Effectiveness of tertiary treatment processes in removing different classes of emerging contaminants from domestic wastewater

● Different advanced treatment processes were tested for ECs removal from wastewater. ● UV radiation showed low to moderate removal for 5 of the 38 micropollutants. ● Among tested membrane processes, nanofiltration showed the better performance. ● The use of PAC achieved high or partially removal for 31 out of the 38 compounds. ● The environmental and economical evaluation of a pilot-scale PAC unit is suggested. In this work, 38 different organic emerging contaminants (ECs), belonging to various chemical classes such as pharmaceuticals (PhCs), endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), benzotriazoles (BTRs), benzothiazoles (BTHs), and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), were initially identified and quantified in the biologically treated wastewater collected from Athens’ (Greece) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Processes already used in existing STPs such as microfiltration (MF), nanofiltration (NF), ultrafiltration (UF), UV radiation, and powdered activated carbon (PAC) were assessed for ECs’ removal, under the conditions that represent their actual application for disinfection or advanced wastewater treatment. The results indicated that MF removed only one out of the 38 ECs and hence it was selected as pretreatment step for the other processes. UV radiation in the studied conditions showed low to moderate removal for 5 out of the 38 ECs. NF showed better results than UF due to the smaller pore sizes of the filtration system. However, this enhancement was observed mainly for 8 compounds originating from the classes of PhCs and PFCs, while the removal of EDCs was not statistically significant. Among the various studied technologies, PAC stands out due to its capability to sufficiently remove most ECs. In particular, removal rates higher than 70% were observed for 9 compounds, 22 were partially removed, while 7 demonstrated low removal rates. Based on our screening experiments, future research should focus on scaling-up PAC in actual conditions, combining PAC with other processes, and conduct a complete economic and environmental assessment of the treatment.     

兰州盆地第三纪沉积物常量元素变化及其古环境意义

通过对兰州盆地凤凰山剖面沉积物(厚约2484 m)的常量元素(Si、Al、Ca、Fe、K、Mg、Na)和碳酸盐含量分析,发现元素含量变化特征可分为三类:(1)元素Al、Fe、K和Mg赋存于细颗粒矿物中,与粒度分选和风化强度关系密切;(2)元素Si主要赋存于石英中,能良好反映沉积相变化;(3)元素Ca、Na与化学沉积盐类的生成有关,元素比值(Na/Al和Ca/Al)能揭示沉积环境演变。元素比值变化表明兰州盆地第三纪古环境变化可划分为四个阶段:54—43 Ma为三角洲河流相沉积,气候较温暖湿润;43—33 Ma Na/Al比值较高,钠盐大量生成,进入盐湖发育阶段,气候开始变干;33—23 Ma Ca/Al比大幅度波动,地层中含有大量石膏层,盆地经历了半干旱—半湿润的气候环境波动;23—9 Ma盆地从咸水-半咸水湖转变为风尘主导的干旱环境。综合凤凰山剖面的元素、磁化率、色度和粒度结果,认为第三纪以来兰州盆地古环境经历了三次阶段性变干的过程(~43 Ma,~33 Ma和~23 Ma);同全球气候和区域构造记录的对比表明,前两次变干可能同全球气候变冷关系密切,而早中新世的变干则可能是区域构造运动的结果。     

Experimental and DFT insights into nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon nanotubes for effective desulfurization of liquid phases: Equilibrium & kinetic study

• Synthesis of NS-CNTS is used in a high desulfurization performance. • Synthesizing NS-CNT is considered as a novel adsorbent from low-cost precursors. • A high sulfur removal capacity for NS-CNT is attained compared with recent works. Herein, nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon nanotubes (NS-CNT) adsorbents were synthesized via the chemical vapor deposition technique at 1000°C by employing the camphor, urea and sulfur trioxide pyridine. In this study, desulfurization of two types of mercaptans (dibenzothiophene (DBT) and tertiary butyl mercaptan (TBM) as nonlinear and linear forms of mercaptan) was studied. In this regard, a maximum capacity of NS-CNT was obtained as 106.9 and 79.4 mg/g and also the removal efficiencies of 98.6% and 88.3% were achieved after 4 h at 298K and 0.9 g of NS-CNT for DBT and TBM, respectively. Characterization of the NS-CNTs was carried out through exploiting scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and elemental analysis (CHN). The isotherm equilibrium data could be ascribed to the Freundlich nonlinear regression form and the kinetic data was fitted by nonlinear form of the pseudo second order model. The negative values of ΔS⁰, ΔH⁰ and ΔG⁰ specify that the adsorption of both types of mercaptans was a natural exothermic process with a reduced entropy. Maintenance of more than 96% of the adsorption capacity even after nine cycles suggest the NS-CNT as a superior adsorbent for mercaptans removal in the industry. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were also performed to peruse the effects of S/N co-doping and carbon monovacancy defects in CNTs toward the adsorption of DBT and TBM.     

