Removal of sulfadiazine from aqueous solution on kaolinite

The adsorption of sulfadiazine onto kaolinite clay as an alternative adsorbent was examined in aqueous solution, hnpacts of the contact time, pH, temperature, ionic strength and coexistent surfactants on the adsorption process were evaluated. The pH significantly influenced the adsorption process, with adsorption being promoted at lower pH due to the cation exchange mechanism. Decreasing ionic strength in the solution was favorable for adsorption, and the addition of cationic and anionic surfactants had negative effects on the adsorption capacity of sulfadiazine on kaolinite. Kinetic experiments showed that the adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium adsorption was well described by both Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich （DR） models. According to the DR model, the adsorption mechanism was determined by cationic exchange and weak physical forces. The thermodynamic study showed that sulfadiazine adsorption onto kaolinite was a sponta- neous and endothermic reaction.     

Reuse of heavy metal-accumulating Cynondon dactylon in remediation of water contaminated by heavy metals

Phytoremediation technology is regarded as a simple and efficient way to remove heavy metals from contaminated soil. A reasonable disposal of metal hyperaccumulators is always and resource-saving. The a major issue in waste reuse heavy metal-accumulating Cynondon dactylon （L.） was investigated where heavy metals were desorbed by a facile acid-treatment. The result indicated that more than 90% of heavy metals （Zn, Pb and Cu） was extracted from Cynondon daetylon with 0.2 mmol· L^-1 HCl. The plant residue was used to adsorb heavy metals ions. The adsorption fitted the Langmuir isotherm model with the saturation adsorption capacity of 9.5 mg·g^-1 Zn^2＋, 36.2 mg·g^-1 Pb2＋ and 12.9 mg·g^-1 Cu^2＋, and the surface eomplexation and the backfilling of heavy metal imprinting cavities existed simultaneously during the adsorption. The treatment of wastewaters indicated that the plant residue exhibited a high removal rate of 97% for Cu. Also, the material could be recycled. The method offers a new disposal approach for heavy metal hyperaccumulator.     

Adsorption of benzene and toluene from waste gas using activated carbon activated by ZnCl2

A series of activated carbons with high surface area were prepared from walnut shell using chemical activation with ZnCl2. In this research the carbonization stage was carried out at 500℃. The performance of the synthesized carbons evaluated in adsorption of benzene and toluene from waste gas. The influence of impregnation ratio on the characteristics of synthesized activated carbons as well as their adsorption capacity was investigated. The ratio of activation agent to walnut shell was selected in the range of 0.5-2.0 wt/wt. The synthesized activated carbons were characterized using XRD, SEM, BET and FTIR techniques. The highest activated carbon production yield was obtained at impregnation ratio of 1.5 wt/wt. The XRD analysis illustrated that peaks intensity decreased with increasing impregnation ratio showing that amorphous property of samples was increased. The SEM analysis revealed successful pore development in synthesized activated carbons obtained at high impregnation ratios. The surface area of the activated carbons increased with increasing impregnation ratio and its maximum value reached 2643 m2.g 1 at impregnation ratio of 2/1. FTIR analysis indicated that the relative amount of different acidic surface groups on synthesized carbons was a function of impregnation ratio. Experimental results for benzene and toluene adsorption showed a high potential of employing synthesized impregnated activated carbon for treatment of waste gas. Generally, the amount of VOC adsorbed on the surface was affected by physicochemical properties of synthesized activated carbons.     

Biosorption of Cr（VI） by carbonized Eupatorium adenophorum and Buckwheat straw： thermodynamics and mechanism

High quality and low cost carbon can be prepared from Eupatorium adenophorum （E. adenophorum） and Buckwheat straw. The biosorbent was used for Cr（VI） removal. The effect of experimental parameters, such as pH, sorbent dosage and temperature were examined and the optimal experimental condition was determned. Solution pH is found influencing the adsorp- tion. Cr（VI） removal efficiency is found to be maximum （98%） at pH= 1. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were applicable to the adsorption process and their constants were evaluated. The adsorption data obtained agreed well with the Langmuir sorption isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cr（VI） ranged from 46.23 to 55.19mg.g^-1 for temperature between 298 K and 308 K under the condition of pH = 1.0. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy change （AG）, enthalpy （AH） and entropy （AS） indicate a spontaneous, endothermic and increased randomness nature of Cr（VI） adsorption. Studies found that the raw E. adenophorum and buckwheat straw mixed materials with simple treatment had a high efficiency for the removal of Cr（VI） and would be a promising adsorbent.     

