Defluoridation of drinking water using Al3+-modified bentonite clay: optimization of fluoride adsorption conditions

Al³⁺-bentonite clay (Alum-bent) was prepared by ion exchange of base cations on the matrices of bentonite clay. Intercalation of bentonite clay with Al³⁺ was performed in batch experiments. Parameters optimized include time, dosage, and Al³⁺ concentration. Physicochemical characterization of raw and modified bentonite clay was done by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry attached to scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, cation exchange capacity (CEC) by ammonium acetate method, and pH_pzc by solid addition method. Chemical constituents of water were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), ion selective electrode (Crison 6955 Fluoride selective electrode) and a Crison multimeter probe. For fluoride removal, the effect of contact time, adsorbent dosage, adsorbate concentration, and pH were evaluated in batch procedures. The adsorption capacity of fluoride by modified bentonite clay was observed to be 5.7 mg g^?1 at (26 ± 2) °C room temperature. Maximum adsorption of fluoride was optimum at 30 min, 1 g of dosage, 60 mg L^?1 of adsorbate concentration, pH 2–12, and 1:100 solid/liquid (S/L) ratios. Kinetic studies revealed that fluoride adsorption fitted well to pseudo-second-order model than pseudo first order. Adsorption data fitted well to both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, hence, confirming monolayer and multilayer adsorption. Alum-bent showed good stability in removing fluoride from ground water to below the prescribed limit as stipulated by World Health Organization. As such, it can be concluded that Alum-bent is a potential defluoridation adsorbent which can be applied in fabrication of point of use devices for defluoridation of fluoride-rich water in rural areas of South Africa and other developing countries. Based on that, this comparative study proves that Alum-bent is a promising adsorbent with a high adsorption capacity for fluoride and can be a substitute for conventional defluoridation methods.     

矿物尘粒与人体正常细菌相互作用的机制

研究了4种天然及4种人工硅酸盐尘粒与人体的正常细菌大肠埃希菌及表皮葡萄球菌相互作用的机制.测定了矿物粉尘与大肠埃希菌及表皮葡萄球菌作用后的细菌数量、葡萄糖(GLU)消耗量及14种主要阳离子的浓度变化.结果表明,各种粉尘的主要化学组成各不相同,含钙的水泥尘粒以及含镁高的水镁石均能引起大肠埃希菌及表皮葡萄球菌的细菌数量、葡萄糖消耗量增加;各矿物粉尘均不能引起培养基Ti⁴⁺、Pb²⁺、Zn²⁺、K+、Na+、Ba²⁺、P⁵⁺浓度的变化,而能引起Mn²⁺、Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、Si⁴⁺、Fe³⁺、Al³⁺、Ni³⁺浓度不同的变化;含Ca²⁺或Mg²⁺高的碱性矿物尘粒能促进细菌的生长代谢.     

啤酒酵母吸附镉离子的试验研究

研究了啤酒酵母对镉的生物吸附过程．结果表明．啤酒酵母吸附镉的速度是非常快的;pH对镉的吸附影响较大,吸附较佳的pH范围为4～8,并且啤酒酵母有调节pH的作用,pH为4～8的溶液在吸附反应后,其pH接近于5．8：温度、酵母用量、Cd^2 的初始浓度对吸附均有一定的影响。实际含镉废水处理结果表明．啤酒酵母处理含镉废水是有效的。     

Effect of Ca(II), Fe(II), and Fe(III) on Cu(II) adsorption by a polyvinylidene fluoride-based chelating membrane from Cu(II)–EDTA complex solution

A polyvinylidene fluoride-based membrane bearing the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid chelating group was employed to recover Cu(II) from the Cu(II)-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid complex aqueous solution. Effects of Ca(II), Fe(II), and Fe(III) on Cu(II) uptake were investigated by static batch adsorption tests and dynamic adsorption filtration. Isotherms, kinetics, and breakthrough curves of Cu(II) uptakes in the presence of the three cations at concentrations of 1 mmol L^?1 were elucidated. The three cations showed a positive effect on the Cu(II) uptake; the stimulative roles were in the order of Fe(III) > Fe(II) > Ca(II). They did not alter the adsorption behavior of the membrane; adsorption isotherms and kinetics could be described by Langmuir and Lagergren second-order models, and Cu(II) adsorption was a spontaneous and exothermic process. The presence of Ca(II), Fe(II), and Fe(III) increased the sorption capacity of the membrane stack by 1.3, 1.9, and 3 times. Breakthrough time and the exhaustion time of membrane stacks were also extended.     

