Optimization of electrochemical process for phenanthrene removal from aqueous medium by Taguchi

Discharge of refinery effluents containing phenanthrene (Phe) may exert carcinogenic effects on aquatic organisms. The aim of the current investigation was to investigate electrochemical removal of Phe from urban drinking water using a batch reactor. Phe removal efficiency was examined under different operating conditions including current density (1–8 mA/cm²), electrode composition materials such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), steel (AS), or zinc (Zn), pH (4–10), and duration (20–60 min). Phe concentration was determined utilizing standard techniques. Steel–Steel (AS–AS) as anode–cathode electrodes resulted in the least Phe removal (not detected), while Zn–Cu anode–cathode electrodes produced the highest Phe removal (100%) under similar experimental conditions. The increase in current density from 1 to 8 mA/cm² at optimum electrode and pH enhanced Phe removal from 56% to 100%. The rise in duration from 20 to 60 min at optimum electrode and pH increased Phe removal from 32% to 100%. These findings indicated that Phe removal efficiency was elevated with increasing current density, electrolysis time, and pH. Batch experiments indicated that the electrochemical reactor might be effective in removing Phe from drinking water.     

Simultaneous removal of Co,Cu, and Cr from water by electrocoagulation

This study provides an electrocoagulation process for the removal of metals such as cobalt, copper, and chromium from water using magnesium as anode and galvanized iron as cathode. The various parameters like pH, current density, temperature, and inter electrode distance on the removal efficiency of metals were studied. The results showed that maximum removal efficiency was achieved for cobalt, copper, and chromium with magnesium as anode and galvanized iron as cathode at a current density of 0.025?A?dm^?2 at pH 7.0. First- and second-order rate equations were applied to study adsorption kinetics. The adsorption process follows second-order kinetics model with good correlation. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models were studied using the experimental data. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm favors monolayer coverage of adsorbed molecules for the adsorption of cobalt, copper, and chromium. Temperature studies showed that adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous in nature.     

Daily dietary fluoride intake in rural villages of the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Dental and skeletal fluorosis is widespread in the Ethiopian Rift Valley region. Drinking water has been considered the main reason for the development of fluorosis, but dietary intake may also be a contributor in areas with high concentration of fluoride in water, soil, and biota. The purpose of this study is to assess the total daily dietary fluoride intake by adults in a rural part of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The food, beverage, and water samples were collected from selected households of three neighboring villages with similar dietary pattern, but with different fluoride content in their water sources. Village A uses water with 1.0 mg L^?1 fluoride, village B uses water with 3.0 mg L^?1 fluoride, and village C uses water with 11.5 mg L^?1 fluoride both for food preparation and for drinking. The level of fluoride was determined in all food ingredients, in the prepared food, beverages, and in the water used for food preparation and drinking. Recipe and food frequency questionnaires were used to gather household food preparation and consumption patterns. An alkali fusion method was used for digestion of food samples and for subsequent determination of fluoride with ion-selective electrode. The daily fluoride intake varied depending on its concentration in the water used for cooking and drinking. In households using water with 1 mg L^?1, 3 mg L^?1, and 11.5 mg L^?1 fluoride, the total personal intake was found to be 10.5, 16.6, and 35.3 mg d^?1, respectively. Contribution of the water to the daily fluoride intake was 33%, 58%, and 86%, respectively. Even in households using water containing fluoride at a concentration of 1 mg L^?1, the daily intake was higher than the recommended safe intake of 1.5–4.0 mg d^?1 for adults, which indicates that the fluoride intake through food may cause health risks. Minimizing the fluoride concentration in water to the lowest possible level will greatly reduce the daily intake. The form of fluorine (organic or inorganic) in the food items and the associated health risk factors need further investigation.     

Removal of arsenic by Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans bacteria in bench scale fixed-bed bioreactor system

In the present study arsenic contaminated simulated water and groundwater was treated by the combination of biological oxidation of tri-valent arsenite [As (III)] to penta-valent arsenate [As (V)] in presence of Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans bacteria and its removal by adsorptive filtration in a bioreactor system. This method includes the immobilisation of A.ferrooxidans on Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) capable of oxidising ferrous [Fe (II)] to ferric [Fe (III)]. The Fe (III) significantly converts the As (III) to As (V) and ultimately removed greater than 95% by the bed of GAC, limestone, and sand. The significant influence of Fe (II) concentration (0.1–1.5?gL^?1), flowrate (0.06–0.18?Lh^?1), and initial As (III) concentration (100–1000?µgL^?1) on the arsenic removal efficiency was investigated. The simulated water sample containing the different concentration of As (III) and other ions was used in the study. The removal of other co-existing ions present in contaminated water was also investigated in column study. The concentration of arsenic was found to be <10?µgL^?1 which is below Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) as per WHO in treated water. The results confirmed that the present system including adsorptive-filtration was successfully used for the treatment of contaminated water containing As (III) ions.     

