Equilibrium sorption of gaseous organic chemicals to fiber filters used for aerosol studies

Fiber filters commonly used to collect aerosols for various analyses also collect gaseous organic chemicals during sampling. These sorbed chemicals can lead to serious artifacts, particularly when analyzing aerosols for organic compounds and organic carbonaceous material. To date, this sorption process has only been looked at for a few types of filters and compound classes. This work presents a comprehensive study of this sorption process for various, widely used fiber filters and a broad variety of compound classes. Furthermore, important factors have been investigated, including relative humidity, temperature, baking and exposure to ambient air during sampling. From these data, poly-parameter linear-free energy relationships were derived that allow for estimations of sorption constants of gaseous organic compounds on different filter types. Based on the results, recommendations are provided to help predict, minimize and ensure reproducibility of artifacts caused by gaseous organic compounds sorbing to fiber filters.     

Equilibrium sorption of phenanthrene by soil humic acids

This study investigated the effect of chemical heterogeneity of humic acids (HAs) on the equilibrium sorption of phenanthrene by HA extracts. Six HA samples were extracted from three different soils with 0.5 M NaOH and 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ and were characterized with elemental analysis, infrared spectrometry, and solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. The equilibrium sorption measurements were carried out with a batch technique and using the six HA solids as the sorbents and phenanthrene as the sorbate. The measured sorption isotherm data were fitted to the Freundlich equation. The results showed that, for the same soil, (i) the total HA mass extracted with Na₄P₂O₇ was 13.7–22.6% less than that extracted with NaOH, (ii) the Na₄P₂O₇-extracted HA had higher O/C atomic ratio, greater content of polar organic carbons (POC), and lower aliphatic carbon content than the NaOH-extracted HA, and (iii) the Na₄P₂O₇-extracted HA exhibited greater sorption isotherm linearity and but not dramatic difference in sorption capacities than the NaOH extracted HA. The differences in the HA properties resulting from the two different extraction methods may be because NaOH can hydrolyze insoluble HA fractions such as fatty acid like macromolecules bound on soils whereas Na₄P₂O₇ could not. As a result, the HAs extracted with the two different methods had different polarity and functionality which affected their sorption property for phenanthrene.     

Simultaneous sorption of lead and chlorobenzene by organobentonite

Clays or organoclays have been used as a barrier to prevent the transport of hazardous contaminants in landfills. However, clays are known to effectively sorb mostly inorganic contaminants, while organoclays are mainly used for organic contaminants. Since the organoclays are basically clay particles modified with cationic surfactants, there might exist an optimal coverage of cationic surfactant on the clay particles to sorb both inorganic and organic contaminants. In order to determine the optimal mass of cationic surfactants on the bentonites, sodium bentonites were treated with various ratios of hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) to bentonites. Chlorobenzene and lead were selected as representative contaminants. When either chlorobenzene or lead exists as a single contaminant, chlorobenzene sorption increased with increasing HDTMA to bentonite ratios, and lead sorption decreased with increasing HDTMA to bentonite ratios. Sorption of chlorobenzene was a function of HDTMA coverage on the bentonites, while lead sorption was much more influenced by the initial lead concentration rather than the mass of HDTMA added to the bentonites.     

Pilot-scale studies on the treatment of tannery effluents by electroflotation

A pilot-scale electroflotation system with a treatment capacity of 0.8 m³ per hour has been designed and built. The system is equipped with a conditioning tank, a rectifier, flow meters, an energy meter and pumps. Iron, aluminium and titanium coated with oxides of tantalum, ruthenium and iridium were used as electrodes. The system was installed within the premises of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), which receives effluents from nearly 200 tanneries. The effectiveness of electroflotation for the separation of suspended solids, sulphur species, chromium and other chemicals contributing to COD and BOD were studied. The separation of suspended solids and chromium by electroflotation was nearly complete (>95%) and their concentration in the processed samples can be maintained well below the discharge limits. The removal of COD was observed to be 15–20% greater than with conventional chemical coagulation. Furthermore, the entire spectrum of pathogenic bacteria was eliminated to the extent of 99.97% by subjecting the effluent to electroflotation.     

