavalent form is carcinogenic and toxic to aquatic life,whereas Cr^3 is however comparatively less toxic.This study was undertaken to investigate the total chromium removal from industial effluents by chemical means in order to achieve the Pakistan NEQS level of 1 mg/L by the methods of reduction and precipitation.The study was conducted in four phase Ⅰ,the optimum pH and cost effective reducing agent among the four popular commercial chemicals was selected.As a result,pH of 2 was found to be most suitable and sodium meta bisulfate was found to be the most cost effective reducing agent respectively.Phase Ⅱ showed that lower dose of sodium meta hisulfate was sufficient to obtain 100% efficiency in reducing Cr^6 to Cr^3 ,and it was noted that reaction time had no significance in the whole process.A design curve for reduction process was established which can act as a tool for treatment of industrial effluents.Phase Ⅲ studies indicated the best pH was 8.5 for precipitation of Cr^3 to chromium hydroxide by using lime.An efficiency of 100% was achievable and a settling time of 30 minutes produced clear effluent.Finally in Phase Ⅳ actual waste samples from chrome tanning and electroplating industries,when precipitated at pH of 12 gave 100% efficiency at a settling time of 30 minutes and confirmed that chemical means of reduction and precipitation is a feasible and viable solution for treating chromium wastes from industries.     

Assessment of the environmental impact of artificial effluent lagoon in Jiayuguan City of China

An artificial effluent lagoon for storing wastewater were excavated in Jiayuguan City since 1994. As a part of a demonstration project of Sino-Austmlia cooperation, an assessment of the environmental impact of the lagoon was carried out. The assessment was based on field and laboratory tests and predictive model. The main impacts from the lagoon site are likely to be on the groundwater system, and, to a lesser extent,on ambient air quality in the vicinity. Currently it is expected that groundwater is being pollutod with effluent from the effluent Ingcen. Air pollution(odor nuisance) is mainly caused by untreated effluent in the irrigation channel. The impact of high total dissolved salt(TDS) on groundwater is likely to be significant in the long run if the lagoon is continuously used. There is, consequently, no likelihood of contamination of surface water system, particularly of the city water supply system, from infiltration of effluent at the lagoon.     

Removal of nitric oxide from simulated flue gas via denitrification in a hollow-fiber membrane bioreactor

A hollow-fiber membrane bioreactor(HMBR) was studied for its ability to treat nitric oxide(NO) from simulated flue gas. The HMBR was operated for 9 months and showed a maximum elimination capacity of 702 mg NO/(m2·day) with a removal efciency of 86%(gas residence time of 30 sec, inlet NO concentration of 2680 mg/m3, pH 8). Varying operation parameters were tested to determine the stability and response of the HMBR. Both the inlet NO concentration and gas residence time influenced the removal of NO in the HMBR. NO elimination capacity increased with an increase in inlet NO concentration or a shortening of gas residence time. Higher removal efciency of NO was obtained at a longer gas residence time or a lower inlet NO concentration. Microbial communities of the HMBR were sensitive to the variation in pH value and alkalescence corresponding to an optimum pH value of 8. In addition, NO elimination capacity and removal efciency were inversely proportional to the inlet oxygen concentration. Sulfur dioxide had no great influence on elimination capacity and removal efciency of NO. Product analysis was performed to study N2O and N2 production and confirmed that the majority of the microorganisms were denitrifying bacteria in the HMBR. Compared to other bioreactors treating NO, this study showed that the denitrifying HMBR was a good option for the removal of NO.     

Investigation of adsorption/desorption behavior of Cr(VI) at the presence of inorganic and organic substance in membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI)

The adsorption and desorption behavior of Cr(VI) in membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) was investigated systematically in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and KCl with different concentrations, respectively. Results revealed that Cr(VI) absorption was enhanced and the adsorption amount for Cr(VI) increased from 155.7 to 190.8?mg/g when KCl concentration increased from 100 to 200?mg/L in the adsorption process, which was attributed to the stronger driving force. However, the adsorption amount sharply decreased to 90.2?mg/g when KCl concentration reached up to 1000?mg/L suggesting the negative effect for Cr(VI) removal that high KCl concentration had. As for the effect of BSA on ion adsorption, the amount for Cr (VI) significantly declined to 78.3?mg/g and pH was found to be an important factor contributing to this significant reduction. Then, the desorption performance was also conducted and it was obtained that the presence of KCl had negligible effect on Cr(VI) desorption, while promoted by the addition of BSA. The incomplete desorption was obtained and the residual chromium ions onto the electrode after desorption was detected via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Based on above analysis, the enhanced removal mechanism for Cr(VI) in MCDI was found to be consisted of ion adsorption onto electrode surface, the redox reaction of Cr(VI) into Cr(III) and precipitation, which was demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM).     

