Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters: a review

Heavy metal pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems today. The treatment of heavy metals is of special concern due to their recalcitrance and persistence in the environment. In recent years, various methods for heavy metal removal from wastewater have been extensively studied. This paper reviews the current methods that have been used to treat heavy metal wastewater and evaluates these techniques. These technologies include chemical precipitation, ion-exchange, adsorption, membrane filtration, coagulation-flocculation, flotation and electrochemical methods. About 185 published studies (1988-2010) are reviewed in this paper. It is evident from the literature survey articles that ion-exchange, adsorption and membrane filtration are the most frequently studied for the treatment of heavy metal wastewater.     

漆酶对染料的脱色研究

利用来源于白毒鹅膏菌的粗漆酶与12种工业染料反应,结果发现其中7种染料颜色能被脱除.研究了直接影响黑G和中性黄GL的漆酶脱色的相关因素.试验发现,这两种染料在1h内与漆酶反应迅速,且特征颜色吸收峰(600nm/440nm )基本消失,其最适温度均为50℃、最适反应pH值范围分别为5-6和3-4,酶活力的增加可显著提高反应速率,但对总脱色率影响不大.在pH值为5、温度40℃条件下,5U/ml的漆酶与直接黑G和中性黄GL反应的Km值分别为3.2mg/L和25.1mg/L,Vmax值分别为2.70mg/L·min和3.25mg/L·min.     

A polymer-ceramic composite membrane for recovering volatile organic compounds from wastewaters by pervaporation

A composite membrane was constructed on a porous ceramic support from a block copolymer of styrene and butadiene (SBS). It was tested in a laboratory pervaporation apparatus for recovering volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) and trichloroethylene (TCE) from dilute aqueous solutions. This polymer-ceramic composite membrane yielded significantly higher VOC selectivity than an SBS membrane without the ceramic support, for comparable fluxes. At VOC concentrations near 100 ppm, fluxes and selectivities of VOCs were essentially independent of the number of VOCs in solution. The liquid-side boundary layer resistance dominated mass transport. The experimental data fitted the resistance-in-series model and yielded reliable membrane permeability values. This method using this high-performing membrane offers potentially cleaner and cost-effective means of recovering VOCs from contaminated streams.     

Pre-treating biosorbents for purification of bioethanol from aqueous solution

Cost-effective biosorbents made from the byproducts of agriculture, forest, and related industries, such as barley straw, canola meal, and wood sawdust, have significant water adsorption capacity, showing a great potential for selective water removal from bioalcohols to produce fuel grade products. However, there is a challenge that the biosorbents are not stable when they come in contact with aqueous solution. There are organic carbons released from biosorbents to liquid phase, which needs to be addressed before this technology is applied in the industrial purification of bioalcohols. In this work, raw barley straw representing an abundant group of cellulosic materials in the above-mentioned industries was used as a model material. A methodology of chemical and physical treatment was developed to treat barley straw which successfully enhanced the stability and reduced the total organic carbon release from the material into the aqueous solution. In addition, the pre-treated barley straw biosorbent had significantly increased micropores, and the Brunauer--Emmett--Teller surface area favored by water adsorption compared with raw barley straw. It also had higher water uptake and dynamic water adsorption selectivity. The pre-treated barley straw was able to selectively remove water and generate concentrated ethanol.     

Anaerobic treatment of industrial wastewaters

Anaerobic processes are widely used for treatment of organic wastes. Fixed-film anaerobic processes are capable of handling high organic loads due to higher biomass concentration in the form of biofilms. Anaerobic biofilm reactor startup is greatly influenced by environmental, cellular and surface factors, and is often hindered by low growth rates of anaerobes and their strict environmental requirements. However, these obstacles can be overcome by applying appropriate startup strategies.     

雾化介质阻挡放电联合电晕放电对染料溶液脱色研究

实验将介质阻挡放电与电晕放电组合在一个反应器内,以靛蓝二磺酸钠溶液为实验废水,将高压电极上通入50Hz交流高压电,在常压空气中形成介质阻挡放电-电晕放电系统,放电产生的低温等离子体及其活性基团作用于染料分子。考察了电源电压、电极间距、处理时间对染料溶液脱色率和能量效率水平的影响,确定反应器工作状态为介质阻挡放电系统电极间距30mm、电晕放电系统电极间距25mm、电源电压20kV。     

