Iron and organo-bentonite for the reduction and sorption of trichloroethylene

Hybrid barriers using dechlorination and immobilization were studied to remove trichloroethylene (TCE) in this study. Hybrid barriers of iron filings and organo (hexadecyltrimethylammonium, HDTMA)-bentonite were simulated in columns to assess the performance of the hybrid barriers. TCE reduction rate for the mixture of zero valent iron (ZVI) and HDTMA-bentonite was approximately seven times higher than that for ZVI, suggesting the reduction of TCE was accelerated when HDTMA-bentonite was mixed with ZVI. For the column of two separate layers of iron and HDTMA-bentonite, TCE reduction rate was nearly similar to that for ZVI alone, but the partition coefficient (Kd) was 4.5 times higher than that for ZVI only. TCE was immobilized in the first layer with HDTMA-bentonite due to sorption, and then dechlorinated in the second layer with iron filings due to reduction. The HDTMA-bentonite and minimally-desorbed HDTMA from the organo-bentonite are believed to contribute the increase in TCE concentration on iron surface so that more TCE could be available for reduction. Therefore, the incorporation of HDTMA-bentonite into ZVI not only can effectively retard the transport of chlorinated organic contaminants from landfill leachate or oil shock in subsurface environment, also can expedite the reduction rate of TCE.     

Pressurized CO2/zero valent iron system for nitrate removal

A fluidized zero valent iron (ZVI) reactor pressurized by CO(2) gas for controlling pH was employed for nitrate reduction. The proposed CO(2) pressurized system potentially has advantages of using less CO(2) gas and reaching equilibrium pH faster than CO(2)-bubbled system. However, due to weak acid nature of carbonic acid, system pH gradually increased with increasing oxidation of ZVI and reduction of nitrate. As pH increased with progress of reaction, nitrate removal rate decreased continuously. The results indicate that nitrate removal efficiency increases with increasing initial ZVI dosage but reaches plateau at ZVI doses of higher than 8.25gl(-1), and initial nitrate concentration up to 100mg l(-1) as N has minimal impact on the removal efficiency. Unlike the fluidized system with pH control by strong acid reported in our pervious study, near 100% of nitrogen recovery was observed in the current process, indicating that nitrate reduction by ZVI with different pH controlled mechanisms will have different reaction routes.     

Chromate transport through columns packed with surfactant-modified zeolite/zero valent iron pellets

Chromate transport through columns packed with zeolite/zero valent iron (Z/ZVI) pellets, either untreated or treated with the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA), was studied at different flow rates. In the presence of sorbed HDTMA, the chromate retardation factor increased by a factor of five and the pseudo first-order rate constant for chromate reduction increased by 1.5-5 times. The increase in rate constant from the column studies was comparable to a six-fold increase in the rate constant determined in a batch study. At a fast flow rate, the apparent delay in chromate breakthrough from the HDTMA modified Z/ZVI columns was primarily caused by the increase in chromate reduction rate constant. In contrast, at a slower flow rate, the retardation in chromate transport from the HDTMA modified Z/ZVI columns mainly originated from chromate sorption onto the HDTMA modified Z/ZVI pellets. Due to dual porosity, the presence of immobile water was responsible for the earlier breakthrough of chromate in columns packed with zeolite and Z/ZVI pellets. The results from this study further confirm the role of HDTMA in enhancing sorption and reduction efficiency of contaminants in groundwater remediation.     

Effect of surfactant alkyl chain length on soil cadmium desorption using surfactant/ligand systems

The effect of surfactant alkyl chain length on soil Cd desorption was studied using nonionic surfactants of polyethylene oxide (PEO) of PEO chain lengths of 7.5 (Triton X-114), 9.5 (Triton X-100), 30 (Triton X-305), or 40 units (Triton X-405) in combination with the I- ligand. Triplicate 1 g soil samples were equilibrated with 15 ml of surfactant-ligand mixture, at concentrations of 0.025, 0.50 or 0.10, and 0.0, 0.168 or 0.336 mol/l, respectively. After shaking the samples for 24 h, the supernatant fraction was analyzed for Cd content to determine the percent of Cd desorbed from the soil. After five successive washings, 53%, 40% and 25% of Cd had been desorbed by 0.025, 0.050 or 0.10 mol/l of Triton X-114, respectively, in the presence of 0.336 mol/l of I-, whereas with the same conditions, Triton X-100 desorbed 61%, 57% and 56% Cd and either Triton X-305 or Triton X-405 desorbed 51, 40 and 14 to 16% Cd. The most efficient Cd desorption was obtained using 0.025 mol/l Triton X-100 in admixture with 0.336 mol/l I-. Increased surfactant concentration was detrimental to Cd desorption consistent with a process that blocked ligand access to the soil particle surface. After 5 washings,the cumulative cadmium desorption decreased with increasing surfactant alkyl chain length, indicating that the metal-ligand complexes are preferably stabilized by the micelles' hydrophobic octyl phenyl (OP) group rather than by the hydrophilic PEO group. In the absence of ligand, the surfactants alone desorbed less than 1% Cd from the contaminated soil, suggesting that the ligand, rather than the surfactant, extracts the metal, to be subsequently stabilized within the surfactant micelles.     