Performance of wastewater sludge ecological stabilization

In this article, wastewater sludge ecological stabilization （WWSES） was presented for sludge dewatering, mineralization, and stabilization, as well as for percolate treatment. Two years of pilot scale experimental results indicated that sludge volatile solid, Wiphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC）-dehydrogenase activity （DHA）, and moisture content as indicators showed the process and degree of sludge stabilization. The observation on dewatering process showed that dried sludge reached a content of 20%-50% total solid after two years of system operation. Sludge TTC-DHA in the first year was obviously lower than that of the second year, and TTC-DHA tended to decrease with an increase in the drying time of the sludge. Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic contents of sludge decreased gradually from the top to the bottom of dried sludge layer. In comparison with natural stands on stands treated with sewage sludge, individual shoot was significantly higher, and coarse protein, coarse fat, and coarse fiber contents in reed roots, stems, and leaves in the system were higher than that of wild reed, especially coarse protein contents of reed roots in the system （7.38%） were obviously higher than that of wild reeds （3.29%）.     

System Change The Greatest Challenge and Opportunity Facing Business

Business leaders spend virtually all their time operating in economic and political systems, playing by the "rules of the game" of these systems. Rarely is time spent considering issues such as: Are these the right rules? What are the underlying assumptions guiding our economic and political systems? What is the ultimate goal and purpose of business? Are we achieving it? If not, why? What needs to change?     

Autoheated thermophilic aerobic sludge digestion and metal bioleaching in a two-stage reactor system

A two-stage process has been developed for stabilization of sludge and removal of heavy metals from the secondary activated sludge with high rate of energy and time conservation.The first stage of the process involves autoheated thermophilic aerobic digestion at 55-60°C inoculated with less-acidophilic thermophilic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms(ATAD).The results show that it is possible to maintain the autoheated conditions(55-60°C) in the ATAD reactor up to 24 hr,leading to reduction of 21% total solids(TS),27% volatile solids(VS),27% suspended solids(SS) and 33% volatile suspended solids(VSS) from the sludge.The sludge pH also decreased from 7 to 4.6 due to the activity of less-acidophilic thermophilic microorganisms.In the second stage operation,the digested sludge(pH 4.6,TS 31.6 g/L) from stage one was subjected to bioleaching in a continuous stirred tank reactor,operated at mean hydraulic retention times(HRTs) of 12,24 and 36 hr at 30°C.An HRT of 24 hr was found to be sufficient for removal of 70% Cu,70% Mn,75% Ni,and 80% Zn from the sludge.In all,39% VSS,76% Cu,78.2% Mn,79.5% Ni and 84.2% Zn were removed from the sludge in both the stages.     

Fractionation of heavy metals in runoff and discharge of a stormwater management system and its implications for treatment

A stormwater management system utilizing the mechanisms of sedimentation and filtration/infiltration was developed and constructed for the immobilization of suspended solids and heavy metal constituents （Fe, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd, Ni） in runoff. Monitoring took place between May 2010 and November 2012 on a total of 24 storm events. This research on the fractionation of heavy metals in runoff and discharge of a stormwater system provided insight on the actual efficiency of the system and determined the implications for treatment of the particulate-bound and dissolved heavy metals in runoff. Results revealed that the partitioning of heavy metal load in runoff in either dissolved or particulate-bound were influenced by flow rate and total suspended solids load, and evident in high-intensity storm （rainfall-runoff event）. On the other hand, the partitioning of heavy metal load discharge from the stormwater system was more apparent during the early period of discharge having higher variability in dissolved than particulate-bound heavy metal. Findings revealed that fractionation of heavy metals played an important role in the performance of the stormwater system; thus, must be considered in designing stormwater systems. For the stormwater system to be effective, it is recommended to design the system treating not only the early period of a storm （first flush criteria） rather until the peak part of the hydrograph （high flow rate where partitioning was greatest） from a load basis.     

