Acute temperature dependency in the cleansing of tarry feathers utilizing magnetic particles

We have conducted temperature-dependent studies on the removal of a solidified tarry residue from feathers using magnetic particles. These studies demonstrate an acute temperature dependency whereby no contaminant at all is removed below a certain temperature but, at and above this temperature, the removal rapidly approaches 100%. Significantly, this temperature is well below the temperature at which the tarry residue becomes a flowing liquid. This demonstrates that it is possible for magnetic cleansing to remove up to 100% of tarry residue from feathers under temperature conditions that would be benign to a bird.     

电子束脱除烟道气中硫和氮过程的计算机模拟

电子束干法脱硫脱硝的技术可以同时去除烟道气中的NOx与SO2。根据该处理方法建立脱除NOx和SO2的化学反应机理，并使用计算机模拟的方法，考察体系温度、辐照剂量和氨浓度与去除效率的关系。     

High boron removal by functionalized magnesium ferrite nanopowders

Hydroxyl-enriched materials are promising boron adsorbents. However, the use of these materials is hampered by issues of separation, recovery, and selectivity, notably due to the presence of interfering ions. Therefore, we synthesized here a cheap magnetic nanopowder, which was further functionalized with polyvinyl alcohol and glycidol to produce boron-selective adsorbents. We studied their selectivity and removal efficiency using batch and fixed-bed systems. Sorption was studied at both concentrated and trace amounts of boron. Results show that nanopowders have 5.3–6.5 nm pore sizes and 145–203 m²/g surface areas, using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. Polyvinyl alcohol-functionalized particles removed 93 % of boron at 5 mg/L at pH 7 in 30 min, whereas only 68 % of boron was removed by glycidol-functionalized particles. However, at higher boron concentration, of 50 mg/L, glycidol-functionalized particles showed higher adsorption affinity of 68.9 mg/g. We conclude that internal hydroxyl groups of polyvinyl alcohol-functionalized particles are less accessible at higher boron concentration. This is the first report on magnesium ferrites for boron recovery. The spent adsorbents were separated easily from the aqueous media by an external magnet and repeatedly used. Overall, our findings demonstrated that the hydroxyl-enriched magnetic nanopowders are a better alternative to the existing boron adsorbents regarding magnetic separation, reusability, and selectivity.     

Do leaf-cutter ants Atta colombica obtain their magnetic sensors from soil?

How animals sense, process, and use magnetic information remains elusive. In insects, magnetic particles are candidates for a magnetic sensor. Recent studies suggest that the ant Pachycondyla marginata incorporates iron-containing particles from soil. We used leaf-cutter ants Atta colombica to test whether soil contact is necessary for developing a functional magnetic compass. A. colombica is the only invertebrate known to calculate a path-integrated home vector using a magnetic compass. Here, we show that A. colombica requires contact with soil to incorporate magnetic particles that can be used as a magnetic compass; yet, we also show that ants can biosynthesize magnetic particles. Workers from a soil-free colony ignored a 90° shift in the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field, yet oriented homeward despite the occlusion of any geocentric cues. In contrast, workers from a soil-exposed colony oriented to an intermediate direction between their true and subjective home in the shifted field. Homeward orientations under shifted fields suggest that ants calculated a path-integrated vector using proprioceptive information. Strikingly, ants from the soil-free colony also had magnetic particles; yet, as observed by ferromagnetic resonance, these particles differed from those in soil-exposed ants and were not associated with a magnetic compass sensitive to this experimental manipulation.     

Enhanced dechlorination of chlorobenzene by microwave-induced zero-valent iron: particle effects and activation energy

Organic compounds such as chlorobenzene cannot be effectively decomposed with currently available biological and chemical treatment methods. Preliminary studies show that nano-scale zero-valent iron particles irradiated by microwave is effective in decomposing chemically refractive organic compounds such as chlorobenzene. In this study, microwave is applied to enhance chlorobenzene removal using micron-scale iron particles and nano-scale zero-valent iron particles suspended in the chlorobenzene solution as the dielectric media. The results show that better chlorobenzene removal can be achieved when the chlorobenzene solution is irradiated with 250 W microwave for 150 s than without microwave irradiation. The microwave radiation increases iron reaction rate and surface activity, thus enhancing the chlorobenzene removal. The microwave-induced iron particles cause the chlorobenzene activation energy to drop 34.0% for micron-scale iron and 16.1% for nano-scale zero-valent iron. They can remove 13.6 times more chlorobenzene for micro iron, and 3.6 times more chlorobenzene for nano iron. We have demonstrated that the microwave-induced nano-scale iron particles are effective in treating toxic organic substances as demonstrated in this laboratory study.     