Effects of nonionic and ionic surfactants on survival, oxidative stress, and cholinesterase activity of planarian

Eight widely used surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; CTAB, benzethonium chloride; Hyamine 1622, 4-nonylphenol; NP, octylphenol ethoxylate; Triton X-100, dodecylbenzene sulfonate; LAS, lauryl sulfate; SDS, pentadecafluorooctanoic acid; PFOA, and perfluorooctane sulfonate; PFOS) were selected to examine their acute toxicities and effects on oxidative stress and cholinesterase (ChE) activities in Dugesia japonica. The differences in acute toxicity among eight surfactants to planarians were at least in the range of three orders of magnitudes. The toxicity rank of surfactants according to estimated 48-h LC(50) was SDS>NP>LAS>Hyamine 1622>CTAB>Triton X-100>PFOS>PFOA. The toxicity rank of surfactants according to 96-h LC(50) was as follows: SDS>CTAB>NP>LAS>Hyamine 1622>Triton X-100>PFOS>PFOA. There were significant increases in catalase activities in planarians exposed to LAS at nominal concentrations of 0.5 or 1 mgl(-1) and to PFOS at nominal concentrations of 5 or 10 mgl(-1) after 48-h exposure. Inhibitions of ChE activities were found in planarians exposed to Hyamine 1622 at all concentrations tested, to PFOS at nominal concentration of 10 mgl(-1), to PFOA at nominal concentrations of 50 or 100 mgl(-1) and to NP at nominal concentration of 0.5 mgl(-1). A significant increase in ChE activities was also observed in planarian exposed to Triton X-100 at nominal concentration of 5 mgl(-1). The implication of ChE inhibition by NP, PFOS and PFOA on neurological and behavioral effects in aquatic animals requires further investigation.     

A comparative study of adsorption of an anionic and a non-ionic surfactant by soils based on physicochemical and mineralogical properties of soils

In the present work we performed a comparative study on the adsorption of the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) (anionic), and octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-100) (non-ionic) to 18 soils with organic matter (OM) and clay fraction contents varying over a broad range. The objective of the study was to gain further insight into the influence of the physicochemical and mineralogical properties of soils on the adsorption of surfactants by soils. Adsorption isotherms were obtained using concentrations below the critical micellar concentration (cmc) of the surfactants. The adsorption coefficients, Kf, determined from the Freundlich equation were lower for SDS (range 1.77-82.1, mean value 36.3) than for Triton X-100 (range 0.01-913, mean value 257). Simple and multiple correlation coefficients were obtained between Kf values and soil characteristics. The results obtained indicate the influence of the OM content on the adsorption of SDS (r=0.64, p<0.01) and of the clay fraction content on that of Triton X-100 (r=0.83, p<0.001). Additionally, we observed a preferential adsorption of SDS by the 1:1 mineral kaolinite (r=0.54, p<0.05), while Triton X-100 was adsorbed mainly by the 2:1 minerals, montmorillonite (r=0.66, p<0.01) and illite (r=0.87, p<0.001). According to the influence of different soil parameters on adsorption, different mechanisms of adsorption are proposed for each surfactant. Our findings point to the interest of considering the physicochemical properties of soils and also the mineralogy of the soil clay fraction when selecting a surfactant in technologies involving enhanced solubilization and removal of contaminants from soils and sediments.     

