Ultra-low concentration of total organic carbon in ultrapure water using ion-exchange resin embedding silanized magnetic nanoparticles

Regeneration of pure water is an important issue not only for the healthy life but also for the fine control of precise processes in various industries.One important issue in ultrahigh purified water is to reduce the amount of total organic carbon(TOC).Herein,we introduce a new approach to reduce the TOC using the surface silanized nanoparticles,in which the magnetic nanoparticles(mNPs) are silanized and then complexed with ion exchange resin(IER) beads.The Fe_3O_4 mNPs are surface modified by using high concentrated vinyltrimethoxysilane(VTMS) and then adhered on the surface of IER beads.The surface modified mNPs have a thick-shell of polysiloxane layer varying from 5 to 22 nm depending on the amount of VTMS used,which leads the significant increase of specific surface area.The IER beads embedding VTMS-silanized mNPs achieves about 7 μg/L of the TOC level in ultrapure water system,which is two orders less than 228 μg/L of the feeding water and one order less than 96 μg/L from the system using pristine IER beads.This result is mainly attributed to the polysiloxane layer forming broccoli-like surface structure and some part by the vinyl group of VTMS exposed to the amines in the water.     

Nitrate removal from aqueous solutions by magnetic cationic hydrogel: Effect of electrostatic adsorption and mechanism

Excessive nitrate(NO_3~-) is among the most problematic surface water and groundwater pollutants.In this study,a type of magnetic cationic hydrogel(MCH) is employed for NO_3~-adsorption and well characterized herein.Its adsorption capacity is considerably pHdependent and achieves the optimal adsorption(maximum NO_3~--adsorption capacity is95.88±1.24 mg/g) when the pH level is 5.2-8.8.The fitting result using the homogeneous surface diffusion model indicates that the surface/film diffusion controls the adsorption rate,and NO_3~-approaches the center of MCH particles within 30 min.The diffusion coefficient(D_s) and external mass transfer coefficient(k_F) in the liquid phase are1.15 × 10~(-6) cm~2/min and 4.5 × 10~(-6) cm/min,respectively.The MCH is employed to treat surface water that contains 10 mg/L of NO_3~-,and it is found that the optimal magnetic separation time is 1.6 min.The high-efficiency mass transfer and magnetic separation of MCH during the adsorption-regeneration process favors its application in surface water treatment.Furthermore,the study of the mechanism involved reveals that both-N~+(CH_3)_3 groups and NO_3~-are convoluted in adsorption via electrostatic interactions.It is further found that ion exchange between NO_3~-and chlorine occurs.     

西安市某地下停车场细颗粒物浓度分布特征

为了解地下停车场细颗粒物分布特征,通过连续监测西安市某地下停车场不同位置细颗粒物小时浓度并采集PM2.5和PM10样品,计算各测点PM2.5和PM10日均浓度。同时对停车场出入口每小时的车流量进行统计,分析细颗粒物浓度与车流量之间的关系。结果表明:该停车场进出车辆具有明显的时间规律,工作日上班高峰期07:00—09:00出口车辆较多,17:00—21:00入口车辆较多,休息日出口峰值出现在09:00—12:00,入口高峰期出现在19:00—23:00,其余时段进出车辆较少。各测点PM2.5小时浓度值在0.004~0.477 mg/m3,平均为0.082 mg/m3,日平均浓度在0.043~0.090 mg/m3,平均为0.057 mg/m3,PM10日均值浓度为0.083~0.348 g/m3,平均为0.189 mg/m3。停车场出入口细颗粒物浓度与车流量之间呈现正相关性,颗粒物浓度在出入口和车流经过频繁的点位较高且细颗粒物所占比重较小(50%)。     

Rapid degradation of dyes in water by magnetic Fe/Fe3O4/graphene composites

Magnetic Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene has been successfully synthesized by a one-step reduction method and investigated in rapid degradation of dyes in this work. The material was characterized by N₂ sorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene had a layered structure with Fe crystals highly dispersed in the interlayers of graphene, which could enhance the mass transfer process between Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene and pollutants. Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene exhibited ferromagnetism and could be easily separated and re-dispersed for reuse in water. Typical dyes, such as Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet, could be decolorized by Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene rapidly. After 20 min, the decolorization efficiencies of methyl orange, methylene blue and crystal violet were 94.78%, 91.60% and 89.07%, respectively. The reaction mechanism of Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene with dyes mainly included adsorption and enhanced reduction by the composite. Thus, Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene prepared by the one-step reduction method has excellent performance in removal of dyes in water.     

Biomagnetic monitoring of industry-derived particulate pollution

Clear association exists between ambient PM₁₀ concentrations and adverse health outcomes. However, determination of the strength of associations between exposure and illness is limited by low spatial-resolution of particulate concentration measurements. Conventional fixed monitoring stations provide high temporal-resolution data, but cannot capture fine-scale spatial variations. Here we examine the utility of biomagnetic monitoring for spatial mapping of PM₁₀ concentrations around a major industrial site. We combine leaf magnetic measurements with co-located PM₁₀ measurements to achieve inter-calibration. Comparison of the leaf-calculated and measured PM₁₀ concentrations with PM₁₀ predictions from a widely-used atmospheric dispersion model indicates that modelling of stack emissions alone substantially under-predicts ambient PM₁₀ concentrations in parts of the study area. Some of this discrepancy might be attributable to fugitive emissions from the industrial site. The composition of the magnetic particulates from vehicle and industry-derived sources differ, indicating the potential of magnetic techniques for source attribution.     