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) probe for effectively sampling of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters and sediments

The passive sampling technique, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) has attracted increasing interests as an in-situ sampler for organic contaminants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, its effectiveness has been questioned because of the small effective sampling area (3.1 cm²). In this study, we developed a DGT probe for rapid sampling of eight PFAS in waters and applied it to a water-sediment system. It has a much larger sampling area (27 cm²) and as a result lower method quantification limits (0.15 – 0.21 ng/L for one-day deployment and 0.02 – 0.03 ng/L for one-week deployment) and much higher (by > 10 factors) sampling rate (100 mL/day) compared to the standard DGT (piston configuration). The sampler could linearly accumulate PFAS from wastewater, was sensitive enough even for a 24 hr deployment with performance comparable to grab sampling (500 mL). The DGT probe provided homogeneous sampling performance along the large exposure area. The use of the probe to investigate distributions of dissolved PFAS around the sediment-water interface was demonstrated. This work, for the first time, demonstrated that the DGT probe is a promising monitoring tool for trace levels of PFAS and a research tool for studying their distribution, migration, and fate in aquatic environments including the sediment-water interface.     

Distinct potential aerosol masses under different scenarios of transport at a suburban site of Beijing

In order to evaluate the secondary aerosol formation potential at a suburban site of Beijing,in situ perturbation experiments in a potential aerosol mass(PAM) reactor were carried out in the winter of 2014.The variations of secondary aerosol formation as a function of time,OH exposure,and the concentrations of gas phase pollutants and particles were reported in this study.Two periods with distinct secondary aerosol formation potentials,marked as Period Ⅰ and Period Ⅱ,were identified during the observation.In Period Ⅰ,the secondary aerosol formation potential was high,and correlated well to the air pollutants,i.e.,SO_2,NO_2,and CO.The maximal secondary aerosol formation was observed with an aging time equivalent to about 3 days of atmospheric oxidation.In period Ⅱ,the secondary aerosol formation potential was low,with no obvious correlation with the air pollutants.Meanwhile,the aerosol mass decreased,instead of showing a peak,with increasing aging time.Backward trajectory analysis during the two periods confirmed that the air mass in Period Ⅰwas mainly from local sources,while it was attributed mostly to long distance transport in Period Ⅱ.The air lost its reactivity during the long transport and the particles became highly aged,resulting in a low secondary aerosol formation potential.Our experimental results indicated that the in situ measurement of the secondary aerosol formation potential could provide important information for evaluating the contributions of local emission and long distance transport to the aerosol pollution.     

Assessing the capacity of biochar to stabilize copper and lead in contaminated sediments using chemical and extraction methods

Because of its high adsorption capacity, biochar has been used to stabilize metals when remediating contaminated soils; to date, however, it has seldom been used to remediate contaminated sediment. A biochar was used as a stabilization agent to remediate Cu- and Pb-contaminated sediments, collected from three locations in or close to Beijing. The sediments were mixed with a palm sawdust gasified biochar at a range of weight ratios (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) and incubated for 10, 30, or 60?days. The performance of the different treatments and the heavy metal fractions in the sediments were assessed using four extraction methods, including diffusive gradients in thin films, the porewater concentration, a sequential extraction, and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. The results showed that biochar could enhance the stability of heavy metals in contaminated sediments. The degree of stability increased as both the dose of biochar and the incubation time increased. The sediment pH and the morphology of the metal crystals adsorbed onto the biochar changed as the contact time increased. Our results showed that adsorption, metal crystallization, and the pH were the main controls on the stabilization of metals in contaminated sediment by biochar.     

A new photon kinetic-measure based on the kinetics of electron-hole pairs in photodegradation of textile wastewater using the UV-H2O2FS-TiO2 process

Actual textile wastewater and synthesized wastewater containing various textile dyes were photocatalytic degraded by the UVH2O2Fs-TiO2 process in an aimular-flow photocatalytic reactor. In this process, a photon kinetic-measure was adopted to obtain constant rates of dyes decomposition. It was theorized that, by illumination at different UV frequencies, the electrons within the semiconductor were excited from the valence band to the conduction band, yielding the formation of electron-hole pairs which are the pre-requisites for photocatalysis. CPT （critical photonic time） exposure required to cause 90% of vibrations between the double and single bonds along the molecular chain of the dyes to be oxidized, was taken to measure the photocatalytic activities. The CPTs varied with the frequencies of the UV spectral areas. The derivatization of CPT from the first-order kinetic law was presented.     