Simultaneous removal of arsenate and fluoride from water by AI-Fe （hydr）oxides

A1-Fe （hydr）oxides with different A1/Fe molar ratios （4：1, 1：1, 1：4, 0：1） were prepared using a co- precipitation method and were then employed for simultaneous removal of arsenate and fluoride. The 4A1 ： Fe was superior to other adsorbents for removal of arsenate and fluoride in the pH range of 5.0-9.0. The adsorption capacity of the A1-Fe （hydr）oxides for arsenate and fluoride at pH 6.50.3 increased with increasing A1 content in the adsorbents. The linear relationship between the amount of OH released from the adsorbent and the amount of arsenate or fluoride adsorbent by 4A1 ： Fe indicated that the adsorption of arsenate and fluoride by A1- Fe （hydr）oxides was realized primarily through quantita- tive ligand exchange. Moreover, there was a very good correlation between the surface hydroxyl group densities of A1-Fe （hydr）oxides and their adsorption capacities for arsenate or fluoride. The highest adsorption capacity for arsenate and fluoride by 4A1 ： Fe is mainly ascribed to its highest surface hydroxyl group density besides its largest pHpzc. The dosage of adsorbent necessary to remove arsenate and fluoride to meet the drinking water standard was mainly determined by the presence of fluoride since fluoride was generally present in groundwater at much higher concentration than arsenate.     

Benzene removal by nano magnetic particles under continuous condition from aqueous solutions

Benzene removal evaluated using Fe304 nano continuous condition. A 44 initial benzene concentration, from aqueous solutions was magnetic particles （NM） in factorial design including NM dose, contact time and pH was investigated in 16 experiments （Taguchi OA design）. The results indicated that all factors were significant and the optimum condition was： pH 8, NM dose of 2000 mg.L-1, benzene concentrations of 100 mg.L-1 and contact time of 14min. The maximum benzene uptake and distribution ratio in the optimum situation were 49.4mg.g-1 and 38.4L.g-1, respectively. The nano particles were shown to capture 98.7% of the benzene in optimum batch condition and 94.5% in continuous condition. The isotherm data proved that the Bmnauer-Emmett-Teller model fit more closely and produced an isotherm constant （b） less than one, indicating favorable adsorption. Regeneration studies verified that the benzene adsorbed by the NM could be easily desorbed by temperature, and thereby, NM can be employed repeatedly in water and wastewater management.     

Recovery of NH 4 + by corn cob produced biochars and its potential application as soil conditioner

NH4^＋ ion, a main pollutant in aquatic systems, not only causes eutrophication in rivers and lakes but also contributes to fish toxicity. In this study, an eco-friendly biosorbent was prepared from the pyrolysis of corn cob, a low-cost agricultural residue. The biochars produced by pyrolysis of corn cob at 400℃ and 600℃ were characterized and investigated as adsorbents for NH4＋ -N from an aqueous solution. The biochars were characterized through elemental analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-N2 surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the NH4＋ adsorption process of the corn cob biochars. The Freundlich isotherm model fitted the adsorption process better than the Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. Moreover, the adsorption process was well described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Results of thermodynamic analysis suggested that adsorption was a nonspontaneous exothermic process. Biochars produced at 400℃ had higher adsorption capacity than those produced at 600℃ because of the presence of polar functional groups with higher acidity. The exhausted biochar can be potentially used as soil conditioner, which can provide 6.37 kg NH4＋-N-t^-1 （N fertilizer per ton of biochar）.     