Change of magnetic properties due to fluctuations of hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater in unconsolidated sediments

Sediments affected by fluctuations of hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater were studied at a former military site. Due to remediation, groundwater table fluctuation (GWTF) extends over approximately one meter. Three cores were collected, penetrating through the GWTF zone. Magnetic parameters, sediment properties and hydrocarbon content were measured. We discovered that magnetic concentration parameters increased towards the top of the GWTF zone. Magnetite is responsible for this enhancement; rock magnetic parameters indicate that the newly formed magnetite is in a single domain rather than a superparamagnetic state. The presence of hydrocarbons is apparently essential for magnetite to form, as there is clearly less magnetic enhancement in the core, which is outside of the strongly contaminated area. From our results we conclude that the top of the fluctuation zone has the most intensive geomicrobiological activity probably responsible for magnetite formation. This finding could be relevant for developing methods for simply and quickly detecting oil spills.     

Exposure to electromagnetic fields in the magnetic resonance imaging environment in South Africa

Occupational exposure to radiofrequency (RF) and static magnetic fields at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suites is of continuing concern to personnel who routinely work in this environment. Questions regarding the levels of occupational RF and static field exposure have increased with the increasing demand for anesthetics to be administered in this environment. The present study was thus designed towards addressing the above-mentioned problem by gaining information regarding exposure levels of clinical personnel at MRI units in South Africa. Three 1.5 MRI units in Bloemfontein, South Africa were utilized to evaluate the exposure of clinical personnel to the electromagnetic fields present in the MRI environment over a period of time and during different clinical MRI procedures. Three rounds of measurements of RF fields in the MRI environment were done. All the three measurement rounds were focused on the low frequencies, 5 Hz–32 kHz, as well as on the high frequencies, 300 kHz–40 GHz. First round measurements were done to establish the background of the RF fields in and around the magnet room during an MRI examination. Second round RF field measurements were done at a specific location, 1 m away from the bore on the right-hand side of the bed, in the MRI room. The third round measurements were of the same format as the second round, but the specific location was against the magnet bore. Two pieces of Narda Safety Test Solution instruments, the EFA-300 and EMR-300, were used to measure the electromagnetic and magnetic exposure fields generated from the MRI scanners. Results of the measurements indicate that the electromagnetic fields measured during different clinical procedures do not exceed the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (2000) guidelines in these units. Results from round two and three showed that the RF and gradient exposure 1 m and up against the bore entrance does not exceed these guidelines (rms average over 6 min). Ongoing new developments in MRI scanning create the need for continuously monitoring exposure of patients and workers to the EMF fields in the MRI environment.     

不同粒径空气颗粒物中11种多环芳烃的分析测定

将五段多孔冲击分级器 (粒径分级 :≤ 1 .1 ,1 .1～ 2 .0 ,2 .0～ 3 .3 ,3 .3～ 7.0 ,≥ 7.0μm)与大流量采样器连接 ,采集呼和浩特市冬夏两季空气颗粒物样品 ,用高压液相色谱仪 (HPLC)测定样品中的蒽 (An)、菲 (Ph)、萤蒽 (Fl)、芘 (Py)、(Ch)、苯并 [a]蒽 (Ba A)、苯并 [a]芘 (Ba P)、二甲基苯并 [a]蒽 (DMBa A)、二苯并 [ah]蒽 (DBah A)、苯并 [ghi] (Bghi P)和晕苯 (Cor)等 1 1种多环芳烃化合物 (PAHs)。数据表明 :呼和浩特市空气颗粒物中 PAHs的浓度较高 ;有约 97%的 PAHs富集于可吸入颗粒中。     

2008年北京市PM_(10)的粒度分布分形维数变化特征

2007年11月-2008年10月间在北京市市中心和西北城区采集了不同季节的PM10样品,并借助扫描电子显微镜和图像分析软件对其进行粒度分布分形维数分析。结果表明,颗粒物中细颗粒物越多,粒度越细,则颗粒物粒度分布分形维数值越大。2008年西北城区的PM10的粒径分布分形维数较大,市中心的较小。市中心的粒度分布分形维数在1.95～2.59之间,各个季节的分形维数呈现冬季春季夏季秋季,西北城区的粒度分布分形维数在2.58～2.72,各个季节的分形维数呈现秋季夏季冬季春季,说明在市中区冬季PM10粒度较细,而在西北城区秋季的颗粒物偏细。与2005年同季相比,2008年的总体颗粒物和烟尘集合体的粒径分布分形维数较大,矿物颗粒的粒度分布分形维数较小,并且总分布的季节变化一致。2008奥运期间的PM10粒度分布分形维数在2.28～3.39之间变化,标志着颗粒物总体变细的趋势。     

Development and physicochemical characterization of a new magnetic nanocomposite as an economic antibiotic remover

Maghemite (ϒ-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles were impregnated to nanoporous carbon obtained from tomato waste (TWNC). The prepared magnetic composite (MTWNC) was characterized and used to remove tetracycline (TC) from water and then easily be separated from the medium by a magnetic technique. The morphologies and surface chemistries of both magnetic and non-magnetic nanoporous carbons were studied by FTIR, XRD, SEM, SEM-EDX, VSM, BET surface area, proximate and elemental analysis determinations. Batch adsorption studies were carried out and the effects of pH, initial TC concentration, adsorbent dose, ionic strength and temperature were investigated. The adsorption kinetics of TC on MTWNC could be expressed well by the pseudo-second order model, and sorption isotherms were described by Langmuir equation with maximum adsorption capacity of 60.60 mg/g at pH 4 and 50 °C. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of TC onto MTWNC was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the recyclability of the adsorbent was tested with 0.01 M NaOH solution, and the results show that the synthesized composite adsorbent could be employed repeatedly in wastewater treatment.