The potential of cost-effective coconut husk for the removal of toxic metal ions for environmental protection

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk, an agricultural waste, has been thoroughly investigated for the removal of toxic Cd(II), Cr(III) and Hg(II) ions from aqueous media. The parameters like nature and composition of electrolyte, concentration of toxic ions, dosage of coconut husk, and equilibration time between the two phases were optimized for their maximum accumulation onto the solid surface. The effect of common ions on the uptake of metal ions has been monitored under optimal conditions. The variation of retention of each metal ion with temperature was used to compute the thermodynamic quantities DeltaH, DeltaS and DeltaG. The values 18.1+/-0.6 kJmol(-1), 74+/-2 Jmol(-1)K(-1), and -3.8+/-0.04 kJmol(-1) at 298 K; 10.8+/-0.8 kJmol(-1), 48.8+/-2.7 Jmol(-1)K(-1), and -4.6+/-0.3 kJmol(-1) at 298 K; and -37.4+/-2k Jmol(-1), 105+/-7 Jmol(-1)K(-1) and -2.58+/-0.5 kJmol(-1) at 298 K were obtained for Cd(II), Cr(III) and Hg(II) ions, respectively. The sorption data were analysed by applying different sorption isotherms. The sorption capacity and energy were evaluated for each metal ion. The values of the Freundlich constants 1/n and C(m) were 0.92+/-0.04 and 52.6+/-22.2 mmolg(-1); 0.85+/-0.05 and 56.0+/-0.03 mmolg(-1); and 0.88+/-0.03 and 6.84+/-0.45 mmolg(-1) for Cd(II) Cr(III) and Hg(II) ions, respectively. Similarly, the Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) constants beta, X(m,) and E were evaluated for the three metal ions. To check the selectivity of the sorbent, sorption of a number of elements was measured under similar conditions. Separation of Zn(II) from Cd(II); Cr(III) from I(I), Zr(IV), Se(IV), and Hg(II) from Se(IV) and Zn(II) can be achieved using this sorbent. This cheap material has potential applications in analytical chemistry, water decontamination, industrial effluent treatment and in pollution abatement.     

The behavioral component in the meaning of places

How do people think about the physical setting in the world around them? Part of the answer to this question may be in terms of the behaviors that occur there. To explore people's knowledge of behavior—place associations, twenty places (shown via color photographs) were assessed in five ways: (a) ratings of the place's suitability for each of eleven behaviors, (b) ratings of the expected frequency of occurrence of the eleven behaviors, (c) free listings of reasons for going to each place, (d) free listings of activities-while-there and (e) free listings of activities associated with the place. Results showed that people can distinguish places on the basis of behaviors, that the behavioral component of place meaning is composed of distinct aspects, and that knowledge of behavior is related to a global, overall representation of a place.     

Contribution of anthropogenic pollutants to the increase of tropospheric ozone levels in the Oporto Metropolitan Area, Portugal since the 19th century

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of anthropogenic pollutants to the increase of tropospheric ozone levels in the Oporto Metropolitan Area (Portugal) since the 19th century. The study was based on pre-industrial and recent data series, the results being analyzed according to the atmospheric chemistry. The treatment of ozone and meteorological data was performed by classical statistics and by time-series analysis. It was concluded that in the 19th century the ozone present in the troposphere was not of photochemical origin, being possible to consider the respective concentrations as reference values. For recent data a cycle of 8h for ozone concentrations could be related to traffic. Compared to the 19th century, the current concentrations were 147% higher (252% higher in May) due to the increased photochemical production associated with the increased anthropogenic emissions.     

三丁基氯化锡对红鳍笛鲷的急性毒性及不同组织生化指标的影响

为研究有机锡化合物对海洋生物抗氧化防御系统和神经系统的影响,以我国东南沿海常见的中下层增养殖鱼类红鳍笛鲷(Lutjanus erythopterus)幼鱼为实验生物,采用半静态毒性实验方法,分别研究了三丁基氯化锡(tributyltin chloride,TBTCl)的急性毒性和96 h暴露时间内对红鳍笛鲷幼鱼鳃、脑和...     