Enhanced adsorption of phosphate by loading nanosized ferric oxyhydroxide on anion resin

Ferric oxyhydroxide loaded anion exchanger （FOAE） hybrid adsorbent was prepared by loading nanosized ferric oxyhydroxide （FO） on anion exchanger resin for the removal of phosphate from wastewater. TEM and XRD analysis confirmed the existence of FO on FOAE. After FO loading, the adsorption capacity of the hybrid adsorbent increased from 38.70 to 51.52mg.g-1. Adsorption processes for both FOAE and anion resin were better fit to the pseudo first order model. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that higher temperature （313K）, higher initial phosphate concentration （50 mg.L-1） and lower solution pH （pH value of 2） would be more propitious to phosphate adsorption. Competition effect of coexisting anions on phosphate removal can be concluded as sulfate 〉 nitrate 〉 chloride. Freundlich isotherm model can describe the adsorption of phosphate on FOAE more accurately, which indicated the heterogeneous adsorption occurred on the inner-surface of FOAE.     

Effects of phosphorus concentration on Cr（VI） sorption onto phosphorus-rich sludge biochar

To investigate effects of phosphorus content on Cr（VI） sorption onto phosphorus-rich biochar, sewage sludge of different phosphorus concentrations from 4 to 60 mg.g-1 by dry weight were prepared and carbonized to make biochar for batch sorption experiments. Test results revealed that different phosphorous concentration of raw sludge had respective impacts on surface area, pore surface area, average pore diameter and pH value of derived biochar. The adsorption kinetics of phosphorus-rich biochar could be described by the pseudo-second-order model. The sorption isotherm data followed Langmiur model better than Freundlich model. Biochar produced from sludge with phosphorus concentration of 20 mg. gl gave the largest chromium sorption capacity, which could be attributed to its largest surface area and pores surface area comparing with those of＇biochars from sludge with other phosphorus concentrations. The chromium loaded biochar was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction measurement. The results indicated that chemical functional groups hydroxyl and methyl on surface of biochar were involved in Cr（VI） binding and its reducing to Cr（III）. Then, a portion of Cr （III） in form of various phosphate precipitates was bound onto biochar surface and the rest was released into the solution. The experimental results suggested that phos- phorus played an important role in pore and surface area development of sludge biochar during pyrolytic process. It also could react with Cr（III） on the biochar surface that impacted on capacity of Cr（VI） removal from solution by sludge biochar. Therefore, phosphorus concentration in sludge should be considered when sludge pyrolytic residue would be reused for heavy metals sorbing.     

Removal of clofibric acid from aqueous solution by polyethylenimine-modified chitosan beads

Polyethylenimine （PEI）-modified chitosan was prepared and used to remove clofibric acid （CA） from aqueous solution. PEI was chemically grafted on the porous chitosan through a crosslinking reaction, and the effects of PEI concentration and reaction time in the preparation on the adsorption of clofibric acid were optimized. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） showed that PEI macromolecules were uniformly grafted on the porous chitosan, and the analysis of pore size distribution indicated that more mesopores were formed due to the crosslinking of PEI molecules in the macropores of chitosan. The PEI-modified chitosan had fast adsorption for CA within the initial 5 h, while this adsorbent exhibited an adsorption capacity of 349 mg· g^-1 for CA at pH 5.0 according to the Langmuir fitting, higher than 213 mg· g^-1 on the porous chitosan. The CA adsorption on the PEI- modified chitosan was pH-dependent, and the maximum adsorption was achieved at pH 4.0. Based on the surface charge analysis and comparison of different pharmaceu- ticals adsorption, electrostatic interaction dominated the sorption of CA on the PEI-modified chitosan. The PEI- modified chitosan has a potential application for the removal of some anionic rnicropollutants from water or wastewater.     