陇中盆地古近纪—新近纪地层学与古气候学研究进展

位于我国西北部的陇中盆地古近纪—新近纪(第三纪)地层出露较好,并且产出大量哺乳动物化石和植物化石,这为西北地区地层对比和古气候研究提供了良好材料。近几十年,众多学者在陇中盆地的各次级盆地(如西宁盆地、兰州盆地、临夏盆地等)开展了大量古生物学、生物地层学、磁性地层学和古气候学研究,为探讨陇中盆地的构造演化过程和气候演变过程提供了重要参考。本文对陇中盆地第三纪地层年代学和古气候研究已取得的进展进行了初步总结归纳,并提出了需要进一步研究的问题。     

第三系红层下石林的岩溶动力学特征

区域地球化学表明 ,第三系泉水及直接被第三系覆盖的灰岩泉水的SIC在雨季小于 0 ,在旱季大于 0。在祭白龙洞 ,地表被第三系覆盖洞段滴水的暂时硬度比地表无此覆盖层的滴水小 1 .6～ 3mmol/L ,pH值也较低。第三系盖层中空气CO2 浓度为 1 0 0 0 0～ 1 4 0 0 0mg/m3,随深度下降。第三系的裂隙最大渗透张量为 0 .0 2～ 0 .0 5m/d,高于石灰岩。野外溶蚀试验结果 ,第三系盖层中石灰岩的溶蚀速率为 1 .5mg/ 1 0 0d,且垂直溶蚀速率与水平溶蚀速率相当。上述特征表明 ,较高的裂隙渗透张量及随裂隙下渗的富侵蚀性的水是石芽、石林发育的两个重要因素。这也是为什么发育好的石林常常伴随残留的小面积第三系出现的原因     

Aniline degradation by electrocatalytic oxidation

The degradation of aniline solution in alkaline medium of pH 11.0 by electrocatalytic oxidation has been studied using an electrochemical reactor containing a SnO₂–Sb₂O₃–PtO anode and a Ti cathode, both of 54 cm² area. Hydroxyl radicals (HO^√) are produced at the anode, being tested with the trace catcher salicylic acid and phenol by spectrophotometery and high performance liquid chromatography. Intermediates dianiline, 4-anilino phenol and azobenzol were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The existence of HO^√ produced in the aniline degradation was assayed with scavenger tertiary butanol. The results showed that electrocatalytic oxidation is an effective process for the degradation of aniline. A general reaction pathway that accounts for aniline degradation to CO₂ involving those intermediates is proposed.     

Tertiary metallogenesis in the Eastern Alps: the Waldenstein hematite deposit (Austria)

The specularite deposit at Waldenstein is an epigenetic replacement/vein-type hematite mineralization with distinct alteration zones. It is situated in highly metamorphosed schists and, gneisses of the Koralm Crystalline Complex. Sericitization and chloritization are strictly bound to this alteration and occur within a few meters of the hematite veins. Radiometric dating of the sericitization and the implicity of the mineralization yield a Middle Eocene age. Petrographic evidence proves an early, relatively reduced paragenesis (magnetite, ilmenite) being partly replaced by hematite and chlorite during the main phase of ore formation. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope investigations indicate that formation temperatures were approximately 300°C during the main stage and decreased to 200°C in the latest stage of the hydrothermal event. The H-isotope compositions of chlorites and of fluid inclusions in quartz indicate the influence of seawater. This also explains the high salinities determined by fluid inclusion studies (20–30% NaCl equiv.). According to the genetic model presented in this paper the hydrothermal activity started when the deformation accompanying the uplift of the Koralm Crystalline Complex passed from a ductile to brittle regime (Middle Eocene). The brittle faults acted as channelways for rising, deep fluids, probably of metamorphic origin. Temperature differences between the different uplifting crustal segments supported fluid circulation. Precipitation of the ore occurred at shallow crustal levels where the hydraulic regime was dominated by seawater, and oxidation of the original reducing fluids took place.     

RESEARCH INTO THE EFFECTS OF ARTIFICIAL GROUNDWATER RECHARGE,LEA VALLEY,LONDON ENGLAND1

ABSTRACT: Large-scale groundwater abstraction from the Cretaceous Chalk/Lower Tertiary Basal Sands aquifer system of the London Basin in the last 150 years has developed storage of more than 1000 Mm³. Limited operational recharge was undertaken in the 1950's encouraging further detailed study of the wider possibilities. Following a comprehensive hydrogeological reappraisal, an economic and engineering study and pilot-scale experiments, the Lea Valley has been shown to have the greatest potential for recharge. Artificial recharge into the Chalk at a rate of 9000 m³/d appears possible, through acidised 900 mm diameter boreholes. An understanding of the degree of interconnection between the Chalk and Basal Sands and of the causes of changes in quality of recharged water during storage was shown to be of particular importance to the successful operation of any recharge scheme using this system. A two-layer numerical groundwater model of the 800 km² area and a surface/groundwater simulation model have been used to assist with the design of the 84,000 m³/d prototype scheme, and will also help in assessing its efficiency. The models will ultimately be used to manage the operation of the first stage development, now coming into use.     

苏南志留—第三系岩石力学性质及节理形成机制探讨

对苏南地区志留—第三系进行了系统的岩石力学性质测试,包括岩石抗压强度、抗张强度、抗剪切强度、弹性模量和泊松比值。测试结果表明,苏南存在多个岩石力学突变层;影响岩石力学性质的因素主要为岩石类型、组构、结晶程度和受力方向等。本文还讨论了在区域应力场作用下,节理形成机制和应力转化过程。节理形成通常与岩石中各种缺陷有关,在缺陷处应力易于集中。节理具有多种成因机制。     

第三产业环境行为信息公开指标体系研究

随着第三产业的快速发展 ,其带来的环境污染也日趋严重 ,这给我国环境管理工作提出了新的挑战。本文探讨了一项新的环境管理手段———环境信息公开制度在第三产业环境管理中的应用 ,并就这项手段的指标体系做了初步的研究