The estimation of PAH bioavailability in contaminated sediments using hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and Triton X-100 extraction techniques

A study was conducted to investigate whether cyclodextrins and surfactants can be used to predict polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) bioavailability in contaminated sediments. Two sediment samples were extracted with aqueous solutions of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and Triton X-100. PAH removal during extraction was compared with PAH removal during biodegradation and solid-phase extraction. The latter two methods were used as reference methods to establish which part of the PAHs could be biodegraded and to what extent biodegradation was governed by bioavailability limitations. It was demonstrated that HPCD extraction followed solid-phase extraction and removed primarily readily bioavailable PAHs, while Triton X-100 extracted both readily and poorly bioavailable PAHs. Moreover, HPCD did not affect the degradation of PAHs in biodegradation experiments, while Triton X-100 enhanced the degradation of low molecular weight PAHs. It was concluded that HPCD extraction may provide a good method for the prediction of PAH bioavailability. Triton X-100 extraction is unfit for the prediction of PAH bioavailability.     

零价铁修复受三氯乙烯污染地下水的实验研究

通过批实验和柱实验研究了三氯乙烯（TCE）初始浓度、四氯乙烯(PCE)等对零价铁去除三氯乙烯的影响,并建立了三氯乙烯降解的反应动力学方程。结果表明：（1）零价铁对TCE具有较好的降解效果,反应符合准一级反应动力学方程,表观反应速率常数随TCE浓度的增加而减小;（2）在铁粉充足的条件下,TCE初始浓度对降解效果影响不显著,且TCE去除率皆可达到90%以上;（3）PCE的存在抑制了TCE的脱氯反应。PCE和TCE共存时,TCE的最大去除率仅为64.2%;TCE脱氯反应的表观反应速率明显降低,反应半衰期由TCE单独存在时的6.8～9.7 h增大到66 h～346.5 h。     

Synergistic solubilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by mixed anionic-nonionic surfactants

Water solubility enhancements of naphthalene (Naph), acenaphthylene (Acen), anthracene (An), phenanthrene (Phen) and pyrene (Py) by micellar solutions of single and mixed anionic-nonionic surfactants were measured and compared. Effects of typical inorganic ions, such as NH(4)(+), Na(+) and Mg(2+) coexisted with the organic pollutants (in soils) on water solubilities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the presence of single and mixed surfactants were also investigated. Solubilities of PAHs in water are greatly enhanced in a linear fashion by each of Triton X-100 (TX100), Triton X-305 (TX305), Brij 35, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Solubility enhancement efficiencies of surfactants above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) follow the order of TX100>Brij 35>TX305>SDS. PAHs are solubilized synergistically in mixed anionic-nonionic surfactant solutions, especially at low surfactant concentrations. The synergistic power of the mixed surfactants is SDS-TX305>SDS-Brij 35>SDS-TX100. Synergistic effect of a given mixed-surfactant solution on different PAHs also appears to be linearly related to the solute logK(ow). The noted synergism for the mixed surfactants is attributed to the formation of mixed micelles, the lower CMC of the mixed-surfactant solutions, and the increase of the solute's molar solubilization ratio or micellar partition coefficients (K(mc)) because of the lower polarity of the mixed micelles. Suitable quantity of inorganic cations can enhance the solubilization capacities of anionic-nonionic mixed surfactants, the effect being Mg(2+)>NH(4)(+)>Na(+). The water solubility of pyrene was slightly increased by anthracene and significantly increased by 1,2,3-TCB in the presence of SDS-Brij 35. Mixed surfactants may improve the performance of surfactant-enhanced remediation of soils and sediments by decreasing the applied surfactant level and thus the remediation cost.     

Surfactant-enhanced oxidation of trichloroethylene by permanganate--proof of concept

Oxidative dechlorination of chlorinated solvents by permanganate is an emerging technology for remediation of groundwater contaminated with dissolved chlorinated contaminants. In this study, the enhancement of trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation by permanganate in aqueous solution in the presence of surfactant was evaluated through a continuous stir batch reactor system with the presence of permanganate as the limiting reagent and free phase TCE. The TCE degradation was determined by continuous monitoring the amount of chloride produced, which was then reverted to the rate of permanganate consumption. It was found that the chloride production, an indication of TCE degradation, followed a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics with respect to KMnO(4) in the presence of free phase TCE. When no surfactants were present, the observed pseudo-first-order rate constant (k(obs)) was 0.08-0.19 min(-1) and the half-life (t(1/2)) was 4-9 min for MnO(4)(-). When the surfactant concentration was less than its critical micelle concentration (CMC), the k(obs) values increased to 0.42-0.46 min(-1) and the t(1/2) reduced to 1.5-1.7 min for MnO(4)(-). As the surfactant concentration was greater than the CMC, the k(obs) values increased to 0.56-0.58 min(-1) and the t(1/2) reduced to 1.2-1.3 min. The preliminary results showed that combination of permanganate with a proper type of surfactant can speed up contaminant removal.     