Experimental continuous sludge microwave system to enhance dehydration ability and hydrogen production from anaerobic digestion of sludge

Dehydrating large amounts of sludge produced by sewage treatment plants is difficult.Microwave pretreatment can effectively and significantly improve the dewaterability and hydrogen production of sludge subjected to anaerobic digestion. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different microwave conditions on hydrogen production from anaerobic digestion and dewaterability of sludge. Based on an analysis of the electric field distribution, a spiral reactor was designed and a continuous microwave system was built to conduct intermittent and continuous experiments under different conditions. Settling Volume, Capillary Suction Time, particle size, and moisture content of the sludge were measured. The results show that sludge pretreatment in continuous experiments has equally remarkable dehydration performance as in intermittent experiments; the minimum moisture content was 77.29% in the intermittent experiment under a microwave power of 300 W and an exposure time of 60 sec, and that in the continuous experiment was 77.56% under a microwave power of 400 W and an exposure time of 60 sec.The peak measured by Differential Scanning Calorimeter appeared earliest under a microwave power of 600 W and an exposure time of 180 sec. The heat flux at the peak was 4.343 W/g, which is relatively small. This indicates that microwave pretreatment induced desirable effects. The maximum yield of hydrogen production was 7.967% under the conditions of microwave power of 500 W, exposure time of 120 sec, and water bath at 55°C. This research provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the development of a continuous microwave sludge-conditioning system.     

Influence of acid deposition on atmospheric corrosion of zinc

Site exposure tests both open and sheltered have been carried out in acid deposition area in Southwest China. Results from six sites show that acid deposition exerts a great influence on atmospheric corrosion of Zn, and it is more serious in wet condition. Basically, Zn corrosion is directly proportional to time of exposure. While SO2 is the main pollutant of the atmosphere environment, Zn corrosion has a linear relationship to SO2 depositing rate and a hyperbolic to rain pH value.Observations by SEM, EDAX and X-ray diffraction show that under sheltered exposure condition, the corrosion products of Zn in heavy acid deposition area principally are sulphates.Based on the corrosion rates measured, the working life of galvanized steel can be predicated.     

Uptake, translocation, and debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in maize

Uptake, translocation and debromination of three polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), BDE-28, -47 and -99, in maize were studied in a hydroponic experiment. Roots took up most of the PBDEs in the culture solutions and more highly brominated PBDEs had a stronger uptake capability. PBDEs were detected in the stems and leaves of maize after exposure but rarely detected in the blank control plants. Furthermore, PBDE concentrations decreased from roots to stems and then to leaves, and a very clear decreasing gradient was found in segments upwards along the stem. These altogether provide substantiating evidence for the acropetal translocation of PBDEs in maize. More highly brominated PBDEs were translocated with more difficulty. Radial translocation of PBDEs from nodes to sheath inside maize was also observed. Both acropetal and radial translocations were enhanced at higher transpiration rates, suggesting that PBDE transport was probably driven by the transpiration stream. Debromination of PBDEs occurred in all parts of the maize, and debromination patterns of different parent PBDEs and in different parts of a plant were similar but with some differences. This study for the first time provides direct evidence for the acropetal translocation of PBDEs within plants, elucidates the process of PBDE transport and clarifies the debromination products of PBDEs in maize.     