The adsorption of lead and copper from aqueous solution on modified peat-resin particles

Raw peat was modified with sulfuric acid, then mixed modified with resin to prepare the modified peat-resin particles. Using the batch experimental systems, the removal of heavy metals (copper and lead) on the modified peat-resin particles was investigated. The data of the adsorption isotherm could be fitted by the Langmuir equation well. The adsorption rate of heavy metals on modified peat-resin particles was very swift. The removal processes of heavy metals on modified peat-resin particles could be well described by pseudo-second order model. The adsorption rate of lead was affected by the initial heavy metal concentration, initial pH, particle size, agitation speed and particle mass. In the adsorption of heavy metals (lead and copper) on the modified peat-resin particles, ion exchange was the major reaction mechanism. Desorption data showed that the lead adsorbed by modified peat-resin particle could be desorbed by 0.5 N or 1.0 N HNO3. The desorption rate was swift. The experiments indicated that the modified peat-resin particles have great potential for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.     

The Adsorption of Lead and Copper from Aqueous Solution on Modified Peat–Resin Particles

Raw peat was modified with sulfuric acid, then mixed modified with resin to prepare the modified peat–resin particles. Using the batch experimental systems, the removal of heavy metals (copper and lead) on the modified peat–resin particles was investigated. The data of the adsorption isotherm could be fitted by the Langmuir equation well. The adsorption rate of heavy metals on modified peat–resin particles was very swift. The removal processes of heavy metals on modified peat–resin particles could be well described by pseudo-second order model. The adsorption rate of lead was affected by the initial heavy metal concentration, initial pH, particle size, agitation speed and particle mass. In the adsorption of heavy metals (lead and copper) on the modified peat–resin particles, ion exchange was the major reaction mechanism. Desorption data showed that the lead adsorbed by modified peat–resin particle could be desorbed by 0.5 N or 1.0 N HNO₃. The desorption rate was swift. The experiments indicated that the modified peat–resin particles have great potential for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.     

Utilization of nano/micro-size iron recovered from the fine fraction of automobile shredder residue for phenol degradation in water

Phenol removal by n/m Fe in the presence of H₂O₂ was highly effective. Increasing the amounts of n/m Fe and H₂O₂?increased the phenol removal rate. Phenol removal was decreased with an increase in the concentration of phenol. The natural pH (6.9) of the solution was highly effective for phenol removal. The pseudo-first-order kinetics was best fitted for the degradation of phenol. The study investigates the magnetic separation of Fe from automobile shredder residue (ASR) (<0.25 mm) and its application for phenol degradation in water. The magnetically separated Fe was subjected to an ultrasonically assisted acid treatment, and the degradation of phenol in an aqueous solution using nano/micro-size Fe (n/m Fe) was investigated in an effort to evaluate the possibility of utilizing n/m Fe to remove phenol from wastewater. The prepared n/m Fe was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of the dosages of n/mFe, pH, concentration of phenol and amount of H₂O₂ on phenol removal were evaluated. The results confirm that the phenol degradation rate was improved with an increase in the dosages of n/mFe and H₂O₂; however, the rate is reduced when the phenol concentration is higher. The degradation of phenol by n/mFe followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. The value of the reaction rate constant (k) was increased as the amounts of n/m Fe and H₂O₂ increased. Conversely, the value of k was reduced when the concentration of phenol was increased. The probable mechanism behind the degradation of phenol by n/m Fe is the oxidation of phenol through hydroxyl radicals which are produced during the reaction between H₂O₂ and n/m Fe.     

Fly ash content and distribution in lake sediments around a large power station: inferences from magnetic susceptibility analysis

The bulk magnetic susceptibility of sediments from artificial and natural lakes around a large coal-fired power station in NE Spain has been measured. Higher magnetic susceptibility values are found in lake sediments located SE of the power station. This distribution of susceptibility values is compatible with environmental and meterological studies of emissions from the power station, which indicate a dominant SE plume direction. Mineralogical studies, by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, show that the highest susceptibility values found in the sediments are caused by magnetic iron spinels in the fly ash that is transferred to the environment by the power station particulate emissions. After the quantitative mineralogical studies of fly ash, two different methods of fly ash content determination in the sediments have been devised, showing very similar results. The low background magnetic susceptibility of the sediments in the study area and the high susceptibility resulting from the input of magnetic fly ash particles allows both delimitation of the polluted area around the power station, and quantification of the fly ash input into the natural sediments.     