壳聚糖Pb2+螯合吸附剂的性能表征

用先印迹和后印迹方法制备了2种壳聚糖Pb2+螯合吸附剂(Pb-TMCS和TMCS-Pb),考察了吸附剂对 Pb2+的吸附性能。利用扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、傅里叶红外光谱(FT-IR)和X 射线能谱仪 (EDS)对吸附前后的Pb-TMCS,TMCS-Pb及壳聚糖(CS)分别进行形貌、结构及组成的表征。结果表明, 与TMCS-Pb和CS相比,先印迹方法制备的Pb-TMCS对Pb2+的吸附容量最大,可达45.38 mg/g;表面更加粗糙;包覆了磁性物质Fe3O4,具有磁性,能够迅速从吸附后的溶液中分离出来;对Pb2+的吸附机理是—NH2、—OH和CS与Pb2+发生了螯合反应;先印迹能留下更多印迹空穴,对Pb2+的吸附选择性更好。     

Physico-chemical treatments for the complete removal of non-ionic surfactants from effluents

Adsorption isotherms for a selection of non-ionic surfactants on activated carbons indicated the effectiveness of the latter in the removal of these pollutants from secondary effluents. The removal efficiencies were found to be improved when the secondary effluent was first flocculated with ferric chloride. This effectively removed some 80% of the non-ionic surfactant in the effluent. Batch adsorption experiments with powdered activated carbon removed 97% of the surfactant at low carbon dosage. A granular carbon with the best adsorption capacity was selected for continuous-flow operation in which non-ionic surfactants, COD and anionic surfactant alkyl benzene sulphonate were monitored. The breakthrough capacity for the non-ionic surfactants was in excess of 6000 bed volumes throughput of flocculated, sand-filtered effluent in a laboratory scale carbon column. Such a procedure is suggested for the complete removal of such pollutants from effluents.     

Sequential sorption of lead and cadmium in three tropical soils

It is important to examine mechanisms of Pb and Cd sorption in soils to understand their bioavailability. The ability of three tropical soils to retain Pb, Cd, and Ca was evaluated. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the extent to which soil sorption sites are metal specific, (2) investigate the nature of reactions between metals and soil surfaces, and (3) identify how metals compete for sorption sites when they are introduced to soils sequentially or concurrently. Lead was shown to be much less exchangeable than Cd and inhibited Cd sorption. Cadmium had little effect on Pb sorption, though both Ca and Cd inhibited the adsorption of Pb at exchange sites. Lead appears to more readily undergo inner-sphere surface complexation with soil surface functional groups than either Cd or Ca. Thus, regardless of when Pb is introduced to a soil, it should be less labile than Cd.     

Predictions of binary sorption isotherms for the sorption of heavy metals by pine bark using single isotherm data

The adsorption of three heavy metal ions by pine bark was studied. The study was divided into two parts; single component adsorption of the metals Cu2+, Cd2+ and Ni2+ and bisolute adsorption of the three binary systems Cu2+-Cd2+, Cu2+-Ni2+ and Cd2+-Ni2+. Extended Langmuir model, extended Freundlich model. Sips model and ideal adsorption solution theory (IAST) models were used to predict the equilibrium uptake for Cu2+, Cd2+ and Ni2+ in the binary diluted solutions using the single adsorption constants. The experimental data of single isotherm adsorption process were found to follow Langmuir isotherm model with less accuracy than Freundlich and Sips models. Whereas, the predictions of bisolute adsorption isotherms of the mentioned three systems, Cu2+-Cd2+, Cu2+-Ni2+ and Cd2+-Ni2+, showed good agreement with experimental data when using Extended-Langmuir, Extended-Freundlich and IAST. However, the only good fit of the Sips model was with the Cu2+-Cd2+ system.     