Phenolic content,antioxidant and antibacterial activity of selected natural sweeteners available on the Polish market

Seventeen natural sweeteners available on the Polish market were screened for total phenolic content, by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and for antioxidant activity, using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and the 2,2′-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation decolorization assay (ABTS^·+). In addition, we analyzed antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus strains: both those susceptible and those resistant to methicillin (MRSA). The results of the study showed that total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity differ widely among different samples of sweeteners. Phenolic content, expressed as a gallic acid equivalent, ranged from 0 mg kg^?1 in white, refined sugar, xylitol and wheat malt syrup to 11.4 g kg^?1 in sugarcane molasses. Antioxidant activity was lowest in refined white sugar, xylitol, brown beet sugar, liquid fructose, and rape honey; it was average in spelt syrup and corn syrup, and highest in sugar cane, beet molasses, date and barley syrups. Despite the great variety of sweeteners, a strong correlation was noted between the concentration of phenolics and antioxidant properties, as determined by the ABTS^·+ method (r = 0.97) and the FRAP assay (r = 0.77). The strongest antibacterial activity was observed in sugarcane molasses, which was lethal to S. aureus strains at 2 and 4% concentrations in medium for susceptible and MRSA strains respectively. Other sweeteners kill bacteria in 6–15% solutions, whereas some did not show any antibacterial activities against S. aureus strains, even at 20% concentrations. Due to their high antioxidant and antibacterial activities, some of the tested sweeteners have potential therapeutic value as supporting agents in antibiotic therapy.     

Wild fire impact on copper, zinc, lead and cadmium distribution in soil and relation with abundance in selected plants of Lamiaceae family from Vidlic Mountain (Serbia)

Fire has been considered as an improving factor in soil quality, but only if it is controlled. Severe wild fire occurred in the summer 2007 on the Vidlic Mountain (Serbia) overspreading a huge area of meadows and forests.Main soil characteristics and content of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn) in different fractions obtained after sequential extraction of soil from post-fire areas and from fire non disturbed areas were studied. In four plant species of Lamiaceae family (Ajuga genevensis L., Lamium galeobdolon (L.) L., Teucrium chamaedrys L., Acinos alpinus (L.) Moench.), that grow in typical habitats of the mountain, distribution of heavy metals in aerial parts and roots was investigated too.For all samples from post-fire area cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter content are increased while rH is decreased. Fire caused slightly increased bioavailability of the observed metals but more significant rise happened in metal amounts bound to oxides and organics. The plants showed variable behavior. T. chamaedrys collected on the post-fire area contained elevated concentrations of all analyzed metals. A. alpinus showed higher phytoaccumulation for Zn and Cd, while the other two plant species for Pb and Cd in the post-fire areas.     

生物吸附剂ZL5-2对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附机理

为测定环境样品中氯菊酯农药残留,用活泼酯法将氯菊酯半抗原(Py)与卵白蛋白(OVA)偶联,制备合成抗原Py-OVA作包被原,建立间接竞争酶联免疫吸附测定法.方阵滴定确定了抗血清最佳稀释度(1∶2 500),包被抗原的最适工作浓度0.45μg/mL,并建立了标准工作曲线.工作曲线表明在10～800μg/L浓度范围内呈良好的线性关系,回收率>97%.     

改性凹凸棒石对模拟含酚废水处理机制的研究

利用有机阳离子表面活性剂对凹凸棒石表面进行改性,研究改性凹凸棒石吸附去除模拟含酚水中苯酚的机理,同时对影响吸附去除苯酚的因素进行探讨.结果表明,用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(HDTMA)和溴代十六烷基吡啶(CPB)等有机阳离子对天然凹凸棒石进行改性后能大大提高对苯酚的吸附去除率;HDTMA和CPB改性土对苯酚的吸附机制主要是其有机相对苯酚的分配作用;HDTMA和CPB改性土对苯酚的吸附等温线呈线性,L型吸附等温方程更适合该吸附过程.在pH＞10时,HDTMA改性土除通过分配作用以外还可通过静电吸附增强对苯酚的吸附;随着HDTMA改性剂用量的增加,HDTMA改性土对苯酚的吸附去除率也逐渐增加并达到最大值.