不同洗脱剂对有机氯农药污染场地土壤修复效果比较

为了筛选出能有效修复有机氯农药污染土壤的洗脱剂,选取了16种洗脱剂对2种复合有机氯农药(六六六(HCHs)和滴滴涕(DDTs)、氯丹和灭蚁灵)污染场地土壤进行超声洗脱修复。结果表明,对于HCHs和DDTs复合污染土壤,乙酸乙酯和丙酮对HCHs的洗脱率最高,分别为87.6%和87%,其余有机溶剂对其洗脱率也在70%以上。乙酸乙酯和丙酮对于DDT仍为最优,分别为86.9%与78.4%,其余有机试剂对DDT的洗脱率在60%以上。相对于有机溶剂,表面活性剂对HCHs和DDTs复合污染土壤的洗脱效果不好,总洗脱率均低于4%。同样,对于氯丹和灭蚁灵复合污染土壤,有机溶剂的洗脱效果也明显优于表面活性剂。有机溶剂对灭蚁灵的洗脱率,除了正丙醇较低(63.5%)外,其余均在80%左右。对氯丹的洗脱率,除石油醚(59.6%)、正己烷(49.3%)和正丙醇(42%),其余均在70%以上。相同摩尔浓度的表面活性剂中,吐温80对氯丹的洗脱率为54%,环糊精为20%,鼠李糖脂和曲拉通100为13%左右,其余则小于5%,吐温80对灭蚁灵的洗脱率为29.6%,曲拉通100的为12.4%,鼠李糖脂为5.7%,其余则更低。因此,高效低毒的有机试剂,如乙酸乙酯、丙酮和乙醇等可作为有机氯农药污染土壤修复的首选。     

Effect of nonionic surfactant partitioning on the dissolution kinetics of residual perchloroethylene in a model porous medium

At concentrations above the critical micelle concentration, surfactants can significantly enhance the solubilization of residual nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPL) and, for this reason, are the focus of research on surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR). As a consequence of their amphiphilic nature, surfactants may also partition to various extents between the organic and aqueous phases, thereby affecting SEAR performance. We report here on the observation and analysis of the effect of surfactant partitioning on the dissolution kinetics of residual perchloroethylene (PCE) by aqueous solutions (1000 mg/L) of the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 in a model porous medium. For this fluid system, batch equilibration experiments showed that the surfactant partitions strongly into the NAPL (NAPL-water partition coefficient equal to 12.5). Dynamic interfacial tension (IFT) measurements were employed to study surfactant diffusion and interfacial adsorption. The dynamic IFT measurements were consistent with partitioning of the surfactant between the two liquid phases. PCE dissolution experiments, conducted in a transparent glass micromodel using an aqueous surfactant solution, were contrasted to experiments using clean water. Surfactant partitioning was observed to delay significantly the onset of micellar solubilization of PCE, an observation reproduced by a numerical model. This effect is attributed to the reduction of surfactant concentration in the immediate vicinity of the NAPL-water interface, which accompanies transport of the surfactant into the NAPL. Accordingly, it is suggested that both the rate and the extent of diffusion of the surfactant into the NAPL affect the onset of and the driving force for micellar solubilization. While many surfactants do not readily partition in NAPL, this possibility must be considered when selecting non-ionic surfactants for the enhanced solubilization of residual chlorinated solvents in porous media.     

Comparative study of H(2)O(2) and O3 effects on radiation treatment of TCE and PCE

The effects of H(2)O(2) and O(3) on the decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) by gamma-rays (gamma-rays) were investigated in this work. The combined gamma-rays/O(3) process showed a synergistic effect and enhanced the removal of TCE and PCE compared with gamma-rays alone, but, the gamma-rays/H(2)O(2) process did not increase the removal. This interesting result was successfully identified by an electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy/spin-trapping method that can quantify hydroxyl radicals, which is directly related to the efficiency of TCE and PCE decomposition. For gamma-rays/H(2)O(2) system, there was no difference of hydroxyl radical production between gamma-rays alone and gamma-rays/H(2)O(2). This indicates gamma-rays cannot activate H(2)O(2) to produce hydroxyl radicals and this causes no increase of TCE and PCE removals. To the contrary, the production of hydroxyl radicals was obviously increased in the case of gamma-rays/O(3) process. This suggests additional hydroxyl radicals are produced from the reaction of O(3) with the irradiation products of water such as hydrated electrons, hydrogen atoms, etc. and this accelerates the removal of TCE and PCE.     