Evaluation of the International Vehicle Emission （IVE） model with on-road remote sensing measurements

Intemational Vehicle Emissions （IVE） model funded by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency （USEPA） is designed to estimate emissions from motor vehicles in developing countries. In this study, the IVE model was evaluated by utilizing a dataset available from the remote sensing measurements on a large number of vehicles at five different sites in Hangzhou, China, in 2004 and 2005. Average fuel-based emission factors derived from the remote sensing measurements were compared with corresponding emission factors derived from IVE calculations for urban, hot stabilized condition. The results show a good agreement between the two methods for gasoline passenger cars＇ HC emission for all 1VE subsectors and technology classes. In the case of CO emissions, the modeled results were reasonably good, although systematically underestimate the emissions by almost 12%-50% for different technology classes. However, the model totally overestimated NOx emissions. The IVE NOx emission factors were 1.5-3.5 times of the remote sensing measured ones. The IVE model was also evaluated for light duty gasoline truck, heavy duty gasoline vehicles and motor cycles. A notable result was observed that the decrease in emissions from technology class State II to State I were overestimated by the IVE model compared to remote sensing measurements for all the three pollutants. Finally, in order to improve emission estimation, the adjusted base emission factors from local studies are strongly recommended to be used in the IVE model.     

Construction of WCB-11: A novel phiYFP arsenic-resistant whole-cell biosensor

The prediction and assessment of environmental pollution by arsenic are important preconditions of advocating environmental protection and human health risk assessment.A yellow fluorescent protein-based whole-cell biosensor for the detection of arsenite and arsenate was constructed and tested.An arsenic-resistant promoter and the regulatory gene arsR were obtained by PCR from the genome of Escherichia coli DH5α,and phiYFP was introduced into E.coli DH5α as a reporter gene to construct an arsenic-resistant whole-cell biosensor(WCB-11) in which phiYFP was expressed well for the first time.Experimental results demonstrated that the biosensor has a good response to arsenic and the expression of phiYFP.When strain WCB-11 was exposed to As 3+ and As 5+,the expression of yellow fluorescence was time-dependent and dose-dependent.This engineered construct is expected to become established as an inexpensive and convenient method for the detection of arsenic in the field.     

Delignification of disposable wooden chopsticks waste for fermentative hydrogen production by an enriched culture from a hot spring

Hydrogen(H2) production from lignocellulosic materials may be enhanced by removing lignin and increasing the porosity of the material prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. Alkaline pretreatment conditions,used to delignify disposable wooden chopsticks(DWC) waste, were investigated. The effects of NaOH concentration, temperature and retention time were examined and it was found that retention time had no effect on lignin removal or carbohydrate released in enzymatic hydrolysate. The highest percentage of lignin removal(41%) was obtained with 2% NaOH at 100℃, correlated with the highest carbohydrate released(67 mg/gpretreated DWC) in the hydrolysate. An enriched culture from a hot spring was used as inoculum for fermentative H2 production, and its optimum initial pH and temperature were determined to be 7.0 and 50℃, respectively. Furthermore, enzymatic hydrolysate from pretreated DWC was successfully demonstrated as a substrate for fermentative H2 production by the enriched culture. The maximum H2 yield and production rate were achieved at 195 mL H2/g total sugarsconsumedand 116 mL H2/(L·day), respectively.     

Coupling magnetic particles with flocculants to enhance demulsification and separation of waste cutting emulsion for engineering applications

Magnetic particles were coupled with a flocculant to enhance the demulsification and separation of waste cutting emulsions. The optimal magnetic particle size and critical magnetic field conditions were investigated to achieve large-scale engineering application of magnetic demulsification separation for waste cutting emulsion treatment. The micro-scale magnetic particles were found to show comparable effects to nano-scale magnetic particles on enhancing the demulsification and separation of cutting emulsions, which are beneficial for broadening the selectivity of low-cost magnetic particles. The critical magnetic separation region was determined to be an area 40 mm from the magnetic field source. Compared to the flocculant demulsification, the magnetic demulsification separation exhibited a significant advantage in accelerating flocs–water separation by decreasing the separation time of flocs from 180–240 min to less than 15 min, compressing the flocs by reducing the floc volume ratio from 60%–90% to lower than 20%, and showing excellent adaptability to the variable properties of waste cutting emulsions. Coupled with the design of the magnetic disk separator, continuous demulsification separation of the waste cutting emulsion was achieved at 1.0 t/hr for at least 10 hr to obtain clear effluent with 81% chemical oxygen demand removal and 89% turbidity reduction. This study demonstrates the feasibility of applying magnetic demulsification separation to large-scale continuous treatment of waste emulsion. Moreover, it addresses the flocs–water separation problems that occur in practical flocculant demulsification engineering applications.