Assessing demineralization treatments for PVC effluent reuse in the resin polymerization step

To reduce fresh water consumption in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant, the effluent from a biological treatment must be demineralized to be re-used in the resin polymerization process. Demineralization is a critical process, since the quality and the stability of the PVC resins are highly influenced by the water quality used in the process. The main target values for water parameters are the following: conductivity <10 μScm^?1, TOC < 10 mg L^?1, and Al < 0.1 mg L^?1. To achieve this quality, several reverse osmosis membranes from different materials and suppliers were tested and compared in the demineralization treatment. Polyamide membranes showed higher salt rejection compared to cellulose acetate membranes yielding both types similar flux and permeability. Two-pass reverse osmosis treatment was necessary to reach conductivities lower than 10 μS cm^?1. On the other hand, a good quality effluent for reuse was obtained by combining RO and ionic exchange resins. Results showed that good quality PVC resins in terms of color, granulometry, porosity, and bulk density were obtained when demineralized water from two-pass reverse osmosis was used as fresh water, proving the feasibility of the effluent reuse in the PVC industry.     

A system coupling hybrid biological method with UV/O<Subscript>3</Subscript> oxidation and membrane separation for treatment and reuse of industrial laundry wastewater

The possibilities of application of a three-step system combining hybrid biological treatment followed by advanced UV/O₃ oxidation with in situ generated O₃ and membrane separation (ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF)) to treat and reuse the wastewater from an industrial laundry are presented. By the application of a hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor (HMBBR), the total organic carbon concentration was reduced for about 90 %. However, since the HMBBR effluent still contained organic contaminants as well as high concentrations of inorganic ions and exhibited significant turbidity (8.2 NTU), its further treatment before a possible reuse in the laundry was necessary. The UV/O₃ pretreatment prior to UF was found to be an efficient method of the membrane fouling alleviation. During UF, the turbidity of wastewater was reduced below 0.3 NTU. To remove the inorganic salts, the UF permeate was further treated during NF. The NF permeate exhibited very low conductivity (27–75 μS/cm) and contained only small amounts of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺; thus ,it could be reused at any stage of the laundry process.     

The recovery of copper from a copper mine effluent in a hybrid flotation/microfiltration cell

A new hybrid process for cleaning wastewater, combining flotation and membrane microfiltration, was investigated. The hybrid process combined the advantages of both flotation and membrane separation: the flotation cell removed a large proportion of suspended solid particles, while the membrane module produced clean water permeate effluent. The hybrid cell performance has been studied in depth and reviewed in the current paper. The proof of concept for the hybrid solid/liquid separation process was investigated using an aqueous suspension of fine and ultra fine particles (synthetic adsorbents, ion exchangers). The feasibility of this combined process was investigated in the recovery of metal cations (copper) from a Bulgarian copper mine effluent.     

海藻酸钠-超滤组合处理含铅废水

胶团强化超滤技术(MEUF)中通常采用表面活性剂作为外加有机物,存在价格昂贵且具有二次污染的风险。本研究选取天然有机物海藻酸钠作为外加物,研究了海藻酸钠强化超滤去除含Pb废水的特性及影响因素。实验结果表明,Freundlich模型可用于海藻酸钠溶液对Pb2+的吸附过程;海藻酸钠及其与Pb络合物的红外光谱分析表明,海藻酸钠中的OC-OH基团在吸附Pb2+中起着重要的作用。当Pb2+的浓度40 mg/L,海藻酸钠投加量为100 mg/L,pH7时,MWCO为4 kDa、6 kDa、10 kDa、30 kDa、50 kDa和70 kDa的膜均可实现对其的高效截留,截留效率均达到95%以上。随着pH值的升高,超滤膜对于Pb2+的截留效果越好。超滤浓缩液在pH值调节到13时,可将几乎100%的Pb回收。     

不同超滤膜过滤天然有机物的膜污染特性研究

超滤膜的截留分子量、天然有机物的分子量分布以及两者之间的相对关系对于膜污染以及过滤阻力的组成有很大的影响。MWCO140kDa、70kDa、30kDa、10kDa、4kDa和1kDa的超滤膜过滤10mg/L腐殖酸溶液和未名湖湖水的试验结果表明,在过滤初始时刻就发生了膜污染,膜的截留分子量越大,膜污染越显著。在长期过滤的过程中,截留分子量>10kDa的超滤膜的过滤阻力受到膜污染的控制,膜孔堵塞和膜面形成凝胶层是造成膜污染的主要原因;当膜的截留分子量≤10kDa时,过滤阻力主要由膜本身固有的阻力决定,膜污染影响较小。不同浓度、类型的腐殖酸溶液和不同种类的超滤膜过滤试验数据分析表明,当膜对腐殖酸分子的截留率超过40%时,膜污染的程度会逐渐减小,过滤阻力将由膜本身固有的阻力控制。     