熔盐法去除污泥焚烧灰中磷的效果及热动力学分析

利用碳还原剂和氯化钙熔盐药剂在1100℃下还原污泥焚烧灰中的磷酸盐为气态磷单质并去除,采用X射线衍射分析(XRD)残渣的组成和热重质谱(TGA-MS)分析反应过程.结果表明,添加氯化钙可显著提高污泥焚烧灰除磷效率,氯化钙的最优添加量为25%质量分数,此时污泥焚烧灰除磷效率为82%.XRD结果显示,污泥焚烧灰经熔盐处理后形成了氯磷灰石(chlorapatite),珍珠云母(margarite)等物质,其中氯磷灰石的形成有利于焚烧灰中磷的还原.对TGA-MS结果进行热解动力学反应拟合,结果显示,污泥焚烧灰除磷反应在添加少量氯化钙添加时为均相反应;污泥焚烧灰除磷反应在添加较多氯化钙时为固相扩散反应.固相反应的发生有利于降低磷酸盐还原反应温度并提高去除效率.     

Preparation of magnetic nanocomposite beads and optimizing the conditions for effective removal of U(VI) from aqueous solutions

Magnetic ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) were prepared by precipitate polymerization and leached with HCl to remove uranium. Their ability to remove hexavalent uranium from wastewater effluents was studied. Batch adsorption studies to determine the optimum conditions of U(VI) removal were conducted at different levels of sample pH, sorbent amount, agitation time, and initial uranium concentration. It was observed that, under optimum conditions (i.e. pH 4, adsorbent amount of 50 mg, 45 min agitation time, and initial U(VI) concentration of 2 mg L^?1), the maximum removal of U(VI) cations was >98% and 80% for the magnetic IIP and the corresponding magnetic non-imprinted polymers (NIP), respectively. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption of U(VI) onto magnetic IIP and NIP. The adsorption capacity of U(VI) was determined to be 1.06 and 0.85 mg g^?1 for the two isotherms, respectively. The order of selectivity was found to be U(VI) > Fe(III) > Pb(II). For six cycles of regeneration and reuse, the magnetic polymers maintained their stabilities with only a 4% loss in the extraction efficiency. The average extraction efficiencies of the magnetic polymers for the spiked acid mine drainage and sewage wastewater effluents were 71% and 58% for the magnetic IIP and NIP, respectively. From powder X-ray diffraction analysis, application of the Scherrer equation yielded magnetic nanoparticles of an average mean diameter of 11.9 nm. Thermo-gravimetric analysis revealed that the HCl-leached magnetic polymers had a magnetite residual weight of 5%.     

An approach for particle sinking velocity measurements in the 3–400?μm size range and considerations on the effect of temperature on sinking rates

The flux of organic particles below the mixed layer is one major pathway of carbon from the surface into the deep ocean. The magnitude of this export flux depends on two major processes—remineralization rates and sinking velocities. Here, we present an efficient method to measure sinking velocities of particles in the size range from approximately 3–400?μm by means of video microscopy (FlowCAM^?). The method allows rapid measurement and automated analysis of mixed samples and was tested with polystyrene beads, different phytoplankton species, and sediment trap material. Sinking velocities of polystyrene beads were close to theoretical values calculated from Stokes’ Law. Sinking velocities of the investigated phytoplankton species were in reasonable agreement with published literature values and sinking velocities of material collected in sediment trap increased with particle size. Temperature had a strong effect on sinking velocities due to its influence on seawater viscosity and density. An increase in 9?°C led to a measured increase in sinking velocities of ~40?%. According to this temperature effect, an average temperature increase in 2?°C as projected for the sea surface by the end of this century could increase sinking velocities by about 6?% which might have feedbacks on carbon export into the deep ocean.     

Characteristics and removal mechanism of the precursors of N-chloro-2,2-dichloroacetamide in a drinking water treatment process at Taihu Lake

• N-Cl-DCAM, an emerging N-DBP in drinking water was investigated. • A new BAC has a better removal efficiency for N-Cl-DCAM precursors than an old BAC. • N-Cl-DCAM precursors are more of low molecular weight and non-polar. • Adsorption of GAC plays a major role in removal of N-Cl-DCAM precursors by an O₃-BAC. N-chloro-2,2-dichloroacetamide (N-Cl-DCAM) is an emerging nitrogenous disinfection by-product (N-DBP) which can occur in drinking water. In this study, an analytical method based on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed to validate the concentration of N-Cl-DCAM, which was found to be 1.5 mg/L in the effluent of a waterworks receiving raw water from Taihu Lake, China. The changes of N-Cl-DCAM formation potential (N-Cl-DCAMFP) in the drinking water treatment process and the removal efficiency of its precursors in each unit were evaluated. Non-polar organics accounted for the majority of N-Cl-DCAM precursors, accounting for 70% of the N-Cl-DCAM FP. The effect of conventional water treatment processes on the removal of N-Cl-DCAM precursors was found to be unsatisfactory due to their poor performance in the removal of low molecular weight (MW) or non-polar organics. In the ozonation integrated with biological activated carbon (O₃-BAC) process, the ozonation had little influence on the decrease of N-Cl-DCAM FP. The removal efficiency of precursors by a new BAC filter, in which the granular activated carbon (GAC) had only been used for four months was higher than that achieved by an old BAC filter in which the GAC had been used for two years. The different removal efficiencies of precursors were mainly due to the different adsorption capacities of GAC for individual precursors. Low MW or non-polar organics were predominantly removed by GAC, rather than biodegradation by microorganisms attached to GAC particles.     