Effects of in situ biological treatments on heavy metal release of urban river sediment

A typical fiver in Yangzhou City was used to study the effects of artificial aeration, eco-brick cover, biological packing cover, and low-sited plant floating beds on the release of heavy metals from urban river sediments. This work showed that 1） the Cr release rate was decreased by 50.3%-89.6%, with an average of 59.3%, thereby reducing the Cr pollution load to the overlying water by 36.6%-82.7%, with an average of 53.3%; 2） the Zn release rate was reduced by 21.0%-88.9%, with an average of 42.3%, and the Zn pollution load of the overlying water was reduced by 38.0%-67.1%, with an average of 55.0%; 3） the Cu release rate was reduced by 27.5%-91.0%, with an average of 55.3%, and the Cu load of the overlying water was reduced by 57.1%-83.7%, with an average of 71.7%; 4） the Pb release rate was reduced by 11.8%- 79.3%, with an average of 41.2%, and the Pb pollution load of the overlying water was reduced by -1.3%-70.7%, with an average of 29.8%. We also found that the effects of in situ biological treatments on the release of heavy metals were affected by the extent of sediment disturbance. For integrated applications, high-disturbance treatments should be combined with low-disturbance treatments to reduce the explosive release of pollutants caused by sediment disturbance during the treatment operation to achieve better overall treatment effects.     

Electrochemical oxidation of humic acid at the antimony- and nickel-doped tin oxide electrode

This work investigated the degradation of humic acid （HA） in aqueous solution by electrochemical oxidation with Antimony- and Nickel-doped Tin oxide electrode （Ni-Sb-SnO2/Ti electrode） as the anode. Initial concentrations of HA ranged from 3 to 9 mg-L 1. Under such a concentration scope, the degradation of HA was a mass transfer controlled process. Degradation rate increased with the increase of HA initial concentration. Test on the effect of tert-butanol revealed that · OH played an important role in the oxidation of HA. The absence of cation Ca2＋ was beneficial to HA degradation, which suggested that both indirect and direct electrolyze happened during the whole electrochemical oxidation process. Alkaly （pH = 12） and neutral （pH = 7） conditions were benefical to HA degradation.     

Cadmium and lead toxicity and bioaccumulation in Microcystis aeruginosa

The growth of human population leads to intensification of agriculture and promotes, through eutrophication, development of cyanobacteria. One of the most widespread and bloom-forming species in freshwater is toxic Microcystis aeruginosa （M. aeruginosa）. Combustion of fossil fuels and metallurgical processes are the main sources of heavy metals contamination in surface water including cadmium （Cd） and lead （Pb）. The following study was conducted in order to determine the effect of 1- 20 mg. L-1 of Cd and Pb on photochemistry （using flow cytometry） and growth （based on chlorophyll concentra- tion） ofM. aeruginosa as well as to estimate levels of metal bioaccumulation. We have found that 1-10mg.L-1 of Cd and 1-5 rag. L1 of Pb induced continuous enhancement of chlorophyll fluorescence during 24 h of incubation. No significant degradation of chlorophyll was observed in these samples. At higher concentrations of 20 mg. L-1 of Cd and 10-20 mg.L-1 of Pb chlorophyll level significantly decreased and its fluorescence was quenched. M. aeruginosa demonstrated high capability of Cd and Pb bioaccumulation, proportionally to initial metal concentration. In samples with initial concentration of 20 mg. L-1 of Cd and Pb bioaccumulation of 87.3% and 90.1% was observed, respectively. Our study demonstrates that M. aeruginosa can potentially survive in highly metals polluted environments, be a primary source of toxic metals in the food chain and consequently contribute to enhanced toxicity of heavy metals to living organisms including human.     

Current status and developing trends of the contents of heavy metals in sewage sludges in China

It is essential to determine the heavy metal concentrations in sewage sludge to select appropriate disposal methods. We conducted a national survey of heavy metal concentrations of sewage sludge samples from 107 municipal sewage treatment plants located in 48 cities covering the 31 provinces and autonomous regions, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan by Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in 2006, and identified the temporal trends of heavy metal contents in sewage sludge by comparison with surveys conducted in 1994-2001. In 2006, the average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in sewage sludge were 20.2, 1.97, 93.1, 218.8, 2.13, 48.7, 72.3, and 1058mg.kg-1, respectively. Because of the decreased discharge of heavy metals into industrial wastewater in China and the increasingly stringent regulations governing the content of industrial wastes entering sewers, the average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn have decreased by 32.3%, 49.7%, 54.9%, 25.0%, 37.2%, 44.8%, and 27.0%, respectively, during the past 12 years. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the samples exceeded the heavy metal limits of the Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant in China （GB 18918-2002） by 6.5%, 3.7%, 6.5%, 6.5%, and 11.2%, respectively. From these results, 85 of the 107 municipal sludges analyzed would be considered suitable for land application.     