A mass balance study of the phytoremediation of perchloroethylene-contaminated groundwater

A mass balance study was performed under controlled field conditions to investigate the phytoremediation of perchloroethylene (PCE) by hybrid poplar trees. Water containing 7–14 mg L^?1 PCE was added to the test bed. Perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and cis-dichloroethylene were detected in the effluent at an average of 0.12 mg L^?1, 3.9 mg L^?1, and 1.9 mg L^?1, respectively. The total mass of chlorinated ethenes in the water was reduced by 99%. Over 95% of the recovered chlorine was as free chloride in the soil, indicating near-complete dehalogenation of the PCE. Transpiration, volatilization, and accumulation in the trees were all found to be minor loss mechanisms. In contrast, 98% of PCE applied to an unplanted soil chamber was recovered as PCE in the effluent water or volatilized into the air. These results suggest that phytoremediation can be an effective method for treating PCE-contaminated groundwater in field applications.     

Effluent characterization and different modes of reuse in agriculture—a model case study

Background, aim, and scope  

High-quality waters are steadily retreating worldwide. Discharge of industrial effluent in the environment again declines soil/water quality to a great extent. On the other hand, effluent reuse in agriculture could be a means to conserve natural resources by providing assured water supply for growing crops. But industrial effluents are highly variable in nature, containing a variety of substances, and all are not favorable for farming. Appraisal and developing modes of effluent reuse is therefore a prerequisite to enable its proper use in agriculture. Effluents of various industries were assessed and approaches for their use in farming were developed for a particular region in this study. As per availability of effluents, the same could be implemented in other water-scarce areas.     

Isoprene and monoterpene fluxes measured above Amazonian rainforest and their dependence on light and temperature

Canopy scale emissions of isoprene and monoterpenes from Amazonian rainforest were measured by eddy covariance and eddy accumulation techniques. The peak mixing ratios at about 10 m above the canopy occurred in the afternoon and were typically about 90 ppt_v of α-pinene and 4–5 ppb_v of isoprene. α-pinene was the most abundant monoterpene in the air above the canopy comprising ≈50% of the total monoterpene mixing ratio. Measured isoprene fluxes were almost 10 times higher than α-pinene fluxes. Normalized conditions of 30°C and 1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ were associated with an isoprene flux of 2.4 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ and a β-pinene flux of 0.26 mg m⁻² h⁻¹. Both fluxes were lower than values that have been specified for Amazon rainforests in global emission models. Isoprene flux correlated with a light- and temperature-dependent emission activity factor, and even better with measured sensible heat flux. The variation in the measured α-pinene fluxes, as well as the diurnal cycle of mixing ratio, suggest emissions that are dependent on both light and temperature. The light and temperature dependence can have a significant effect on the modeled diurnal cycle of monoterpene emission as well as on the total monoterpene emission.     

Methanol measurements in the lower troposphere near Innsbruck (047°16′N; 011°24′E), Austria

Diurnal variations on a time scale of minutes of the mixing ratios of methanol were measured using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) technique during 67 days throughout the time span from November 1996 to July 1998 together with benzene and other volatile organic compounds at the western outskirts of Innsbruck, Austria. Comparison with the course of the mixing ratio of benzene, which served as marker for traffic emissions, as well as the observation of a seasonal variation allowed to distinguish between different sources for methanol release into the troposphere. Strong evidence for methanol removal via deposition on dew-wetted surfaces is obtained from the comparison of meteorological data with methanol mixing ratios. The mean volume mixing ratio of total methanol was 7.5 nmol mol⁻¹. Mixing ratios ranged from 0.03 up to 45 nmol mol⁻¹.     

