Molecular docking analysis on antifungal properties of acid condensate produced from palm kernel shell

The rise in the number of fungi that resisted antifungal action is of serious concern nowadays. In this study, the potential of acid condensate (AC) produced from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of palm kernel shell (PKS) was investigated for its antifungal properties through molecular docking evaluation. The phenolic-rich AC was determined for its chemical compositions using the GC–MS analysis where compounds with the highest phenolics content were further evaluated (using the Autodock Tools 1.5.7) for its potential enzymes/protein binding properties. From the GC–MS analysis, catechol, guaiacol and syringol were present at highest percentages. This directly correlates with results obtained from the molecular docking works where all these ligands managed to bind (indicated by H-bond, π-stacking, hydrophobic interaction) with some of the amino acid at the active sites which indicate its potential to inhibit substrate binding of this enzyme. As a conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential use of AC from agricultural biomass such as PKS as a natural-based antifungal agent that can reduce environmental and health impacts.     

皂素和柠檬酸复合淋洗土壤中的钍

采用振荡淋洗和土柱动态淋洗实验研究了皂素和柠檬酸复合对土壤中钍的淋洗性能。实验结果表明:将质量浓度为20 g/L的皂素与浓度为20 mmol/L的柠檬酸以体积比1∶10配制复合淋洗液对污染土壤中钍的去除效果最佳,淋洗3.0 h,钍去除率为84.98%;准一级动力学方程能更好地描述复合淋洗液对钍的淋洗动力学特征;动态淋洗实验中当复合淋洗液用量为1 600 mL时,钍的累积去除量为73.66 mg/kg;淋洗后土壤中钍的酸可提取态、氧化结合态和有机结合态含量分别减少了79.63%、38.13%和20.34%,残渣态含量变化不大;淋洗后土壤中钍的稳定性增加。     

Enhanced debromination of 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) by zero-valent zinc with ascorbic acid

• Highly efficient debromination of BDE-47 was achieved in the ZVZ/AA system. • BDE-47 debromination by the ZVZ/AA can be applied to a wide range of pH. • AA inhibits the formation of (hydr)oxide and accelerates the corrosion of ZVZ. • Reduction mechanism of BDE-47 debromination by the ZVZ/AA system was proposed. A new technique of zero-valent zinc coupled with ascorbic acid (ZVZ/AA) was developed and applied to debrominate the 2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), which achieved high conversion and rapid debromination of BDE-47 to less- or non-toxic forms. The reaction conditions were optimized by the addition of 100 mg/L ZVZ particles and 3 mmol/L AA at original solution pH= 4.00 using the solvent of methanol/H₂O (v:v= 4:6), which could convert approximately 94% of 5 mg/L BDE-47 into lower-brominated diphenyl ethers within a 90 min at the ZVZ/AA system. The high debromination of BDE-47 was mainly attributed to the effect of AA that inhibits the formation of Zn(II)(hydr)oxide passivation layers and promotes the corrosion of ZVZ, which leads to increase the reactivity of ZVZ. Additionally, ion chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analyses revealed that bromine ion and lower-debromination diphenyl ethers formed during the reduction of BDE-47. Furthermore, based on the generation of the intermediates products, and its concentration changes over time, it was proposed that the dominant pathway for conversion of BDE-47 was sequential debromination and the final products were diphenyl ethers. These results suggested that the ZVZ/AA system has the potential for highly efficient debromination of BDE-47 from wastewater.     

A review of measurement methods for peracetic acid (PAA)

• Physical and chemical properties and application of peracetic acid solution. • Determination method of high concentration peracetic acid. • Determination method of residual peracetic acid (low concentration). Peroxyacetic acid has been widely used in food, medical, and synthetic chemical fields for the past several decades. Recently, peroxyacetic acid has gradually become an effective alternative disinfectant in wastewater disinfection and has strong redox capacity for removing micro-pollutants from drinking water. However, commercial peroxyacetic acid solutions are primarily multi-component mixtures of peroxyacetic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and water. During the process of water treatment, peroxyacetic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) often coexist, which limits further investigation on the properties of peroxyacetic acid. Therefore, analytical methods need to achieve a certain level of selectivity, particularly when peroxyacetic acid and hydrogen peroxide coexist. This review summarizes the measurement and detection methods of peroxyacetic acid, comparing the principle, adaptability, and relative merits of these methods.     

Preliminary studies on potential remediation of acid mine drainage‐impacted soils by amendment with drinking‐water treatment residuals

Mining operations result in a wide range of environmental impacts: acid mine drainage (AMD) and acid sulfate soils being among the most common. Due to their acidic pH and high soluble metal concentrations, both AMD and acid sulfate soils can severely damage the local ecosystems. Proper post‐mining management practices are necessary to control AMD‐related environmental issues. Current AMD‐impacted soil treatment technologies are rather expensive and typically not environmentally sustainable. We conducted a 60‐day bench‐scale study to evaluate the potential of a cost‐effective and environment‐friendly technology in treating AMD‐impacted soils. The metal binding and acid‐neutralizing capacity of an industrial by‐product, drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs) were used for AMD remediation. Two types of locally generated WTRs, an aluminum‐based WTR (Al‐WTR) and a lime‐based WTR (Ca‐WTR) were used. Highly acidic AMD‐impacted soil containing very high concentrations of metals and metalloids, such as iron, nickel, and arsenic, was collected from the Tab‐Simco coal mine in Carbondale, Illinois. Soil amendment using a 1:1 Al‐ and Ca‐WTR mix, applied at 5 and 10 percent rates significantly lowered the soluble and exchangeable fractions of metals in the AMD‐impacted soil, thus lowering potential metal toxicity. Soil pH increased from an extremely acidic 2.69 to a near‐neutral 6.86 standard units over the 60‐day study period. Results from this preliminary study suggest the possibility of a successful scale‐up of this innovative, cost‐effective, and environmentally sustainable technology for remediating AMD‐impacted acid sulfate soils.     