修复植物生物解吸脱除重金属实验研究

以天津市公路绿化带大叶黄杨为修复植物,采用生物解吸法及火焰原子吸收分光光度法,研究了标准筛筛径、浸泡温度、浸泡时间、真空度和减压时间对脱除材料内重金属Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb的脱除作用。结果表明,真空度、浸泡时间对Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb的脱除作用较明显,减压时间对Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb的相对脱除率最为显著。Zn和Cu的迁移性较高,调节各操作参数对脱除Zn、Cu的作用较明显,其平均脱除值和平均脱除率均较高。本底值高低对脱除Zn、Cu和Cr、Pb影响较大。Cr和Pb对筛径和减压时间敏感性较强,对浸泡温度、浸泡时间及真空度敏感性较差。认为基于生物解吸法通过选择适宜的操作参数对脱除修复植物内部分重金属有积极的作用。     

Correction to: Facile synthesis of the magnetic metal–organic framework Fe3O4/Cu3(BTC)2 for efficient dye removal

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Dyeing wastewaters present high hazards for the environment and human health. Advanced dye removal may be achieved by magnetic metal–organic frameworks...     

Electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate waste into ammonia: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate waste into ammonia allows both the removal of nitrate contaminants and an alternative production of ammonia compared to...     

Biodegradation of phenol by native microorganisms isolated from coke processing wastewater

The present investigation was undertaken to assess the biodegradation of phenol by native bacteria strains isolated from coke oven processing wastewater. The strains were designated ESDSPB1, ESDSPB2 and ESDSPB3 and examined for colony morphology Gram stain characters and biochemical tests. Phenol degrading performance of all the strains was evaluated initially. One of the strains namely ESDSPB2 was found to be highly effective for the removal of phenol, which was used as sole carbon and energy source. From an initial concentration of 200 mg I(-1) it degraded to 79.84 +/- 1.23 mg l(-1). In turn the effect of temperature (20 to 45 degrees C), pH (5-10) and glucose concentration (0, 0.25 and 0.5%) on the rate of phenol degradation by that particular strain was investigated. Observations revealed that the rate of phenol biodegradation was significantly affected by pH, temperature of incubation and glucose concentration. The optimal conditions for phenol removal were found to be pH of 7 (84.63% removal), temperature, 30 degrees C (76.69% removal) and 0.25% supplemented glucose level (97.88% removal). The main significance of the study is the utilization of native bacterial strains from the waste water itself having potential of bioremediation.     

An estimating function approach to the inference of catch-effort models

A class of catch-effort models, which allows for heterogeneous removal probabilities, is proposed for closed populations. The model includes three types of removal probabilities: multiplicative, Poisson and logistic. The usual removal and generalized removal models then become special cases. The equivalence of the proposed model and a special type of capture-recapture model is discussed. A unified estimating function approach is used to estimate the initial population size. For the homogeneous model, the resulting population size estimator based on optimal estimating functions is asymptotically equivalent to the maximum likelihood estimator. One advantage for our approach is that it can be extended to handle the heterogeneous populations in which the maximum likelihood estimators do not exist. The bootstrap method is applied to construct variance estimators and confidence intervals. We illustrate the method by two real data examples. Results of a simulation study investigating the performance of the proposed estimation procedure are presented.     

Optimization of methyl orange removal from aqueous solution by response surface methodology using spent tea leaves as adsorbent

The effective disposal of redundant tea waste is crucial to environmental protection and comprehensive utilization of trash resources. In this work, the removal of methyl orange （MO） from aqueous solution using spent tea leaves as the sorbent was investigated in a batch experiment. First, the effects of various parameters such as temperature, adsorption time, dose of spent tea leaves, and initial concentration of MO were investigated. Then, the response surface methodology （RSM）, based on Box- Behnken design, was employed to obtain the optimum adsorption conditions. The optimal conditions could be obtained at an initial concentration of MO of 9.75 mg·L-1, temperature of 35.3℃, contact time of 63.8 min, and an adsorbent dosage 3.90 g· L-1. Under the optimized condi- tions, the maximal removal of MO was 58.2%. The results indicate that spent tea leaves could be used as an effective and economical adsorbent in the removal of MO from aqueous solution.     

大气污染控制中高梯度磁分离技术的研究与应用

本文概述了高梯度磁分离技术在燃煤脱硫除灰、烟气除尘方面的应用与研究进展以及超导磁分离技术在燃煤脱硫方面的研究，并展望了超导磁分离技术在环境保护中的应用前景。