Competitive effects and interactions during sorption of SMP fractions on activated carbon: response surface approach for visualization of sorption profiles

The objectives of this study were to investigate the significance of the effects and interactions for during competitive sorption of soluble microbial products (SMP). Batch experiments were conducted to assess the competitive sorption characteristics and individual affinity of glucose (carbohydrate) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) (protein) as two representative fractions of SMP. The influence of surface availability was investigated by using carbon particles with different particle sizes (5-75 μm, 75-850 μm, and 850-1000 μm) and different carbon amounts. Competitive effects and interactions were evaluated for each adsorbate and surface availability. Competitive sorption mechanisms were quantified in relation to surface affinity of the SMP fractions. Sorption capacity profiles of the SMP fractions at equilibrium were developed using second-degree polynomial models for the experimental data and compared with the estimates obtained from the modified Langmuir-like model which uses single parameter sorption data to estimate competitive sorption profiles of systems with two adsorbates. Adequacy limitations of the modified Langmuir-like model for each SMP fraction were evaluated based on the significance of the synergistic and antagonistic effects between the two SMP fractions and the carbon surface availability.     

Mechanisms and chemistry of dye adsorption on manganese oxides-modified diatomite

The investigations into structural changes which occur during adsorbent modification and the adsorption mechanisms are essential for an effective design of adsorption systems. Manganese oxides were impregnated onto diatomite to form the type known as δ-birnessite. Initial investigations established the effectiveness of manganese oxides-modified diatomite (MOMD) to remove basic and reactive dyes from aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of MOMD for methylene blue (MB), hydrolysed reactive black (RB) and hydrolysed reactive yellow (RY) was 320, 419, and 204 mg/g, respectively. Various analytical techniques were used to characterise the structure and the mechanisms of the dye adsorption process onto MOMD such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic absorption spectrometry (A.A.). A small shift to higher values of the d-spacing of dye/MOMD was observed indicating that a small amount of the dye molecules were intercalated in the MOMD structure and other molecules were adsorbed on the external surface of MOMD. Two mechanisms of dye adsorption onto MOMD were proposed; intercalation of the dye in the octahedral layers and adsorption of the dye on the MOMD external surface. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the MOMD structure was changed upon insertion of MB and RY with an obvious decrease in the intensity of the second main peak of the MOMD X-ray pattern.     

Profiles of and variations in aluminum species in PAC-MC used for the removal of blooming microalgae

Polyaluminum chloride modified clay (PAC-MC) is a safe and efficient red tide control agent that has been studied and applied worldwide. Although it is well known that the distribution of hydrolytic aluminum species in PAC affects its flocculation, little is known about the influence of particulars aluminum species on the microalgae removal efficiency of PAC-MC; this lack of knowledge creates a bottleneck in the development of more efficient MCs based on aluminum salts. The ferron method was used in this study to quantitatively analyze the distributions of and variations in different hydrolytic aluminum species during the process of microalgae removal by PAC-MC. The results showed that Al_a, which made up 5%–20% of the total aluminum, and Al_p, which made up 15%–55% of the total aluminum, significantly affected microalgae removal, with Pearson's correlation coefficients of 0.83 and 0.89, respectively. Most of the aluminum in the PAC-MC sank rapidly into the sediments, but the rate and velocity of settlement were affected by the dose of modified clay. The optimal dose of PAC-MC for precipitating microalgae was determined based on its aluminum profile. These results provide guidance for the precise application of PAC-MC in the control of harmful algal blooms.     

HDTMA改性蒙脱土对苯酚的吸附及机理研究

利用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(HDTMA)改性蒙脱土处理含酚废水．了解不同改性量有机蒙脱土吸附苯酚的能力。结果表明．改性蒙脱土按照分配机理吸附苯酚．改性蒙脱土改性量高和水溶液中苯酚浓度高．其吸跗的苯酚数量大。1．0CEC(阳离子交换容量)改性蒙脱土对水溶液中苯酚去除率达到76％。改性蒙脱土中有机物对苯酚的吸附存在协同作用．因此．改性蒙脱土吸附苯酚的增加速率要超过其中HDTMA增加的速率。在试验的苯酚浓度下．改性蒙脱土对苯酚吸附符合Freundlich吸附模式．不符合Langmuir吸附模式。     

改性天然高分子絮凝剂的研究与应用现状展望

改性天然高分子絮凝剂因具有原料来源广泛、价值低廉、无毒、易于生物降解、无二次污染等优点，受到了国内外众多研究工作者的重视和开发应用。本文扼要的介绍了国内近年来的改性天然高分子絮凝剂方面的研究和应用情况，对其前景进行了展望，并就我国今后在此方面的研究工作提出了一些建议。     

Influence of zeta potential on the flocculation of cyanobacteria cells using chitosan modified soil