Phenol removal from high salinity effluents using Fenton's reagent and photo-Fenton reactions

The removal of pollutants in saline medium by the Fenton's reagent needs a more detailed investigation, since the presence of chloride may inhibit or retard degradation. Phenol was used as a model pollutant and the influence of some important process variables for the removal of total organic carbon and phenol were investigated, such as FeSO4 and H2O2 concentrations, pH and salinity. The reactivity of iron cations and alternative procedures of applying UV radiation (photo-Fenton) were evaluated. Phenol was fast and completely removed by the Fenton's process even in a high saline medium (50,000mg NaCll(-1)). However, TOC was only moderately or poorly removed in saline media, depending on the salt concentration. When the photo-Fenton process was used, mineralization was improved and high TOC removals were observed in moderately saline media (NaCl concentration < or =10,000mgl(-1)). For the highest NaCl concentration tested (50,000mgl(-1)) only a moderate TOC removal was observed (50%).     

Effect of lead on the sorption of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol on soil and peat

The effect of lead on the sorption of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) on soil and peat was investigated using a batch equilibration method. Lead markedly diminished the sorption of 2,4,6-TCP, and 2,4,6-TCP had little effect on lead sorption. Peat was a more effective adsorbent for 2,4,6-TCP than soil. The desorption hysteresis of 2,4,6-TCP verified the presence of high-energy sorption sites. Mechanisms of lead suppression effect on the 2,4,6-TCP sorption included the following: Firstly, lead accelerated the aggregation of colloids, the aggregates covered the surface in part and shrunk the pore sizes of the adsorbents, hence decreased the sorption of 2,4,6-TCP. Secondly, X-ray absorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study suggested that lead competed with 2,4,6-TCP for carboxylic, phenolic and Si-OH groups of organic matter and clay minerals. Such competition was partly responsible for the overall suppression effect of lead on the sorption of 2,4,6-TCP.     

Case studies on biological treatment of tannery effluents in India

This paper presents a comparative assessment of the cost and quality of treatment of tannery wastewater in India by two common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) constructed for two tannery clusters, at Jajmau (Kanpur) and at Unnao in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The Jajmau plant is upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process-based, while the Unnao plant is activated sludge process (ASP)-based. Investigations indicated that the ASP-based plant was superior in all respects. Total annualized costs, including capital and operation and maintenance costs, for the UASB and ASP plants were Rs. 4.24 million/million liters per day (MLD) and Rs. 3.36 million/MLD, respectively. Land requirements for the two CETPs were 1.4 hectares/MLD and 0.95 hectares/ MLD, respectively. Moreover, the treated UASB effluent had higher biochemical and chemical oxygen demand (BOD/ COD) and considerable amounts of other undesirable constituents, like chromium (Cr) and sulfide, as compared with the ASP effluent, which had lower BOD/COD and negligible concentration of sulfide and Cr. Sludge production from the UASB-based plant was also higher at 1.4 t/day/MLD, in comparison to the sludge production of 0.8 t/day/MLD for the ASP-based plant. Also, the entire sludge produced in the UASB-based plant was Cr-contaminated and, hence, hazardous, while only a small fraction of the sludge produced in the ASP-based plant was similarly contaminated. The results of this study are at variance with the conventional wisdom of the superiority of anaerobic processes for tannery wastewater treatment in tropical developing countries like India.     

Phosphorus removal from piggery effluents of varying quality using lime and physico-chemical treatment methods

The choice of management practices for the treatment of piggery effluent prior to its disposal to waterways or land is governed by the desire to simultaneously minimise the cost of treatment whilst minimising pollution of the environment. Laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the removal of total and total filterable phosphorus (P) (<0.45 microm) from ortho-phosphate solutions or piggery effluent by hydrated lime or lime kiln dust alone, or from recycled piggery effluent by lime and physico-chemical treatment methods. In addition, the ability of lime to remove P from recycled piggery effluent at an intensive piggery was assessed. Most P in lime treated effluent was present in the >0.45 microm fraction because of the presence of unsettled flocs of P impregnated lime. The efficiency of total P removal by hydrated lime and lime kiln dust decreased as effluent quality declined. The efficiency of removal of total filterable P by hydrated lime or lime kiln dust was not affected by effluent quality. Hydrated lime was more efficient in removing P from effluent or ortho-phosphate solutions, but lime kiln dust was more cost effective. More than 95% of total P was removed from recycled piggery effluent when physico-chemical treatment followed settling with or without lime. The physico-chemical treatment decreased total P mainly by decreasing the number of suspended particles in the effluent and by precipitating some total filterable P as iron, aluminium or calcium compounds.     

