Particulate matter emissions from on-road vehicles in a freeway tunnel study

Particulate matter, including coarse particles (PM_2.5–10, aerodynamic diameter of particle between 2.5 and 10 μm) and fine particles (PM_2.5, aerodynamic diameter of particle lower than 2.5 μm) and their compositions, including elemental carbon, organic carbon, and 11 water-soluble ionic species, and elements, were measured in a tunnel study. A comparison of the six-hour average of light-duty vehicle (LDV) flow of the two sampling periods showed that the peak hours over the weekend were higher than those on weekdays. However, the flow of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) on the weekdays was significant higher than that during the weekend in this study. EC and OC content were 49% for PM_2.5–10 and 47% for PM_2.5 in the tunnel center. EC content was higher than OC content in PM_2.5–10, but EC was about 2.3 times OC for PM_2.5. Sulfate, nitrate, ammonium were the main species for PM_2.5–10 and PM_2.5. The element contents of Na, Al, Ca, Fe and K were over 0.8 μg m^?3 in PM_2.5–10 and PM_2.5. In addition, the concentrations of S, Ba, Pb, and Zn were higher than 0.1 μg m^?3 for PM_2.5–10 and PM_2.5. The emission factors of PM_2.5–10 and PM_2.5 were 18 ± 6.5 and 39 ± 11 mg km^?1-vehicle, respectively. The emission factors of EC/OC were 3.6/2.7 mg km^?1-vehicle for PM_2.5–10 and 15/4.7 mg km^?1-vehicle for PM_2.5 Furthermore, the emission factors of water-soluble ions were 0.028(Mg²⁺)–0.81(SO₄^2?) and 0.027(NO₂^?)–0.97(SO₄^2?) mg km^?1-vehicle for PM_2.5–10 and PM_2.5, respectively. Elemental emission factors were 0.003(V)–1.6(Fe) and 0.001(Cd)–1.05(Na) mg km^?1-vehicle for PM_2.5–10 and PM_2.5, respectively.     

Degradation of di-butyl-phthalate by soil bacteria

Twelve Gram-positive phthalate ester degraders were isolated from soil. Using Biolog GP2 plates, eight of them were identified as belonging to the Corynebacterium-Mycobacterium-Nocardia group, while the remaining four were unidentifiable. When cultured in the presence of di-butyl-phthalate (DBP) in basal salts solution, five of these isolates accomplished more than 90% of DBP degradation within 48 h (fast group), three were placed in the medium group, and the remaining four were placed in the slow group which caused less than 30% of DBP degradation within the same period of time. A 420 bp DNA fragment was amplified from six isolates and none of them fell within the slow group. When compared with the large subunit of phthalate dioxygenase gene (phtA) of Arthrobacter keyseri, 83% and 91% similarities were evident in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, respectively. However, no correlation between cell surface hydrophobicity and phthalate degradation ability was evident. Six surfactants (Brij 30, Brij 35, Tergitoltype NP-10, Triton N-101, Triton X-100 and SDS) were tested for their abilities to increase degradation rate. When added at the critical micellar concentration (CMC), they all displayed strong growth inhibition against the three bacteria tested, with Brij 30 been the least toxic to isolates G2 and G11, and Brij 35 had the least inhibitory effect for G1. When half the CMC of Brij 30 was incorporated into the basal salts, the inhibitory effect on DBP degradation remained. Soil helped to minimize surfactant toxicity of surfactant and increase the degradation potential of some of the test bacteria. When DBP-amended soil had been aged for three months, decreases in bioavailability were observed but the effect varied tremendously between different organisms. For isolates G1, G2, G5, G7 and G17 the aging effects were almost non-exist. The present study indicates that selection of a suitable degrader may minimize the undesired effect of aging on bioremediation process.     