纳米Al_2O_3和Cd联合暴露对铜锈环棱螺体内Cd的生物积累和抗氧化酶活性的影响

金属氧化物纳米颗粒的广泛应用导致它们大量地释放到水环境中,其独特的理化性质有可能改变水环境中其他共存污染物(如重金属)的生态毒性。为评价沉积物中纳米氧化铝(Al2O3-NPs)对重金属Cd生态毒性的影响,采用底栖生物慢性暴露研究了Al2O3-NPs存在条件下Cd在底栖动物铜锈环棱螺体内生物积累的变化和Cd对肝胰脏抗氧化防御系统关键成分超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与脂质过氧化指标丙二醛(MDA)以及Ⅱ相反应的关键酶谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)的影响。结果表明,低Cd浓度(5μg·g-1)时,Al2O3-NPs对Cd生物积累没有影响;中、高Cd浓度(25、100μg·g-1)时,Al2O3-NPs显著促进Cd的生物积累,Al2O3-NPs对Cd的生物转运具有明显的携带效应。低Cd浓度时,无Al2O3-NPs处理组和Al2O3-NPs处理组的SOD活性与对照组相比均没有显著差异;中Cd浓度时,SOD活性显著升高,而高Cd浓度时,SOD活性显著下降,而且Al2O3-NPs处理组的SOD活性显著低于无Al2O3-NPs处理组,Al2O3-NPs的存在加重了Cd对肝胰脏细胞的氧化胁迫或损伤。高Cd浓度时,无Al2O3-NPs处理组和Al2O3-NPs处理组的MDA水平均显著升高,但Al2O3-NPs处理组的MDA水平显著低于无Al2O3-NPs处理组,进一步证明Al2O3-NPs对Cd氧化损伤的增强作用。中、高Cd浓度时,无Al2O3-NPs处理组和Al2O3-NPs处理组的GST活性均显著下降,但Al2O3-NPs处理组的GST活性均显著低于无Al2O3-NPs处理组,同样说明了Al2O3-NPs对Cd毒性的增强作用。本研究提供了在沉积物-底栖动物体系中Al2O3-NPs促进重金属生物积累的证据,而且Cd毒性的变化与肝胰脏中Cd的生物积累水平的变化基本一致,在中、高Cd浓度下,由于Al2O3-NPs的存在显著促进了Cd的生物积累,因而增强了Cd对铜锈环棱螺的生态毒性。     

厌氧-好氧活性污泥法处理高浓度甲醇废水

介绍了厌氧一好氧活性污泥法处理电管厂高浓度甲醇废水的动态试验结果。试验结果表明：该方法处理高浓度甲醇废水,可以克服甲醇废水厌氧处理容易酸化的问题．运行稳定．抗负荷冲击性强．处理效果良好。     

Al2O3为载体的催化剂净化贫燃汽车尾气研究

在富氧条件下,考察了C₃H₆和C₂H₅OH在Ag/Al₂O₃、In/Al₂O₃、Sn/Al₂O₃、Co/Al₂O₃、Pt/Al₂O₃和Ag/Al₂O₃+Pt/Al₂O₃组合催化剂上选择性还原NO的性能.结果表明,Ag/Al₂O₃具有最高的NO还原活性.在负载型过渡金属氧化物催化剂上,会生成显著量的CO,其HC和CO氧化转化温度也远远高于Pt/Al₂O₃催化剂.串联组合Ag/Al₂O₃+Pt/Al₂O₃催化剂可显著拓宽活性温度范围,促进HC和CO氧化,降低N₂O和CH₃CHO生成量.     

草酸作用下海洋疏浚物中Cr的释放动力学研究

采用恒温振荡实验装置,系统研究了有机酸草酸降解海洋疏浚物中重金属Cr的动力学过程。结果表明,恒温振荡6 h后,浓度为0.05~0.4 mol/L的草酸可使Cr的释放百分率达到24%~44%。Cr的释放总体上可分为快速反应和慢速反应2个阶段,0~2 h为快反应阶段,解吸速率快,2~6 h后为慢反应阶段。草酸对Cr的释放动力学数据可用双常数方程很好的拟合,说明在草酸的存在下,疏浚物颗粒表面对Cr的释放可能更多表现出能量的不均匀性。温度升高时Cr的解吸量增加,反应速度加快,根据阿累尼乌斯公式估算出的活化能为26.53 kJ/mol。     

Decontamination of Cr(VI) facilitated formation of persistent free radicals on rice husk derived biochar

PFRs were produced on biochar during Cr(VI) decontamination. PFRs formation on biochar was owing to the oxidization of phenolic-OH by Cr(VI). Appearance of excessive oxidant led to the consumption of PFRs on biochar. Biochar charred at high temperature possessed great performance to Cr(VI) removal. This study investigated the facilitation of Cr(VI) decontamination to the formation of persistent free radicals (PFRs) on rice husk derived biochar. It was found that Cr(VI) remediation by biochar facilitated the production of PFRs, which increased with the concentration of treated Cr(VI). However, excessive Cr(VI) would induce their decay. Biochar with high pyrolysis temperature possessed great performance to Cr(VI) removal, which was mainly originated from its reduction by biochar from Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. And the corresponding generation of PFRs on biochar was primarily ascribed to the oxidization of phenolic hydroxyl groups by Cr(VI) from Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis, which was further verified by the H₂O₂ treatment experiments. The findings of this study will help to illustrate the transformation of reactive functional groups on biochar and provide a new insight into the role of biochar in environmental remediation.