Equilibrium and kinetic modelling of chromium(III) sorption by animal bones

The paper discusses sorption of Cr(III) ions from aqueous solutions by animal bones. Animal bones were found to be an efficient sorbent with the maximum experimentally determined sorption capacity in the range 29-194 mg g(-1) that depended on pH and temperature. The maximum experimentally determined sorption capacity was obtained at 50 degrees C, pH 5. Batch kinetics and equilibrium experiments were performed in order to investigate the influence of contact time, initial concentration of sorbate and sorbent, temperature and pH. It was found that sorption capacity increased with increase of Cr(III) concentration, temperature and initial pH of metal solution. Mathematical models describing kinetics and statics of sorption were proposed. It was found that process kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order pattern. The influence of sorbent concentration was described with Langmuir-type equation and the influence of sorbate concentration was described with empirical dependence. The models were positively verified.     

Biosorption of heavy metals using rice milling by-products. Characterisation and application for removal of metals from aqueous effluents

The morphological characteristics as well as chemical composition of rice husks were evaluated by different techniques such as spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. The material, which is considered a by-product obtained from rice milling, was then investigated as a potential decontaminant of toxic heavy metals present in laboratory effluents. Studies using glass columns were carried out at room temperature employing 100 ml of synthetic solutions containing Cd(II) and Pb(II) at 100 mg l(-1) in order to study the effects of pH, flow rate and particle size on Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption. After establishing the optimised conditions, the potentiality of rice husks for removing Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions from 100 ml of laboratory effluent, presenting concentrations before treatment of 22 and 12 mg l(-1), respectively, was evaluated. The ability to take up other metals species, such as Al(III), Cu(II) and Zn(II), present in this effluent was also studied. According to the data obtained, under the optimised conditions (pH=4.0, flow rate of 8.0 ml min(-1) and < or =355 microm rice husk particle size), 30 g of husks were necessary to attain the permissible limits for effluent release, as recommend by the EPA, for those species evolved in this work (Al, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn).     

Selective metal removal from chromium-containing synthetic effluents using Shewanella xiamenensis biofilm supported on zeolite

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A scheme of selective removal of metal ions from chromium-containing synthetic solutions with the following chemical composition, Cr (VI)-Fe (III), Cr...     

Disinfection of secondary effluents using tin oxide anodes.

Direct current applied to a tin oxide anode submersed in water has the potential to generate hydroxyl radicals, a strong chemical oxidant. Tin oxide anode systems, which may represent a viable alternative disinfectant, were investigated for the disinfection of secondary effluents. Coliform bacteria in the effluent were effectively inactivated in a bench-scale tin oxide disinfection system. The number of anodes in the tin oxide disinfection system influenced the steady-state concentration of hydroxyl radicals and, consequently, the contact time necessary to achieve a specified dose. The life expectancy of the anodes was greater than 30 days and no appreciable loss of tin was observed over a 5-day period. A preliminary estimate of the capital and operating costs of a pilot- or full-scale tin oxide disinfection system designed to meet a discharge requirement of 23 most probable number/100 mL at a 3 785-m3/d (1-mgd) facility was comparable to UV and chlorination/dechlorination facilities. Based on this preliminary assessment, tin oxide disinfection systems are a promising alternative disinfectant for secondary effluents.     

Bioindicators for toxicity assesment of effluents from a wastewater treatment plant

The discharge of effluents and toxic compounds into aquatic systems represents a growing environmental problem involving an impact on water ecology and potential effect on human health. Most municipal wastewaters are complex mixtures; their complexity led as to carry out a hazard assessment using chemical analyses and biological tests.This study investigates biochemical alteratiobns in two sentinel organisms, the Anodonta cygnea mussel and the Xenopus laevis frog exposed for different lengths of time to various concentrartion of wastewater of the S. Antonino Ticino treatment plant. The results point out the long-life of toxic compounds.     

Concurrent sorption of antimony and lead by iron phosphate and its possible application for multi-oxyanion contaminated soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Concurrent stabilization of oxyanions such as antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), and heavy metals including lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) in contaminated...