Comparison of UV-based advanced oxidation processes for the removal of different fractions of NOM from drinking water

This study examined the effectiveness for degradation of hydrophobic (HPO), transphilic (TPI) and hydrophilic (HPI) fractions of natural organic matter (NOM) during UV/H₂O₂, UV/TiO₂ and UV/K₂S₂O₈ (UV/PS) advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The changing characteristics of NOM were evaluated by dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the specific UV absorbance (SUVA), trihalomethanes formation potential (THMFP), organic halogen adsorbable on activated carbon formation potential (AOXFP) and parallel factor analysis of excitation–emission matrices (PARAFAC-EEMs). In the three UV-based AOPs, HPI fraction with low molecular weight and aromaticity was more likely to degradate than HPO and TPI, and the removal efficiency of SUVA for HPO was much higher than TPI and HPI fraction. In terms of the specific THMFP of HPO, TPI and HPI, a reduction was achieved in the UV/H₂O₂ process, and the higest removal rate even reached to 83%. UV/TiO₂ and UV/PS processes can only decrease the specific THMFP of HPI. The specific AOXFP of HPO, TPI and HPI fractions were all able to be degraded by the three UV-based AOPs, and HPO content is more susceptible to decompose than TPI and HPI content. UV/H₂O₂ was found to be the most effective treatment for the removal of THMFP and AOXFP under given conditions. C1 (microbial or marine derived humic-like substances), C2 (terrestrially derived humic-like substances) and C3 (tryptophan-like proteins) fluorescent components of HPO fraction were fairly labile across the UV-based AOPs treatment. C3 of each fraction of NOM was the most resistant to degrade upon the UV-based AOPs. Results from this study may provide the prediction about the consequence of UV-based AOPs for the degradation of different fractions of NOM with varied characteristics.     

Promotional effect of cobalt doping on catalytic performance of cryptomelane-type manganese oxide in toluene oxidation

The cryptomelane-type manganese oxide (OMS-2)-supported Co (xCo/OMS-2; x = 5, 10, and 15 wt.%) catalysts were prepared via a pre-incorporation route. The as-prepared materials were used as catalysts for catalytic oxidation of toluene (2000 ppmV). Physical and chemical properties of the catalysts were measured using the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopic (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR) techniques. Among all of the catalysts, 10Co/OMS-2 performed the best, with the T_90%, specific reaction rate at 245°C, and turnover frequency at 245°C (TOF_Co) being 245°C, 1.23 × 10⁻³ mol_toluene/(g_cat·sec), and 11.58 × 10⁻³ sec⁻¹ for toluene oxidation at a space velocity of 60,000 mL/(g·hr), respectively. The excellent catalytic performance of 10Co/OMS-2 were due to more oxygen vacancies, enhanced redox ability and oxygen mobility, and strong synergistic effect between Co species and OMS-2 support. Moreover, in the presence of poisoning gases CO₂, SO₂ or NH₃, the activity of 10Co/OMS-2 decreased for the carbonate, sulfate and ammonia species covered the active sites and oxygen vacancies, respectively. After the activation treatment, the catalytic activity was partly recovered. The good low-temperature reducibility of 10Co/OMS-2 could also facilitate the redox process accompanied by the consecutive electron transfer between the adsorbed O₂ and the cobalt or manganese ions. In the oxidation process of toluene, the benzoic and aldehydic intermediates were first generated, which were further oxidized to the benzoate intermediate that were eventually converted into H₂O and CO₂.     

PW—W膜分离式活性污泥法处理中小规模高浓度有机废水

阐述ＰＷ－Ｗ膜分离式活性污泥法处理高浓度有机废水的原理、工艺流程及特点。处理系统集生化处理功能和固液分离于一体，对高浓度有机废水的处理取得了良好的效果，且剩余污泥量少，处理水质稳定，维护管理方便，运行费用低。     

Effect of selected and non-selected urban waste compost on the initial growth of corn

Brazil produces approximately 242,000 t of waste per day, 76% of it being dumped outdoors and only 0.9% recycled, including composting, which is an alternative still little known in Brazil. In search of a better destination for residues produced by domestic activities, composting stands as a feasible alternative. Organic compost from waste may be used for various purposes, among which are soil recovery, commercial production, pastures, lawns and reforestry and agriculture. However, the quality of the compost determines the growth and the development of plants. The effect of compost made from urban waste on corn plant (Zea mays L.) growth was investigated. Two types of compost were used: the selected compost (SC), produced from organic waste selectively collected; and the non-selected compost (NSC), taken from a 15-year-old cell from the Canabrava land-fill, located in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil (altitude 51 m, 12°22′–13°08′S, 38°08′–38°47′W). Corn was seeded in polyethylene pots, with soil-compost mixing substrate in the proportion of 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 t ha⁻¹ equivalent doses. Chemical analyses of the compost and growth properties of the plant like chlorophyll content; height and stem diameter; aerial and radicular dry biomasses, were used to evaluate compost quality. Plants cultivated with SC presented a superior gain, being of 52.5% in stem diameter, 71.1 and 81.2% in root and stem biomasses, respectively. Chlorophyl content alterations were observed in plants from treatments using 30 t compost ha⁻¹ dose onwards. Conventional and multivariate statistical methods were used to evaluate these results. The beneficial action of organic compost in plant growth was confirmed with this research.     