Adsorption characteristics of benzene on biosolid adsorbent and commercial activated carbons

This study selected biosolids from a petrochemical waste-water treatment plant as the raw material. The sludge was immersed in 0.5-5 M of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) solutions and pyrolyzed at different temperatures and times. Results indicated that the 1-M ZnCl2-immersed biosolids pyrolyzed at 500 degrees C for 30 min could be reused and were optimal biosolid adsorbents for benzene adsorption. Pore volume distribution analysis indicated that the mesopore contributed more than the macropore and micropore in the biosolid adsorbent. The benzene adsorption capacity of the biosolid adsorbent was 65 and 55% of the G206 (granular-activated carbon) and BPL (coal-based activated carbon; Calgon, Carbon Corp.) activated carbons, respectively. Data from the adsorption and desorption cycles indicated that the benzene adsorption capacity of the biosolid adsorbent was insignificantly reduced compared with the first-run capacity of the adsorbent; therefore, the biosolid adsorbent could be reused as a commercial adsorbent, although its production cost is high.     

Solar photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue in water

In this study, a photocatalytic decolorization system equipped with immobilized TiO2 and illuminated by solar light was used to remove the color of wastewater. To examine the decoloring efficiency of this system, photocatalytic decolorization of an organic dye such as methylene blue was studied as an example. The effects of light source, pH, as well as the initial concentration of dye were also investigated. It was observed that the solution of methylene blue could be almost completely decolorized by the solar light/TiO2 film process while there was about 50% color remaining with solar irradiation only. In addition, it was found that the decoloring efficiency of solution was higher with solar light irradiation than with artificial UV light irradiation, even though the artificial UV light source supplied higher UV intensity at 254 nm. The color removal rate of methylene blue with solar light irradiation was almost twice that of artificial UV light irradiation. This phenomena was mainly attributed to that some visible light range of solar light was useful for exciting the methylene blue molecules adsorbed on TiO2 film, leading to a photosensitization process undergoing and decoloring efficiency promoted. This solar-assisted photocatalytic device showed potential application for decoloring organic dyes in wastewater.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of pesticide rinsate

Pesticide rinsate has been considered as one of the major threats for the environment. In this study, photocatalysts such as TiO2 and O3 were used to promote the efficiency of direct UV photolysis to prevent such wastewater pollution. Carbofuran (a carbamate pesticide) and mevinphos (an organophosphate pesticide) with a concentration of 100 mg/L were selected as the test pesticide rinsates. Parent pesticide compound, COD, and microtoxicity analysis were employed to investigate the effect of photocatalyst on the degradation efficiency of pesticide in rinsate. It was found that the photocatalytic oxidation process (UV/O3, UV/TiO2) showed much higher COD removal and microtoxicity reduction efficiency for pesticide rinsate than did direct UV photolysis under the imposed conditions, suggesting that photocatalytic oxidation processes such as UV/O3 and UV/TiO2 could be a better alternative to treat pesticide rinsate. In addition, it was noted that increasing the initial pH of mevinphos rinsate to a basic level was required to reach higher COD removal efficiency and positive microtoxicity reduction efficiency while it was not necessary for the treatment of carbofuran rinsate.     

Kinetics of benzene adsorption onto activated carbon

An activated carbon bed adsorption process is influenced by the adsorbents' characteristics, volatile organic compound (VOC) characteristics, and process conditions. In the literatures, the adsorption processes of the adsorbents and VOCs were usually considered to be in equilibrium. In this study, the VOC adsorption processes by activated carbon were considered to be a kinetic process, i.e. they are not in equilibrium. Then, isothermal adsorption curves and a small column experiment were simulated.     

Characteristics of organic precursors and their relationship with disinfection by-products

The molecular weight distribution and chemical composition of precursors and their relationship with disinfection by-products (DBPs) were investigated. Most of the organic matter responsible for the major DBP precursors in the Pan-Hsin water are small compounds with a molecular weight less than 1 kDa. The hydrophobic acids display the greatest ability to produce DBP. Therefore, effective removal of small molecules or hydrophobic acidic organics prior to disinfection process will significantly reduce the DBP concentration in the finished water. Although the coagulation process is effective in removing large organic precursors and the removal efficiencies of CHCl3 formation potential and organic carbon increase proportionally to the molecular weight of the precursors, the conventional treatment methods have limited efficiency in eliminating small precursors, which have high DBP formation potential.