Decolorization and Complete Degradation of Methyl Red by a Mixed Culture

Synthetic dyes, azo dyes in particular, are widely found in the effluents from textile industries. The persistence and toxicity of these compounds cause adverse impacts in the receiving streams. A mixed culture isolated from a domestic wastewater treatment plant was found to remove the colour of the azo dye, methyl red, efficiently. Total decolorization and degradation occurred within 18 h. The mixed culture could degrade 700 mgl^–1 of methyl red efficiently in the presence of 200 mgl^–1 of glucose, whereas in the absence of glucose it could degrade only 100 mgl^–1 of methyl red. The mixed culture, when suspended in phosphate buffer along with methyl red at 100 mgl^–1 concentration could degrade methyl red efficiently within 2 h of incubation. The pH of the medium decreased continuously during degradation. After the complete removal of initial methyl red, another 100 mgl^–1 was added to the culture filtrate and incubated further. The mixed microbial cultures could degrade methyl red efficiently through three cycles but further degradation was not possible as the pH of the medium decreased to 3.5.     

Algal cultures with effluents from biological treatment of urban wastewaters by anaerobiosis

Experiments have been carried out on cultures of native algae of Andalucía (Spain) with effluents from the biological treatment of urban wastewaters by anaerobiosis, using continuous and discontinuous systems.The influence of different hydraulic retention times of the wastewater on the algal cultures has been determined: on the level of algal biomass reached, and on the degree of purification achieved, measured from the evolution of various quality parameters.     

A pilot plant using immobilized cells for dye removal from dye manufacturing wastes

A pilot plant was set up to treat dye waste water. The flow of the plant begins with a chemical pretreatment step following by an immobilized decolorizing bacteria reactor and an ordinary activated sludge reactor at the end. Results from the seven months' operation show that the decolorization effect of the immobilized cell reactor worked satisfactorily. The effluent colour always remained below 100 with the influent colour as high as 4000 or more. The COD of the effluent could also meet the discharge standard, around 60 mg L⁻¹. The immobilized cell reactor has an ability to reduce the BOD/COD ratio of the waste, suggesting that it can degrade the recalcitrant pollutants easily. The results show that it is a high-efficiency and low-cost process suitable to be developed into full-scale application.     

青霉菌X5对活性艳蓝KN-R脱色研究

采用梯度平板筛选法，从染布厂废水池污泥中分离到一株对蒽醌染料KN－R有较强脱色能力的青霉菌X5（Penicillium sp.)，并考察该菌在不同温度，pH，培养时间，染料浓度，菌量及不同碳源氮源条件下对活性艳蓝KN－R的脱色情况，结果表明,在20－40℃温度范围内该菌对活性艳蓝KN－R的脱色率均在95％以上，其最佳脱色温度为25℃，pH为4．0，培养时间为48h，染料浓度，菌量对染料脱色有一定影响，该菌对碳源、氮源具有较宽适应范围，在最佳条件下，该菌对染料的脱色率达99．3％。     

Polyphenols dynamics and phytotoxicity in a soil amended by olive mill wastewaters

The effects of unprocessed olive mill wastewaters (OMW) on soil characteristics were investigated. Phenolic compounds levels in the treated soil were compared to those of a control soil profile. Results showed that OMW infiltration caused a modification of soil physicochemical characteristics. Phenolic compounds were detected at a depth of 1.2m four months after the last application of OMW. A moderate phytotoxic residual phenolic fraction (F) was extracted from the superficial soil layer 1 year after the OMW application. This residual F had a phytotoxic potential comparable to that of 25-fold diluted OMW.     

固定化酵母菌对活性艳蓝KN-R的脱色研究

采用海藻酸钙加活性碳的方法对酵母菌进行固定化。正交试验结果表明，三者合适配比为海藻酸钠3％，活性碳10％，氯化钙4％。此方法制得的凝胶颗粒机械强度好、经久耐用。固定化酵母菌凝胶小球最适条件为：培养时间为48h，培养温度为37℃，培养基pH为3．0，凝胶量为10g。固定化细胞经多次脱色后能重复使用，4次脱色后其脱色率还达79．2％。     

Eco-neighbourhoods: A review of projects

The recent literature on sustainable urban form has stressed the need to move away from a system of land-use segregation and towards one which intersperses land uses and facilitates localisation. The strategy of dispersed concentration gives shape to this mixed-use principle, and has been equated with the need to plan more self-sufficient neighbourhoods. There are several problematic issues raised by such a strategy, particularly in relation to the propensity of local people to use local facilities when the friction of distance is low. The image of sustainable neighbourhoods purveyed by advocates is at odds with the reality of suburban development. A review of current eco-neighbourhood projects around the world points to the varying degrees to which they have successfully overcome the implementational and behavioural difficulties. Market-led projects — particularly in semi-rural areas — have achieved rather limited success across the range of sustainability criteria. Some large-scale municipally led plans have faired better. Projects led by community non-profit trusts have been able to be most radical and demonstrate the practicability of eco-neighbourhoods in specific situations. Overall, however, the paucity of successful projects highlights the need for a more proactive central and local government stance.     