An in situ study of the effect of nitrate on the reduction of trichloroethylene by granular iron

The effect of nitrate on the reduction of TCE by commercial granular iron was investigated in column experiments designed to allow for the in situ monitoring of the iron surface film with Raman spectroscopy. Three column experiments were conducted; one with an influent solution of 100 mg/l nitrate+1.5 mg/l TCE, and two control columns, one saturated directly with 100 mg/l nitrate solution, the other pre-treated with Millipore water prior to the introduction of a 100 mg/l nitrate solution. In the presence of nitrate, TCE adsorbed onto the iron, but there was little TCE reduction to end-products ethene and ethane. The iron used (Connelly, GPM, Chicago) is a product typical of those used in permeable granular iron walls. The material is covered by an air-formed high-temperature oxidation film, consisting of an inner layer of Fe(3)O(4), and an outer, passive layer of Fe(2)O(3). In the control column pre-treated with Millipore water, the passive Fe(2)O(3) layer was removed upon contact with the water in a manner consistent with an autoreduction reaction. In the TCE+nitrate column and the direct nitrate saturation column, nitrate interfered with the removal of the passive layer and maintained conditions such that high valency protective corrosion species, including Fe(2)O(3) and FeOOH, were stable at the iron surface. The lack of TCE reduction is explained by the presence of these species, as they inhibit both mechanisms proposed for TCE reduction by iron, including catalytic hydrogenation, and direct electron transfer.     

Solubilization of DNAPLs by mixed surfactant: reduction in partitioning losses of nonionic surfactant

Efforts to remediate the dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) by mobilizing them face with risks of driving the contaminants deeper into aquifer zones. This spurs research for modifying the approach for in situ remediation. In this paper, a novel solubilization of DNAPLs by mixed nonionic and anionic surfactant, Triton X-100 (TX100) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), was presented and compared with those by single ones. Given 1:40 phase ratio of DNAPL:water (v/v) and the total surfactant concentration from 0.2 to 10gl(-1), mixed TX100-SDBS at the total mass ratios of 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 exhibited significant solubilization for the DNAPLs, trichloroethene (TCE), chlorobenzene (CB) and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB). The solubilization extent by mixed TX100-SDBS was much larger than by single TX100 and even larger than by single SDBS at the ratios of 1:1 and 1:3, respectively. TX100 partitioning into the organic phase dictated the solubilization extent. The TX100 losses into TCE, CB and 1,2-DCB phases were more than 99%, 97% and 97% when single TX100 was used. With SDBS alone, no SDBS partitioned into DNAPLs was observed and in mixed systems, SDBS decreased greatly the partition loss of TX100 into DNAPLs. The extent of TX100 partition decreased with increasing the amount of SDBS. The mechanism for reduction of TX100 partition was discussed. TX100 and SDBS formed mixed micelles in the solution phase. The inability of SDBS to partition into DNAPLs and the mutual affinity of SDBS and TX100 in the mixed micelle controlled the partitioning of TX100 into DNAPL phase. The work presented here demonstrates that mixed nonionic-anionic surfactants would be preferred over single surfactants for solubilization remediation of DNAPLs, which could avoid risks of driving the contaminants deeper into aquifers and decrease the surfactant loss and remediation cost.     

零价铁与厌氧微生物协同还原地下水中的硝基苯

通过间歇式实验,考察了零价铁与厌氧微生物协同还原地下水中硝基苯的效果。实验结果表明,由零价铁腐蚀为厌氧微生物提供H2电子供体还原硝基苯的效果明显优于零价铁和微生物单独作用,硝基苯去除率分别提高21.8%和57.0%。弱酸性条件有利于协同反应进行,当初始pH为5.0和6.0时,4 d后硝基苯去除率比初始pH为7.0时的提高74.4%和35.2%。增加零价铁投加量可提高协同还原的效果,零价铁最佳投加量为250 mg/L。零价铁腐蚀产生的Fe2+无法作为电子供体被微生物利用,但可作为无机营养元素促进协同过程。由于零价铁产H2速率受表面覆盖物影响不明显,在地下水修复过程中可保证协同效果并延长零价铁的使用寿命。     