Using chitosan modified soil to flocculate and sediment algal cells has been considered as a promising strategy to combat cyanobacteria blooms in natural waters. However, the flocculation efficiency often varies with algal cells with different zeta potential (ZP) attributed to different growth phases or water conditions. This article investigated the relationship between ZP of Microcystis aeruginosa and its influence to the flocculation efficiency using chitosan modified soil. Results suggested that the optimal removal efficiency was obtained when the ZP was between − 20.7 and − 6.7 mV with a removal efficiency of more than 80% in 30 min and large floc size of > 350 μm. When the algal cells were more negatively charged than − 20.7 mV, the effect of chitosan modified soil was depressed (< 60%) due to the insufficient charge density of chitosan to neutralize and destabilize the algal suspension. When the algal cells were less negative than − 6.7 mV or even positively charged, a small floc size (< 120 μm) was formed, which may be difficult to sink under natural water conditions. Therefore, manipulation of ZP provided a viable tool to improve the flocculation efficiency of chitosan modified soil and an important guidance for practical engineering of cyanobacteria bloom control.     

铁和铝氧化物涂层砂的过滤与吸附性能评价

总结性地对3种不同氧化物涂层砂和未涂层砂的表面特性、过滤和吸附性能进行了比较与分析,明确了适用范围。改性滤料的高温加热和碱性沉积两种制备方法中,涂铁宜选前者,涂铝宜用后者。涂层砂的比表面积增大,吸附容量增加,使石英砂表面电荷的带电性质改变,有利于水中杂质的去除。涂铁砂适合于除氟和除砷及除有机物;涂铝砂适合于除浊、除有机物和除锌。     

改性TiO2对X-3B的光催化性能及其降解动力学研究

以活性艳红X-3B为模型化合物,比较了改性前后TiO2光催化活性的变化.试验结果表明,通过改性大大提高了TiO2的光催化活性,Fe3+和Ag+的掺杂量均有一个最佳值,在试验的掺杂范围内Fe3+和Ag+的最佳掺杂量分别是0.1%和0.05%.对其宏观降解反应动力学的研究表明,X-3B在TiO2、Fe3++TiO2和Ag++TiO2 3种催化剂上的光催化降解动力学均能很好地符合Langmiur-Hinshelwood动力学模型.其表观反应速率常数的大小顺序依次是Ag++TiO2＞Fe3++TiO2＞TiO2;吸附平衡常数则是Fe3++TiO2和Ag++TiO2两者基本相等,两者均比纯TiO2大2～3倍.     

Nonlinear control of a wind turbine based on nonlinear estimation techniques for maximum power extraction

This work proposes nonlinear estimators with nonlinear controllers, for variable speed wind turbine (VSWT) considering that either the wind speed measurement is not available or not accurate. The main objective of this work is to maximize the energy capture from the wind and minimizes the transient load on the drive train. Controllers are designed to adjust the generated torque for maximum power output. Estimation of effective wind speed is required to achieve the above objectives. In this work the estimation of effective wind speed is done by using the Modified Newton Rapshon (MNR), Neural Network (NN) trained by different training algorithms and nonlinear time series based estimation. Initially the control strategies applied was the classical ATF (Aerodynamic torque feed forward) and ISC (Indirect speed control), however due their weak performance and unmodeled WT disturbances, nonlinear static and dynamic feedback linearization techniques with the above wind speed estimators are proposed.     

Involving local farmers in rehabilitation of degraded tropical forests: some lessons from Ghana

The role of community-based plantation development in forest rehabilitation and poverty alleviation is a pressing issue for the government of Ghana. In this paper, we present an analysis of the prospects of a community-based plantation using taungya systems and indigenous trees as means to forest rehabilitation and livelihood improvement in Ghana. The project management strategies, communication process and incentive mechanism and their impact on local participation are discussed with the aim to recommending a mechanism through which local farmers can best be involved in rehabilitation of degraded sites in the future in Ghana. Data were collected through a survey using personal interviews of 431 farming households and ten key informants from ten communities living in scattered hamlets in and around forests reserves. The results show a high rate of local participation in project tree planting activities. Four years after the project’s initiation, about 250 ha of plantations had been established using twelve priority indigenous and one exotic species and farmers had indicated improvement in their farming practices and availability of food and forest products. Restoring forest quality as a timber resource and associated values, getting money, food stuff and timber and non-timber for domestic use, and having access to fertile land for farming were the top three issues prioritised by respondents as motivational factors for engaging in the project activities. Overall, this project demonstrates that reversing tropical forest degradation is possible. For this we need local involvement in tree domestication combined with activities that addresses livelihood needs and environmental concerns. This case also demonstrates the prospects of utilising indigenous tree species, not only exotic species that dominated tree planting in the past, for plantations and landscape rehabilitation in Ghana. Readers should send their comments on this paper to BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.