活性炭吸附法去除印染工业废水色度的试验与研究

通过试验初步研究活性炭直接吸附去除印染工业废水色度中吸附剂投加量、吸附时间等对色度去除率的影响。通过混凝沉淀法与活性炭吸附法结合、搅拌电解法与活性炭吸附法结合、脱色氧化法与活性炭吸附法结合等试验初步探讨了活性炭吸附与其它处理方法结合去除印染工业废水色度的可行性。同时,讨论了以上几种处理方法对水样中CODCr的去除、水样pH值变化等的影响。     

Ecological planning: A review

Beginning with the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969, the federal government of the United States has enacted numerous pieces of legislation intended to protect or conserve the environment. Other national governments have also enacted environmental legislation during the past two decades. State and local governments have also adopted policies concerned with environmental planning and management. Multiple laws and overlapping governmental agency responsibilities have confused development and resource management efforts. A comprehensive methodology that integrates the legal mandates and the agency missions into a common and unified framework is needed. Ecological planning offers such a method. Application of the method allows planners and resource managers to better understand the nature and character of the land and/or resource and therefore make better decisions about its appropriate use or management. The steps taken in an ecological planning process—1) goal setting, 2) inventory and analysis of data, 3) suitability analysis, 4) developing alternatives, 5) implementation, 6) administration, and 7) evaluation—are outlined and explained. Hand-drawn overlays and computer programs as techniques for handling ecological planning information are compared. Observations and suggestions for further research are offered.     

固定化真菌漆酶对分散兰-2BLN的脱色和降解

采用改良壳聚糖固定化的真菌漆酶对染料分散兰-2BLN进行脱色和降解条件的研究,探索了固定化漆酶活力、处理时间、染料浓度、温度和pH对其降解效果的影响。结果表明,固定化漆酶脱色降解分散兰-2BLN的适宜条件为：固定化漆酶活力18.2U／mL,染料浓度100mg／L,温度40℃,pH4.6,在上述条件下降解1.5h,分散兰-2BLN脱色率能达到87.68％。重复分批使用固定化漆酶处理2BLN兰,在使用6批次后,脱色率仍能保持在55％以上,其催化效率得到了较大提高。     

无花果曲霉菌丝球对活性艳蓝KN-R的脱色研究

生物吸附法是染料废水处理中很有前途的一种方法。本文将培养的无花果曲霉菌丝球用于蒽醌染料活性艳蓝KN-R的脱色,研究了培养时间、温度、转速、pH值及盐浓度、不同碳源、不同氮源对菌丝球脱色的影响;比较了活菌与死菌的脱色效果;探讨了菌丝球重复利用对脱色率的影响。结果表明：培养时间为72h,温度为33℃,转速为150rpm,pH值为6．0,盐浓度为0.5％,以乳糖为碳源、硝酸钠为氮源时,菌丝球对活性艳蓝KN-R的脱色效果最好：活菌对染料的吸附性能比死菌好;菌丝球在重复利用了四次后,脱色率仍达85．7％。     

Comparison of biosorbents with inorganic sorbents for removing copper(II) from aqueous solutions

In comparison with several other reported inorganic sorbents, Camellia tree leaf and primary sludge obtained from a settling tank as a pretreatment to the activated sludge system in a Hong Kong sewage treatment plant were evaluated for removing Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. Experimental data were modeled by the Langmuir isotherm equation to estimate the maximum sorption capacity (q_max). Results show that, at pH 5.6, biosorbents, Camellia tree leaf and primary sludge in particular, exert higher sorption capacities (q_max > 40 mg g⁻¹) than inorganic sorbents, Na-montmorillonite (q_max = 33.3 mg g⁻¹), fly ash (q_max = 18.8 mg g⁻¹), and goethite powder (10.3 mg g⁻¹). Furthermore, a pseudo second-order kinetic model was found to properly describe the experimental data for both bio- and inorganic sorbents. Sorption of Cu(II) on the Camellia tree leaf and primary sludge were much faster than that on the inorganic sorbents. In addition, desorption tests revealed that the desorption capacities of the two biomaterials are higher than the other selected materials; and much more Cu(II) can be retrieved from the Cu(II)-loaded biosorbents. Finally, increasing solution pH was found to greatly increase q_max and accelerate sorption processes.