改性天然沸石的除氟性能研究

高效除氟材料的应用能降低饮用水中的氟质量浓度.采用静态吸附实验,比较了天然沸石和实验室制得的氢氧化铝、硫酸铝、聚合硫酸铁(PFS)改性天然沸石的除氟性能.结果表明,PFS改性的天然沸石具有良好的除氟效果,静态除氟容量可达25 mg·g~(-1).通过动态吸附试验,进一步探讨了饮用水的氟质量浓度、流速、停留时间、床层高度等因素对PFS改性天然沸石除氟性能的影响.研究发现,原水氟质量浓度越低,最佳除氟停留时间越短,PFS改性天然沸石滤柱床层高度越小.当停留时间为68 s,滤柱床层高度为47 mm时,含氟为5.8 mg·L~(-1)的模拟水样经吸附滤柱后,其氟质量浓度降到0.95 mg·L~(-1),低于国家生活饮用水标准的上限值1 mg·L~(-1).当含氟为4.14 mg·L~(-1)时,停留时间缩短为58 s,最小床层高度为40 mm;含氟为2.5 mg·L~(-1)时.停留时间为47 s,最小床层高度为32 mm,出水即可符合国家生活饮用水标准.因此,可根据不同高氟水地区的氟质量浓度来确定停留时间和床层高度,从而确定材料的适宜用量和流量.     

Fluoride content of Ethiopian khat (Catha edulis Forsk) chewing leaves

The levels of water soluble and total fluoride concentration in 11 different varieties of Ethiopian khat (Catha edulis Forsk, an evergreen stimulant plant) commonly consumed in the country and exported to the neighboring countries were determined by fluoride ion-selective electrode. Known amounts of fresh khat samples were suspended in deionized water, stirred, and the supernatants exposed to a chelator that decomplexes fluoride were assayed. The total fluoride concentration in the leaves was also analyzed after the leaves were dried, charred, and ashed. Water soluble and total fluoride concentration in khat varieties varied, ranging from 0.19 to 0.43 µg g^?1 fresh weight and 3.4 to 7.1 µg g^?1 dry weight, respectively. The fluoride concentration in matured leaves (12 µg g^?1) was higher than that in young leaves (6.5 µg g^?1) dry weight. Assuming that daily khat leaves chewing for an adult is 100 g, fluoride intake from chewing leaves of the analyzed khat varieties is far below the daily fluoride tolerable upper limit. The safe intake of fluoride is recommended to be 1.5–4.0 mg day^?1 for adults and less for children. However, chewing khat leaves may contribute a significant amount of fluoride for the total daily intake of an individual and should not be overlooked while estimating the total dietary intake of fluoride for individuals chewing khat leaves regularly.     

Voltammetric determination of the herbicide Bifenox in drinking and river water using a silver solid amalgam electrode

A new method for the determination of submicromolar and nanomolar concentrations of herbicide Bifenox using differential pulse voltammetry at a mercury meniscus modified silver solid amalgam electrode is described. This new type of working electrode is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and compatible with principles of green analytical chemistry, and its surface can be easily electrochemically renewed in the case of passivation. The newly developed direct differential pulse voltammetric determination of Bifenox gives limit of determination 6.7·10^?7 and 6.9·10^?7?M in drinking and river water, respectively. Both the selectivity and the sensitivity can be further increased by preliminary separation and preconcentration using solid phase extraction. This combination enables to reach limit of determination 0.9?×?10^?9 and 1.5?×?10^?9?M for drinking and river water, respectively. Because of lower running and investment costs, this electroanalytical method can be used for large scale monitoring of possible water contamination with tested herbicide.     