Influence of synthetic surfactants on the uptake of Pd, Cd and Pb by the marine macroalga, Ulva lactuca

Uptake of Pd, Cd and Pb by the marine macroalga, Ulva lactuca, has been studied in the presence of an anionic (sodium dodecyl sulphate, SDS), cationic (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide; HDTMA) and non-ionic (Triton X-100; TX) surfactant. Compared with the surfactant-free system, metal sorption was reduced in the presence of SDS or TX. Neither surfactant, however, had any measurable impact on cell membrane permeability, determined by leakage of dissolved free amino acids (DFAA), or on metal internalisation. We attribute these observations to the stabilisation of aqueous Cd and Pb by SDS and the shielding of otherwise amenable sorption sites by TX. Presence of HDTMA resulted in a reduction in the extent of both sorption and internalisation of all metals and a significant increase in the leakage of DFAA. Thus, by enhancing membrane permeability, HDTMA exerts the greatest influence on metal behaviour in the presence of U. lactuca.     

Microwave-induced nanoscale zero-valent iron degradation of perchloroethylene and pentachlorophenol

Microwave (MW) is applied to enhance perchloroethylene (PCE) or pentachlorophenol (PCP) removal using zero-valent iron (ZVI; Fe⁰) as the dielectric medium. ZVI has a much higher dielectric loss factor (39.5) than other media; it is capable of absorbing MW radiation rapidly to speed up the release of electrons, leading to rises of the ZVI particle surface temperature. If the MW power is continued, excessive electricity will accumulated inside ZVI particles, resulting in sparks. The results show that during the initial 5 sec (700 W), the linear aliphatic PCE has a faster decomposing rate than the ringed PCP (82.0% vs. 4.8%) because less energy is required for decomposing the linear-chlorine bond (90 kcal mol^?1) than ring-chlorine bonds (95 kcal mol^?1). Later, the removal rate for either PCE or PCP remains the same when the exposure time is between 5 and 60 sec. Without MW irradiation, linear PCE molecules have larger surface area to contact ZVI, and hence they have better removal efficiencies than PCP molecules. Using Fe⁰ as a microwave dielectric medium to treat PCE or PCP is a new and worthwhile treatment technology; it is environmentally friendly, and its use will eliminate the secondary pollution.

Implications Nanoscale iron particles are characterized by high surface-area-to-volume ratios, high specific surface area, and high surface reactivity. With a much higher dielectric loss factor, it is capable of absorbing MW radiation rapidly to speed up the release of electrons, leading to rise in temperature. The time needed to achieve a satisfactory treatment is also reduced, leading to significant saving of energy consumption to make this method cost-effective and also environmentally friendly for the industry to pursuit sustainable development.     

Alkylphenol polyethoxylate removal in a pilot-scale reed bed and phenotypic characterization of the aerobic heterotrophic community.

The removal of the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100, dosed at 30 and 300 mg/L in a pilot-scale subsurface horizontal flow reed bed, and the aerobic heterotrophic cultivable community associated with the roots and with the substrate gravel in both absence and presence of Triton X-100 were investigated. t-Octylphenol (OP) and its mono-, di- and tri-ethoxyl derivatives, among others, were found in the outlet. A mass balance allowed us to calculate that approximately 40% of the Triton X-100 metabolites OP and octylphenol polyethoxylate derivatives flowed out of the reed bed during the dosage and postdosage experiments. More aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms adhered to the roots than to the gravel. The appearance of new strains (Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, and Aquaspirillum) and the increased presence of others (Pseudomonas) during the dosage of Triton may be linked to the capacity of these bacteria to adapt to the presence of the surfactant or to use it as a nourishment.     

Removal of thiobencarb in aqueous solution by zero valent iron

A cost-effective method with zero valent iron (ZVI) powder was developed for the purification of thiobencarb (TB)-contaminated water. The removal treatment was performed in the batch system. A sample solution of 10 ml containing 10 microg ml(-1) of TB could be almost completely treated by 100mg of ZVI at 25 degrees C for 12h of treatment time. Since the formation of chloride ion in the aqueous solution during the treatment of TB was observed, the removal of TB with ZVI may contain two processes: reduction (degradation) and adsorption. Because the present treatment for TB is simple, easy handling and cheap, the developed technology with ZVI can contribute to the treatment of agricultural wastewaters.