Mixing hazard evaluation of organic peroxides with other chemicals

Organic peroxides (POs) have been widely used in chemical industries as initiators of polymerization, hardening or bridge formation agents, and they are known for its self-reactive and also mixing hazard characteristics when mixed with other chemicals such as acids and alkalis. It is the purpose of this investigation to propose a simple but useful evaluation flow of mixing hazards of POs with other chemicals using conventional experimental techniques such as a glass test tube test, Dewar vessel test and DSC is proposed. 7 kinds of POs (DEPD, THP, TBEH, TBTC, MEKPO, DTBP, THHP) were mixed with sulfuric acids with various concentration, sodium hydroxide solutions, -iron(III) oxide and acrylonitrile (AN).

Based on the proposed evaluation flow the testing results were classified into 4 ranks due to the hazard criteria. Futhermore DEPD/acrylonitrile mixtures were investigated in more detail and the influences of the mixing ratio and the stirring speed were discussed.     

Experimental investigation of a 250-kW turbine organic Rankine cycle system for low-grade waste heat recovery

An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is generally used for converting low-grade heat into electricity. In this study, an extensive literature survey was conducted to identify current research gaps on experimental ORC systems. Specifically, there is limited experimental data and limited details on thermal and expander efficiencies of ORC systems. In order to address these gaps, the objective of this study included developing a turbine ORC with a power output exceeding 50 kW and thermal efficiency exceeding 8% for a heat source temperature < 120°C. The experimental results indicated that the system achieved a net power output of 242.5 kW and a thermal efficiency of 8.3% (the highest value for a turbine ORC system for the heat source temperature below 120°C). Thus, the study addressed the gaps identified in the research area of ORCs.     

Effects of particle thermal characteristics on flame microstructures during dust explosions of three long-chain monobasic alcohols in a half-closed chamber

To reveal clearly the effects of particle thermal characteristics on flame microstructures during organic dust explosions, three long-chain monobasic alcohols, solid at room temperature and similar in physical-chemical properties, were chosen to conduct experiments in a half-closed chamber. In the experiments, the dust materials were dispersed into the chamber by air to form dust clouds and the hybrids were ignited by an electrical spark. A high-speed optical schlieren system was used to record the flame propagation behaviors. A fine thermocouple and an ion current probe were respectively used to measure the flame temperature profile and the reaction behaviors of the combustion zone. Based on the experimental results, combustion behaviors and flame microstructures in dust clouds with different thermal characteristics were analyzed in detail. As a result, it was found that the dust flame surfaces were completely covered by cellular structures that significantly increased the flame frontal areas. Flame propagated more quickly and the number of the cellular cells increased as increasing the volatility of the particles. On the contrary, maximum temperature and the thickness of the preheated zone decreased as increasing the volatility of the particles. According to the ion current profile, the particles in the preheat zone were pyrolyzed to intermediate radicals and the radicals' fraction in the higher volatile dust flame was higher than that in the lower volatile dust flame.     

秦皇岛市重点工业企业VOCs排放及分布特征

工业企业挥发性有机物(VOCs)污染排放对大气环境影响日益突出,工业源VOCs污染防治成为环境保护的重点工作。为进一步提高秦皇岛市工业源挥发性有机物(VOCs)治理的科学性、针对性和有效性,对2019年秦皇岛市重点排污企业VOCs的排污量、区域分布、排放行业等进行了详细调查分析:秦皇岛市重点工业源VOCs排放总量为6875.83t,排放量最大的区域是秦皇岛经济技术开发区,占比51.1%;排放量最大的行业是交通运输设备制造业,占总排放量的33.5%;溶剂使用源的排放量最大,占比52.3%。     

Magnetotactic bacteria: Characteristics and environmental applications

• Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) synthesize magnetic nanoparticle within magnetosomes. • The morphologic and phylogenetic diversity of MTB were summarized. • Isolation and mass cultivation of MTB deserve extensive research for applications. • MTB can remove heavy metals, radionuclides, and organic pollutants from wastewater. Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a group of Gram-negative prokaryotes that respond to the geomagnetic field. This unique property is attributed to the intracellular magnetosomes, which contains membrane-bound nanocrystals of magnetic iron minerals. This review summarizes the most recent advances in MTB, magnetosomes, and their potential applications especially the environmental pollutant control or remediation. The morphologic and phylogenetic diversity of MTB were first introduced, followed by a critical review of isolation and cultivation methods. Past research has devoted to optimize the factors, such as oxygen, carbon source, nitrogen source, nutrient broth, iron source, and mineral elements for the growth of MTB. Besides the applications of MTB in modern biological and medical fields, little attention was made on the environmental applications of MTB for wastewater treatment, which has been summarized in this review. For example, applications of MTB as adsorbents have resulted in a novel magnetic separation technology for removal of heavy metals or organic pollutants in wastewater. In addition, we summarized the current advance on pathogen removal and detection of endocrine disruptor which can inspire new insights toward sustainable engineering and practices. Finally, the new perspectives and possible directions for future studies are recommended, such as isolation of MTB, genetic modification of MTB for mass production and new environmental applications. The ultimate objective of this review is to promote the applications of MTB and magnetosomes in the environmental fields.     

土壤及地下水有机污染的化学与生物修复

现阶段,工业的生产任务越来越繁重,因此在其进行生产的时候,制造的污染物也会越来越多。在这个对于环保极度关注的时代,本文对于被污染的土壤还有地下水实施修复展开讨论。