Protective effects of quercetin against sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress in rat erythrocytes

Protective effects of quercetin against oxidative stress induced by sodium fluoride intoxication in rat erythrocytes were evaluated. Rats were divided into five groups consisting of 10 in each for this experiment. The animals of group I received water and standard diet to serve as control group, the animals of groups II and III were treated with quercetin (10 and 20?mg?kg^?1 body weight), administrated intraperitoneally for 7 days followed by sodium fluoride (600?ppm) in drinking water for the next 7 days. The animals of group IV were treated with vitamin C (10?mg?kg^?1) intraperitoneally for 7 days followed by sodium fluoride treatment for next 7 days serving as positive control group. The animals of group V were treated only with sodium fluoride (600?ppm) for the same time and were used as control group. Blood sample were collected via retro-orbital puncture. The antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, as well as the levels of reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation end products were measured in erythrocytes. There was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation along with a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity in the erythrocytes of sodium fluoride-treated animals. Quercetin treatment prior to fluoride administration normalized the levels of all parameters measured in the rat erythrocytes.     

Defluoridation of drinking water using Al3+-modified bentonite clay: optimization of fluoride adsorption conditions

Al³⁺-bentonite clay (Alum-bent) was prepared by ion exchange of base cations on the matrices of bentonite clay. Intercalation of bentonite clay with Al³⁺ was performed in batch experiments. Parameters optimized include time, dosage, and Al³⁺ concentration. Physicochemical characterization of raw and modified bentonite clay was done by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry attached to scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, cation exchange capacity (CEC) by ammonium acetate method, and pH_pzc by solid addition method. Chemical constituents of water were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), ion selective electrode (Crison 6955 Fluoride selective electrode) and a Crison multimeter probe. For fluoride removal, the effect of contact time, adsorbent dosage, adsorbate concentration, and pH were evaluated in batch procedures. The adsorption capacity of fluoride by modified bentonite clay was observed to be 5.7 mg g^?1 at (26 ± 2) °C room temperature. Maximum adsorption of fluoride was optimum at 30 min, 1 g of dosage, 60 mg L^?1 of adsorbate concentration, pH 2–12, and 1:100 solid/liquid (S/L) ratios. Kinetic studies revealed that fluoride adsorption fitted well to pseudo-second-order model than pseudo first order. Adsorption data fitted well to both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, hence, confirming monolayer and multilayer adsorption. Alum-bent showed good stability in removing fluoride from ground water to below the prescribed limit as stipulated by World Health Organization. As such, it can be concluded that Alum-bent is a potential defluoridation adsorbent which can be applied in fabrication of point of use devices for defluoridation of fluoride-rich water in rural areas of South Africa and other developing countries. Based on that, this comparative study proves that Alum-bent is a promising adsorbent with a high adsorption capacity for fluoride and can be a substitute for conventional defluoridation methods.     

Utility of check dams in dilution of fluoride concentration in ground water and the resultant analysis of blood serum and urine of villagers,Anantapur District,Andhra Pradesh,India

High levels of fluoride (beyond 1.5 ppm) in ground water as source of drinking water are common in many parts of Andhra Pradesh, India, causing fluorosis. The study carried out in endemic Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh, has indicated that the fluoride-rich ground water present in the wells located down stream and close to the surface water bodies is getting diluted by the low-fluoride surface water. Encouraged by this result, check dams were constructed upstream of the identified marginally high fluoride bearing ground water zones in Anantapur District to reduce fluoride levels as an alternate solution for safe drinking water.In this paper, an attempt is made to study the utility and effect of these check dams in dilution of fluoride concentration in drinking water and its resultant impact on the health aspects of certain villagers of Anantapur District through the analysis of their blood serum and urine. Ground water samples from three fluoride-affected villages, blood and urine of males and females from the same villages were collected and analyzed for fluoride using ion selective electrode method. The results indicated that the fluoride levels in blood serum and urine of males in the age group of 5–11 years are found to be the highest. The concentration of fluoride in ground water is directly proportional to the concentration of fluoride in blood serum and urine. The concentration of fluoride in ground water with depth of the aquifer is a function of lithology, amount and duration of rainfall, rate of infiltration, level of ground water exploitation in the area etc. The construction of check dams upstream of the identified marginally high fluoride waters will not only cause additional recharge of ground water but also reduces the fluoride concentration eventually improving the health of the villagers.     

Removal of boron by electrocoagulation

Boron compounds are used in many manufacturing products and may be introduced into the environment in the form of hazardous materials. Here the feasibility of removal of boron from aqueous solutions by electrocoagulation was investigated. The process was examined under various factors in order to assess optimal operating conditions. The results showed that electrocoagulation for boron removal depends on current density, initial concentration and time. Under a current density of 30 mA/cm² the percentage of boron removal from aqueous solutions is in the range of 92–96%.     

