Evaluating the effectiveness of marine actinobacterial extract and its mediated titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the degradation of azo dyes

Aim of the present study was to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles （YiO2 NPs） from marine actinobacteria and to develop an eco-friendly azo-dye degradation method. A total of five actinobacterial isolates were isolated from Chennai marine sediments, Tamilnadu, India and analyzed for the synthesis of TiO2 NPs using titanium hydroxide. Among these, the isolate PSV 3 showed positive results for the synthesis of TiO2 NPs, which was confirmed by UV analysis. Further characterization of the synthesized TiO2 NPs was done using XRD, AFM and FI＇-IR analysis. Actinobacterial crude extract and synthesized TiO2 NPs was found efficient in degrading azo dye such as Acid Red 79 （AR-79） and Acid Red 80 （AR-80）. Degradation percentage was found to be 81% for AR-79, 83% for AR-80 using actinobacterial crude extract and 84% for AR-79, 85% for AR-80 using TiO2 NPs. Immobilized actinobacterial ceils showed 88% for AR-79 and 81% for AR- 80, dye degrading capacity. Degraded components were characterized by FT-IR and GC-MS analysis. The phytotoxicity test with 500 μg/mL of untreated dye showed remarkable phenotypic as well as cellular damage to Tagetes erecta plant. Comparatively no such damage was observed on plants by degraded dye components. In biotoxicity assay, treated dyes showed less toxic effect as compared to the untreated dyes.     

Reaction mechanism and metal ion transformation in photocatalytic ozonation of phenol and oxalic acid with Ag+/TiO2

Photocatalytic ozonation of phenol and oxalic acid （OA） was conducted with a Ag^＋/TiO2 catalyst and different pathways were found for the degradation of different compounds. Ag^＋ greatly promoted the photocatalytic degradation of contaminants due to its role as an electron scavenger. It also accelerated the removal rate of OA in ozonation and the simultaneous process for its complex reaction with oxalate. Phenol could be degraded both in direct ozonation and photolysis, but the TOC removal rates were much higher in the simultaneous processes due to the oxidation of hydroxyl radicals resulting from synergetic effects. The sequence of photo-illumination and ozone exposure in the combined process showed quite different effects in phenol degradation and TOC removal. The synergetic effects in different combined processes were found to be highly related to the properties of the target pollutants. The color change of the solution and TEM result confirmed that Ag＋ was easily reduced and deposited on the surface of Tit2 under photo-illumination, and dissolved again into solution in the presence of ozone. This simple cycle of enrichment and distribution of Ag^＋ can greatly benefit the design of advanced oxidation processes, in which the sequences of ozone and photo-illumination can be varied according to the needs for catalyst recycling and the different properties of pollutants.     

Primary neuronal-astrocytic co-culture platform for neurotoxicity assessment of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Plastics such as polyvinyl chlorides （PVC） are widely used in many indoor constructed environments; however, their unbound chemicals, such as di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalates （DEHP）, can leach into the surrounding environment. This study focused on DEHP＇s effect on the central nervous system by determining the precise DEHP content in mice brain tissue after exposure to the chemical, to evaluate the specific exposure range. Primary neuronal-astrocyte co-culture systems were used as in vitro models for chemical hazard identification of DEHP. Oxidative stress was hypothesized as a probable mechanism involved, and therefore the total reactive oxygen species （ROS） concentration was determined as a biomarker of oxidative stress. In addition, NeuriteTracer, a neurite tracing plugin with ImageJ, was used to develop an assay for neurotoxicity to provide quantitative measurements of neurological parameters, such as neuronal number, neuron count and neurite length, all of which could indicate neurotoxic effects. The results showed that with 1 nmol/L DEHP exposure, there was a significant increase in ROS concentrations, indicating that the neuronal-astrocyte cultures were injured due to exposure to DEHP. In response, astrocyte proliferation （gliosis） was initiated, serving as a mechanism to maintain a homeostatic environment for neurons and protect neurons from toxic chemicals. There is a need to assess the cumulative effects of DEHP in animals to evaluate the possible uotake and effects on the human neuronal system from exoosure to DEHP in the indoor environment.     

Review of the progress in preparing nano Ti02： An important environmental engineering material

TiO2 nanomaterial is promising with its high potential and outstanding performance in photocatalytic environmental applications, such as CO2 conversion, water treatment, and air quality control. For many of these applications, the particle size, crystal structure and phase, porosity, and surface area influence the activity of TiO2 dramatically. TiO2 nanomaterials with special structures and morphologies, such as nanospheres, nanowires, nanotubes, nanorods, and nanoflowers are thus synthesized due to their desired characteristics. With an emphasis on the different morphologies of TiO2 and the influence factors in the synthesis, this review summarizes fourteen TiO2 preparation methods, such as the sol-gel method, solvothermal method, and reverse micelle method. The TiO2 formation mechanisms, the advantages and disadvantages of the preparation methods, and the photocatalytic environmental application examples are proposed as well.     

介质阻挡放电中添加乙炔对NO脱除的影响

利用介质阻挡放电(DBD)进行模拟烟气脱除NO实验,通过改变乙炔体积分数和烟气水蒸汽含量研究添加乙炔对NO脱除效率的影响.结果表明:烟气中添加乙炔强化了NO氧化作用,随着乙炔体积分数的提高,NO脱除率逐渐增加.在NO/N2/O2/C2H2/H2O体系中,水的电负性和离解反应消耗大量高能电子,降低了活性自由基的生成,NO脱除速率随之减慢;能量密度低于400 J·L-1时,相对湿度(RH)为0的情况下脱出效果最好.但随着能量密度的增加,H2O不会影响最终的NO脱除率;H2O的添加可以产生更多的·OH自由基,促进NO2向HNO3转化,使出口NO2浓度大幅度降低.     