Interaction between peat, humic acid and aqueous metal ions

Analysis of peat samples from four regions of the British Isles indicates that the concentrations of Al, Pb and common transition metals tend, as expected, to be higher in regions subject to industrial pollution, but that the concentrations of the nontransition metals Na, K, Mg, Ca and Zn tend to be higher in regions remote from industrial pollution. Humic acids were extracted from the most polluted and least polluted of the peat samples and some characteristics of these acids were compared with those of two commercial acids. Values for stability constants of complexes formed between humic acids extracted from peat and Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ or Pb²⁺ have been obtained by an ionexchange equilibrium method. Of the three metal ions examined, Pb²⁺ was found to form the most stable humic acid complexes, followed by Cu²⁺: this order agrees with the findings of Irving and Williams and of Bunzl. Implications to the binding of actinide and other heavy metal ions in aqueous humic acid are discussed.     

Assessment of metals in dry-toilet collected matters from suburban areas of Ulaanbaatar,Mongolia, using biosolids quality guidelines and potential ecological risk index

Dry-toilet collected matter （DCM） from traditional dry-toilet pits are a potential health and ecological risk in suburban areas. In this study, the characteristics of metals in DCMs from suburban areas of Ulaanbaatar were surveyed. The results indicate that DCMs contain a high percentage of organic matter and nutrients, while heavy metals are at low levels, which shows good agricultural potential. The concentration ranges of Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 11±5, 46±9, 0.08±0.05, 9±3, 17±9, and 338±86mg·kg^-1, respectively. The concentration of Cd was below 0.5 mg.kgl, and a high positive relation was shown between chromium and nickel concentrations. The heavy metals in DCMs were safe for land application but Zn in DCMs was close to the effects range median （ERM）, which is toxic in some cases, such as amphipod bioassays. Because it is mandatory to treat DCMs to reduce pathogens, in the case of heavy metal enrichment and agricultural reuse, composting or pyrolysis are better choices than incinera- tion. Compared with global soil background values, the heavy metals in DCMs showed a low level of ecological risk, but a medium level when compared with Mongolian soil background values. The ecological risk of six heavy metals was in the descending order Hg 〉 Cu 〉 Zn 〉 Pb 〉 Ni 〉 Cr and the contribution rate of Hg exceeded 60%.     

腐殖酸存在下镉和铅对土壤脱氢酶活性的影响

采用室内培养试验研究Cd和Pb污染红壤添加不同组分腐殖酸后,其脱氢酶活性的变化,结果表明,红壤遭受镉和铅污染后,脱氢酶活性显著降低,然而腐殖酸特别是胡敏酸的存在能够使脱氢酶活性得到显著回升,说明腐殖酸与重金属的相互作用对重金属污染土壤微生物活性的改善和修复功能,对土壤有一定的去污降毒作用.不同腐殖酸组分的效应大小为:灰色胡敏酸(GHA)>棕色胡敏酸(BHA)>富里酸(FA),表明分子量愈大、芳构化程度愈高的腐殖酸组分,其对重金属的钝化愈强,从而解除土壤重金属对生物毒害的能力愈强.     

褐煤经磺化及碱化处理对重金属离子吸附性能研究

褐煤经磺化和碱化处理对褐煤吸附重金属的性能影响显著,通过对金属离子Ｃｕ＾２＋,Ｐｂ＾２＋,Ｚｎ＾２＋,Ｃｄ＾２＋,Ｎｉ＾２＋的单组分或多组分溶液进行吸附研究,对比了吸附速率、吸附容量、吸附选择性、耐酸性以及抗干扰能力等方面的差异,探讨了磺化褐煤和碱化褐煤对重金属离子的吸附机理,指出了今后的研究方向。