废铅酸蓄电池污染防治技术及相关政策分析

废铅酸蓄电池具有一定的回收价值,但生产过程和回收过程都容易造成污染。为了引导企业对废旧电池进行正确处理,也为了防止环境被破坏,必须采取科学合理的技术和工艺,并遵循国家相关政策,本文就对此进行了分析,希望能给相关工作提供借鉴。     

化学环境下的应力-渗流耦合对尾 矿库稳定性影响试验

通过扫描电镜（FE-SEM）、能谱分析（EDX）、X射线衍射（XRD）、LMS-30激光粒度分析等室内试验探究了尾矿库内存在的酸、碱离子对尾矿颗粒的沉降、微观形貌、物质组成以及粒径级配的影响；建立酸、碱影响下的孔隙比与渗透系数的数学关系模型，并将建立的模型用来表征尾矿库内的应力渗-流场两场耦合机制，实现代入有限元计算软件的目的。结果表明:化学因素的存在影响着尾矿颗粒的多项性状，酸性环境下尾矿颗粒发生溶蚀，部分金属元素流失；碱性环境下尾矿颗粒间生成胶结物质，孔隙出现以含氢氧化铁为主的絮状、团簇状堵塞物，改变了渗流速度；尾矿库内浸润线高度在碱性、中性、酸性环境下依次降低，而渗流速度依次升高。     

萃取法分离回收不锈钢酸洗污泥硫酸浸出液中的重金属

采用非皂化P204和皂化P204萃取剂对不锈钢酸洗污泥的硫酸浸出液进行萃取。在浸出液pH为0.80、非皂化P204体积分数为25%、萃取剂与浸出液体积比为1∶2、萃取时间为5 min的条件下,Fe~(3+)萃取率达99.64%,Cr~(3+)和Ni~(2+)萃取率为3.98%和6.99%,一次萃余液pH为0.64。采用皂化P204对除Fe~(3+)后的一次萃余液进行萃取,在P204体积分数为25%、萃取剂与浸出液体积比为1∶2、萃取剂皂化率为60%、一次萃余液pH为1.50、萃取时间为5 min的条件下,Ni~(2+)萃取率为93.12%,Cr~(3+)萃取率为20.69%,二次萃余液pH为2.63。     

PW_(12)/g-C_3N_4光催化降解甲基橙

采用浸渍法制备了磷钨酸(PW12)/g-C3N4复合光催化剂,并将其用于溶液中甲基橙的光催化降解,运用IR技术对使用前后的光催化剂进行了表征。表征结果显示,PW12和g-C3N4的结构未在浸渍负载中发生改变,且PW12和g-C3N4结合牢固。实验结果表明:最佳的PW12负载量(光催化剂中PW12的质量分数)为50%;光催化降解甲基橙的优化反应条件为初始甲基橙质量浓度5 mg/L、光催化剂加入量0.6 g/L、初始溶液p H=7;在优化条件下,分别采用紫外光、模拟太阳光、可见光照射120 min后,甲基橙的降解率分别为96.59%,82.23%,42.78%;该光催化剂固载良好,使用中不易发生溶脱,稳定性好,可重复使用。     

Feasibility of honeycomb monolith supported sugar catalyst to produce biodiesel from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD)

Carbon coated monolith was prepared by sucrose solution 65 wt.% via dip-coating method. Sulfonation of incomplete carbonized carbon coated monolith was carried out in order to synthesize solid acid catalyst. The textural structure characteristics of the solid acid catalyst demonstrated a low surface area and pore volume. Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), a by-product of palm oil refineries, was utilized as oil source in biodiesel production. The esterification reaction subjected to different reaction conditions was performed by using the sulfonated carbon coated monolith as heterogeneous catalyst. The sulfonation process had been performed by using vapour of concentrated H₂SO₄ that was much easier and efficient than liquid phase sulfonation. Total acidity value of carbon coated monolith was measured for unsulfonated sample (0.5 mmol/g) and sulfonated sample (4.2 mmol/g). The effect of methanol/oil ratio, catalyst amount and reaction time were examined. The maximum methyl ester content was 89% at the optimum condition, i.e. methanol/oil molar ratio (15:1), catalyst amount (2.5 wt.% with respect to PFAD), reaction time (240 min) and temperature 80 °C. The sugar catalyst supported on the honeycomb monolith showed comparable reactivity compared with the sugar catalyst powder. However, the catalyst reusability studies showed decrease in FFA% conversion from 95.3% to 68.8% after four cycles as well as the total acidity of catalyst dropped from the value 4.2 to 3.1 mmol/g during these cycles. This might be likely due to the leaching out of SO₃H group from the sulfonated carbon coated monolith surface. The leaching of active species reached a plateau state after fourth cycle.