树脂基固态胺吸附剂室温下对低浓度CO2的吸附性能研究

以大孔甲基丙烯酸酯吸附树脂为载体,聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)为有机胺,采用液相浸渍法制备出固态胺吸附剂,并研究了其在室温下对低浓度CO2的吸附行为.同时,利用氮气吸附、热重分析和扫描电镜表征了材料的物理化学性质,并采用热重法和固定床吸附法考察了材料的CO2吸附性能.结果表明,大孔树脂担载50%PEI(质量分数)时吸附性能最佳,对纯CO2的最大吸附量为175 mg·g-1;CO2的吸附行为由扩散动力学与吸附热力学共同决定,低温有利于提高吸附容量;吸附剂对400 ppm~15%浓度的CO2都具有优异的动态吸附性能,其中对400 ppm CO2的吸附量达到86 mg·g-1,对15%CO2的吸附量达到150 mg·g-1;湿度对吸附起促进作用,相对湿度为10%时,对400 ppm CO2的吸附量提高至139mg·g-1;吸附剂具有优异的循环性能,具有直接空气捕集CO2的潜力.     

NOx光解测量装置的设计与测试

根据二氧化氮的光解反应原理,自主设计、装配了一套氮氧化物光解反应装置,并将其与Thermo 42系列氮氧化物分析仪的化学发光检测室联用,进行了不同条件下(分别为标气流量、臭氧流量、光源温度、功率、样品湿度)NO2光解转化效率的测试.结果表明:进样流量为100~200 mL·min-1、光源温度为20℃、光源功率约为60 W(光密度约26 W·mL-1)的条件下,可得到较高的光解转化效率(约80%);臭氧流量及样品相对湿度对转化效率影响不大.在上述最佳转化效率的条件下,将其与PLC860-CLD88p(ECO PHYSICIS)进行了为期8 d的比对实验.结果显示:二者的NO2实际测量结果趋势基本一致:[NO2]ECO=0.908×[NO2]PKU+1.913(R2=0.955),初步证实了该套自主设计光解装置应用于实际观测的可靠程度.     

粉煤灰负载Fe2O3脱除气态单质汞的试验研究

在固定床反应器中研究了利用燃煤电厂固废粉煤灰(FA)负载Fe2O3所制备的Fe2O3/FA催化剂对气态Hg0的脱除情况,发现Fe2O3/FA具有较高的脱除Hg0的能力.同时,考察了Fe2O3负载量、温度、空速、Hg0浓度、烟气成分等对Fe2O3/FA脱除Hg0的影响.结果表明,Fe2O3/FA对Hg0的脱除能力随Fe2O3负载量(1%~10%)的增加和温度(120~200℃)的升高而增强;Fe2O3/FA在较低的空速和Hg0浓度条件下表现出了更高的脱除Hg0的活性;HCl和O2促进了Fe2O3/FA对Hg0的脱除,而SO2和H2O抑制了Fe2O3/FA对Hg0的脱除.逐级化学提取实验结果证实,Fe2O3将Hg0氧化为Hg2+的化合物并吸附在FA上,这是Fe2O3/FA具有较高的脱除Hg0能力的原因.     

Bi-PbO2电极电化学氧化去除模拟废水中氨氮的研究

本实验采用钛网作为基体,利用电沉积方法制备了纯PbO2电极和Bi-PbO2电极,通过SEM、XRD、XPS对电极的表面形态进行了表征,利用循环伏安法对Bi-PbO2电极电化学特性进行了研究.同时,以氨氮模拟废水作为研究对象,考察了Bi-PbO2电极的电催化活性,探讨了氨氮电化学氧化降解机理.结果表明,Bi-PbO2电极的形态表征、电催化活性明显高于纯PbO2电极,氨氮的去除效率随电流密度的增加而提高,碱性条件下氨氮的去除效果明显好于酸性条件,适量浓度的Cl-的引入在碱性条件下提高了氨氮的去除效果.当氨氮初始浓度为50 mg·L-1、电流密度为40 mA·cm-2、pH=12、Cl-浓度为600 mg·L-1时,电解120 min后,氨氮100%去除.氨氮的降解机理为:体系中无添加氯离子,酸性条件下氨氮主要是通过间接氧化去除,碱性条件下通过直接电氧化和间接氧化共同完成;体系中添加氯离子,氨氮的去除主要是通过溶液中生成的有效氯间接氧化去除.     

流化床O2/CO2气氛燃煤痕量元素的排放特性及控制

通过平顶山烟煤在小型流化床中的燃烧实验,采用X-射线荧光光谱仪(XRF)对低压撞击器(LPI)收集到的细颗粒物元素组成进行定量测定,研究了O2/CO2气氛下硅藻土对煤粉燃烧痕量元素的排放控制.结果表明,Zn、Mn和Ni的含量随粒径呈双峰分布,峰值分别在0.1μm和2μm附近,Hg和Co的含量在0.1μm附近有一峰值;Hg和Zn在亚微米颗粒上有一定程度的富集,Mn、Ni和Co在亚微米和超微米颗粒上的含量基本相当;当颗粒物粒径一定时,随着硅藻土含量的增加,5种元素的富集因子呈减小的趋势;随着添加剂粒径的减小,颗粒物中Hg、Mn、Zn、Ni和Co的含量呈减少的趋势;当颗粒物粒径一定时,5种元素含量顺序为MnZnNiCoHg.