Enhancing the adsorption function of biochar by mechanochemical graphitization for organic pollutant removal

• Mechanochemical treatment reduced the calcination temperature for biochar synthesis. • Biochar is converted to graphite after mechanochemical treatment. • Biochar was reduced to nanoscale after mechanochemical treatment. Biochar (BC) has been extensively studied as adsorbent for the treatment of water pollution. Despite the distinct advantages, the high calcination temperature and low adsorption capacity of pristine BC limit its practical applications. Most of the former studies focused on the structure and/or surface modification to improve the adsorption capacity of BC. However, the harsh experiment conditions involved in the biochar modification limited the application in industrial level. Herein, we introduced mechanical treatment into BC preparation to reduce the calcination temperature and improve the adsorption capacity simultaneously. The results indicated that the calcination temperature was reduced and the adsorption capacity of the treated BC was improved after mechanochemical treatment. Characterization of the samples disclosed that BCs were graphitized with the particle size reduced to nanoscale after treatment. Adsorption tests indicated that the mechanochemically treated BCs showed much better removal performance of organic contaminants than that of pristine BCs. For instance, among four pristine BCs (BC600, BC700, BC800, and BC900), only BC900 has strong adsorption capacity for MB, while BC600 has low adsorption capacity (1.2 mg/g). By comparison, the adsorption capacity of MB increased greatly to 173.96 mg/g by BC600-500/1 (treated at 500 r/min for 1 hour). To optimize the mechanochemical treatment, the effects of rotation speed and agitation duration were also investigated.     

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.     

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。     

聚硅酸钛制备及其助凝特性

采用在活化硅酸制备过程中加入适量Ti Cl4的方法,试制了一种新型无机高分子助凝剂—聚硅酸钛。研究了不同[Si]/[Ti]条件下制备的聚硅酸钛在固定p H值的水中分散物的粒径和Zeta电位随着活化时间的变化趋势,并与活化硅酸作比较。结果表明,在Si/Ti=20,活化48 h的条件下能制备出较为稳定的聚硅酸钛。与活化硅酸相比,聚硅酸钛在水中的分散物具有较大的粒径和更高的Zeta电位。通过对比制备的活化硅酸和聚硅酸钛的红外图谱发现,聚硅酸钛中有TiO-Si键,证明钛离子参与了聚合反应,新生成的化学键提高了它的聚合度和稳定性。采用硫酸铝为混凝剂,聚硅酸钛为助凝剂进行混凝除浊实验。测定了絮凝体的Zeta电位和混凝沉淀后的上清液浊度,研究了硫酸铝投加量和混凝p H对聚硅酸钛助凝效果的影响。结果表明,投加适量的聚硅酸钛助凝剂,明显提高了混凝除浊效果且拓宽了有效混凝p H值的范围。     

硫酸盐还原菌污泥固定化特性

采用玉米芯为碳源,聚乙烯醇(PVA)为包埋载体,饱和硼酸(H3BO3)为交联剂,研究了硫酸盐还原菌污泥(SRBS)、铁屑、麦饭石共固处理合成煤矿酸性废水的最优配比与机理,并分析了固定化过程中小球稳定性及活性的变化规律。实验结果表明,SRBS投加量是影响处理效果的最显著因子,当投加30%SRBS、2%铁屑、3%麦饭石时SO2-4、Mn2+去除率分别为94.13%和84.39%,溶液p H为7.03,未检测出Fe2+;随着交联时间的延长,小球膨胀率及SO2-4还原率分别呈线性与指数下降,从保持小球稳定性与活性角度考虑,可将交联时间设定为4~8 h;该法可为市政污泥的处置以及生物法处理煤矿酸性废水的工程应用提供技术参考。     

高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测器测定邻苯二甲酸酯色谱条件优化

采用高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测器对6种PAEs类物质进行测定,并对梯度洗脱条件、流速、检测波长等影响化合物色谱响应的关键参数进行优化。综合考虑样品测试效率、分析精度、实际样品中存在杂质干扰等因素,确定以乙腈-水为流动相进行梯度洗脱,洗脱0~11 min流动相乙腈-水梯度比例为50∶50,11 min后流动相调整为100%乙腈,各化合物均能完全分离;色谱分析流速为0.8 m L/min;PAEs的最佳吸收波长为225 nm。在优化的色谱条件下,6种PAEs的线性良好,相关系数均大于0.999 8,仪器检出限为0.08~0.12 mg/L,保留时间、峰面积的相对标准偏差分别为0.02%~0.60%、0.13%~0.86%。方法灵敏度较高,适合土壤等邻苯二甲酸酯含量较高基质样品的快速分析。     

Innovative applications of subgrade biogeochemical reactors: Three case studies

Subgrade biogeochemical reactors (SBGRs) are an in situ remediation technology shown to be effective in treating contaminant source areas and groundwater hot spots, while being sustainable and economical. This technology has been applied for over a decade to treat chlorinated volatile organic compound source areas where groundwater is shallow (e.g., less than approximately 30 feet below ground surface [ft bgs]). However, this article provides three case studies describing innovative SBGR configurations recently developed and tested that are outside of this norm, which enable use of this technology under more challenging site conditions or for treatment of alternative contaminant classes. The first SBGR case study addresses a site with groundwater deeper than 30 ft bgs and limited space for construction, where an SBGR column configuration reduced the maximum trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater concentration from 9,900 micrograms per liter (μg/L) to <1 μg/L (nondetect) within approximately 15 months. The second SBGR is a recirculating trench configuration that is supporting remediation of a 5.7‐acre TCE plume, which has significant surface footprint constraints due to the presence of endangered species habitat. The third SBGR was constructed with a new amendment mixture and reduced groundwater contaminant concentrations in a petroleum hydrocarbon source area by over 97% within approximately 1 year. Additionally, a summary is provided for new SBGR configurations that are planned for treatment of additional classes of contaminants (e.g., hexavalent chromium, 1,4‐dioxane, dissolved explosives constituents, etc.). A discussion is also provided describing research being conducted to further understand and optimize treatment mechanisms within SBGRs, including a recently developed sampling approach called the aquifer matrix probe.     

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。     

Aerobic treatment of swine manure to enhance anaerobic digestion and microalgal cultivation

Aerobic treatment of swine manure was coupled with anaerobic digestion and microalgal cultivation. A 14-day aerobic treatment reduced the total solid content of swine manure by >15%. Ammonia and carbon dioxide were stripped by the air supplied, and this off-gas was further used to aerate the culture of Chlorella vulgaris. The microalgal growth rates in Bristol medium and the wastewater with the off-gas increased from 0.08 to 0.22 g/L/d and from 0.15 to 0.24 g/L/d, respectively. Meanwhile, the aerobically treated swine manure showed a higher methane yield during anaerobic digestion. The experimental results were used to establish a demonstration unit consisting of a 100 L composter, a 200 L anaerobic digester, a 60 L tubular photobioreactor, and a 300 L micro-open raceway pond.     

废水中甲基橙的电化学降解

以FTO导电玻璃作为阳极、石墨电极作为阴极电解模拟甲基橙废水,优化了工艺条件,并对甲基橙的降解机理进行了初步探究。实验结果表明,在NaCl投加量5 g/L、电压8 V、废水pH 6、初始甲基橙质量浓度6.0 mg/L的优化条件下电解30 min,废水的脱色率达91.3%,COD降低了62%。机理研究结果表明,电解产生的羟基自由基与甲基橙发生氧化还原反应,破坏了甲基橙的显色基团,使其内部某些化学键发生断裂,从而达到脱色的目的。