Electro-remediation of tailings from a multi-metal sulphide mine: comparing removal efficiencies of Pb,Zn, Cu and Cd

Sulphidic mine tailings characterised by high concentrations of heavy metals (Pb 3532?±?97?mg/kg, Zn 8450?±?154?mg/kg, Cu 239?±?18?mg/kg and Cd 14.1?±?0.3?mg/kg) and abundant carbonate (17%) were subjected to eight lab-scale electrodialytic remediation (EDR) experiments to investigate the influence of current density, treatment time and particle size on removal efficiency. Pb and Cu removal improved when increasing current density, while Zn and Cd removal did not. In contrast Zn and Cd removal improved by grinding the tailings, while Pb and Cu removal did not. At the highest current density (1.2?mA/cm²), 94%, 75%, 71% and 67% removal of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd could be achieved, respectively, on grinded tailings in 28 days. Sequential chemical extraction made before and after EDR revealed larger oxidisable fractions of Zn, Cu and Cd, representing large fractions of sulphides, which was likely to be the main barrier to be removed as efficiently as Pb. This was in accordance with acid/base extraction tests in which Pb showed high solubility at both high and low pH (up to 65% and 86% of extraction, respectively), while considerable extraction of Zn (55%) happened only at low pH; and very limited extraction (<20%) of Cu and Cd occurred at any pH.     

Contamination status of arsenic,lead, and cadmium of different wetland waters

The present investigation was conducted to determine the contamination status of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in the wetland waters of Bhaluka in Bangladesh. Water samples were collected from 15 selected wetlands of Bhaluka region and analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Estimated results of three metals detected were As (7–80?µg?L^?1), Pb (0–86?µg?L^?1) and Cd (0–70?µg?L^?1) in water samples in all wetlands. The level of As in all investigated wetlands (93%) was higher than that of WHO recommended permissible limit of drinking water except Alanga wetland. However, As levels were higher than that recommended for livestock water quality levels. Eighty-seven percent of the investigated wetlands showed lower content of Pb than WHO recommended permissible limit of drinking water, but two wetland waters (Dohuria-1 and Chowdhuri) were polluted with higher Pb levels. Sixty-seven percent of the investigated wetlands displayed higher levels of Cd than WHO recommended permissible limit in drinking water. Dissolved organic material showed no significant difference among the 15 investigated wetlands water, but total dissolved solids was significantly greater. The condition of the water of all wetlands was basic pH. All water samples were applied to linear regression equation and correlation coefficients where values showed no significant differences. Data demonstrate that the estimated high metal concentrations of these ponds may contribute to bioaccumulation within plants, food grains and shrimp.     

冷电弧技术脱除甲醛气体

自行研制了平板式介质阻挡放电冷电弧装置,探讨了施加电压、气体流量、甲醛初始浓度和不同设备形式对甲醛气体脱除率的影响。结果表明:在电极间距1.6 cm、施加电压20 kV、气体流量667 mL/min、甲醛初始浓度为50.0 mg/m3以及添加涂有TiO2膜的陶瓷拉西环催化剂的条件下,甲醛的脱除率可以达到90%以上。     

Photoelectrochemical treatment of ammonium using seawater as a natural supporting electrolyte

In the present study, a photoelectrochemical process containing seawater as a natural low-cost supporting electrolyte was used to remove ammonium from wastewater in a continuous flow mode. Based on central composite design (CCD), response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the performance of the process in ammonia removal. The effect of four main independent parameters, including initial ammonium concentration, hydraulic retention time (HRT), current intensity and initial pH on the removal of ammonia was evaluated by the model. The optimal initial ammonium concentration, HRT, current intensity and initial pH were 917 mg NH ₄? N;·L ^?1, 108 min, 1.8 A and 8.4, respectively. The high coefficients (R ²=0.97 and adjusted R ²=0.94) obtained by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated close correlation between predicted and experimental values. Also, treating the reject water from the sludge dewatering unit as an ammonium-rich wastewater showed the effectiveness of the process for treating real wastewaters (86% ammonium removal). The results revealed that the present process can be an efficient method for ammonium removal from polluted effluents in coastal areas based on the availability of seawater as a cost-efficient supporting electrolyte.     

Arsenic (V) removal from groundwater by GE-HL nanofiltration membrane: effects of arsenic concentration, pH, and co-existing ions

A laboratory-scale investigation was performed to study arsenic (As (V)) removal by negatively charged GE-HL nanofiltration (NF) membrane in simulated drinking water. Effects of As (V) concentration (0–200 μg·L^?1), pH, and co-ions and counter-ions were investigated. The NF membrane presented good stability, and the rejection rates exceeded 90%. The rejection rates of As (V) decreased with the increase of As (V) concentration, while it increased with the increase of pH (reached 96% at pH 6.75). Moreover, a negative relationship was observed between the co-existing ions of Cl^?, Na⁺, SO ₄ ^2? , and Ca²⁺ and the removal of As (V), in which bivalent ions presented more significant effects than monovalent ions.     

流化床三维电极电催化氧化深度处理焦化废水

研究了以焦粒为粒子电极的流化床三维电极反应器对二级生化处理后的焦化废水进行深度处理。结果表明：采用以焦粒为粒子电极的流化床三维电极反应器能有效降解废水中的有机物,COD去除率依赖于粒子投加量、电流密度、电导率、pH值、曝气量等操作参数的影响。在电导率（以S计）为7.1 m.cm-1,曝气量为160 L.h-1,电流密度（以A计）为48 m.cm-2,pH值为5.0,投加量30 g.L-1时,电解30 min,COD的去除率超过60%,表明流化床三维电极反应器在焦化废水深度处理中有很好工程应用前景。     

The Contribution of Drinking Water towards Dental Fluorosis: A case study of Njoro Division, Nakuru District, Kenya

This study was carried out to measure the fluoride levels of water consumed in the Njoro division of Nakuru district, Kenya. The sources of drinking water, methods of water storage and utilisation, as well as the perceptions of the local community towards dental fluorosis and the percentage of children with moderate to severe dental fluorosis were also determined. Rainwater had mean fluoride levels of 0.5 mg L^-1, dams 2.4 mg L^-1, wells 4.1 mg L^-1, springs 5.5 mg L^-1, and boreholes 6.6 mg L^-1. Water stored in plastic and cement containers did not show appreciable reduction in fluoride content with storage time; water stored in metal containers reduced fluoride by up to 8.2%; water stored in clay pots had the highest reduction in fluoride content, ranging between 34.3 and 64.7%;. Forty eight point three percent of children observed in the area had moderate to severe dental fluorosis, even though most people in the area did not know the cause of the problem.There is need to educate the community on the causes of fluorosis, and to lay strategies for addressing the issue, such as encouraging more rainwater harvesting, treating drinking water with alum, or using clay pots for storage of drinking water.     

A health risk assessment for fluoride in Central Europe

Like many elements, fluorine (which generally occurs in nature as fluoride) is beneficial to human health in trace amounts, but can be toxic in excess. The links between low intakes of fluoride and dental protection are well known; however, fluoride is a powerful calcium-seeking element and can interfere with the calcified structure of bones and teeth in the human body at higher concentrations causing dental or skeletal fluorosis. One of the main exposure routes is via drinking water and the World Health Organisation currently sets water quality guidelines for the element. In Central Europe, groundwater resources that exceed the guideline value of 1.5 mg l⁻¹ are widespread and effects on health of high fluoride in water have been reported. The aim of the current project was to develop a geographic information system (GIS) to aid the identification of areas where high-fluoride waters and fluorosis may be a problem; hence, where water treatment technologies should be targeted. The development of the GIS was based upon the collation and digitisation of existing information relevant to fluoride risk in Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia assembled for the first time in a readily accessible form. In addition, geochemistry and health studies to examine in more detail the relationships between high-fluoride drinking waters and health effects in the population were carried out in Moldova and Ukraine demonstrating dental fluorosis prevalence rates of 60–90% in adolescents consuming water containing 2–7 mg l⁻¹ fluoride.     

阜阳电厂灰水氟化物浓度的确定及对地下饮用水源污染预测

目前在火电厂环境影响评价中,主要利用类比法和实验法确定灰水中氟化物的浓度。文章提出了一种新的方法－－计算法。该方法以氟的迁移转化规律为基础,以物料平衡原理为依据,充分考虑煤源、煤质、除尘方式、除灰方式、排灰方式及冲灰水水质等影响因素。与类比法和实验法相比,该法简便、可靠、实用、经济。鉴于阜场附近地区地下水饮用水源污染的可能性,影响程度及发生时间。