Engineered biochar composites with zeolite,silica, and nano-zerovalent iron for the efficient scavenging of chlortetracycline from aqueous solutions

Date palm waste–derived biochar (DBC) was produced through pyrolysis (600 °C) and modified with zeolite (Z-DBC), silica (S-DBC), or nano-zerovalent iron (nZVI-DBC) to design efficient sorbents. The pristine and engineered biochars were characterized by SEM, XRD, BET, TGA, CHNS-O, and FTIR to investigate the surface, structural, and mineralogical composition. The nZVI-DBC exhibited lowest pH (6.15) and highest surface area (220.92 m² g⁻¹), carbon (80.55%), nitrogen (3.78%), and hydrogen (11.09%) contents compared with other biochars. Isotherm sorption data for chlortetracycline (CTC) removal from aqueous solutions was described well by Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson isotherms showing the highest fitness (R² values in the range of 0.88–0.98 and 0.88–0.99, respectively). Langmuir predicted maximum CTC adsorption capacity was in order of nZVI-DBC (89.05 mg g⁻¹) > S-DBC (45.57 mg g⁻¹) > Z-DBC (30.42 mg g⁻¹) > DBC (28.19 mg g⁻¹). Kinetics adsorption data was best described by power function model (R² = 0.93–0.99), followed by interaparticle diffusion (R² = 0.85–0.96) model. The nZVI-DBC performed outclass by removing 98% of CTC, followed by S-DBC (68%), Z-DBC (35%), and DBC (36%). Chemisorption, H-bonding, and interaparticle diffusion were the operating mechanisms for CTC adsorption onto DBC, S-DBC, and Z-DBC, while π-π electron donor–accepter interactions and redox reactions augmented these mechanisms for highest CTC adsorption onto nZVI-DBC. Therefore, nZVI-DBC may serve as an efficient green technology for the removal of CTC from aqueous solutions and to reduce surface date palm waste pollution.

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Importance of wet precipitation as a removal and transport process for atmospheric water soluble carbonyls

Carbonyl compounds exist in the atmosphere as either gases or aerosols. Some of them are water soluble and known as oxidation products of biogenic and/or anthropogenic hydrocarbons. Five carbonyl compounds, glyoxal (GO), 4-oxopentanal (4-OPA), glycolaldehyde (GA), hydroxyacetone (HA) and methylglyoxal (MG) have been identified in a temporal series of 12 rain samples. The concentrations of the compounds in the samples were high at the beginning of the rain event and decreased with time to relatively low and fairly constant levels, indicating that the compounds were washed out from the atmosphere at the start of the rain event. Possibly, these compounds also existed in the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Wet deposition rates of the carbonyl compounds were calculated for nine samples collected during a 20 h period. The deposition rates ranged from 0 (4-OPA) to 1.2×10⁻¹ mg C m⁻² h⁻¹ (MG) with the average of 2.9×10⁻² mg C m⁻² h⁻¹. Production rates of isoprene oxidation products (GA, HA and MG) in the area surrounding the sampling site were estimated with a chemical box model. The deposition rates exceeded the production rates in most samples. This indicates that the rainfall causes a large net flux of the water soluble compounds from the atmosphere to the ground. Insoluble carbonyl compounds such as n-nonanal and n-decanal were expected to be present in the atmosphere, but were not detected in the rain during the sampling period, suggesting that an aerosol containing these insoluble compounds does not effectively act as a CCN.     

Estrogens and synthetic androgens in manure slurry from trenbolone acetate/estradiol implanted cattle and in waste-receiving lagoons used for irrigation

The increasing size of concentrated animal feeding operations has led to a concomitant increase in the land-application of manure, which has spawned research on the concentrations and environmental risk assessment of natural and synthetic hormones in animal manures. 17β-Trenbolone acetate (TBA) is widely used in the United States for improving daily gains in beef cattle and is often administered in combination with 17β-estradiol (17β-E2). Trenbolone (TB) and E2 isomers and their metabolites were quantified in manure collection pits and lagoon effluent from beef cattle implanted with the commercial anabolic preparation Ravoler-S (containing 140 mg 17β-trenbolone acetate and 28 mg 17β-E2). Manure pit and lagoon effluent samples were collected weekly for 9 weeks post implanting and analyzed using reverse-phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. 17α-TB was the most abundant androgen with the highest concentration observed 2 weeks post implant. 17β-TB and trendione peaked at the end of week 2 and 4, respectively. For the estrogens, the highest concentrations for estrone (E1), estriol (E3), and 17α-E2 were observed after week 4, 6, and 8, respectively. 17β-E2 concentrations were the lowest of the estrogens and erratic over time. In lagoon water, which is used for irrigation, 17α-TB and E1 had the highest detected hormone concentrations (1.53 and 1.72 μg L⁻¹, respectively). Assuming a 1–2 order dilution during transport to surface water, these hormone levels could lead to concentrations in receiving waters that exceed some of the lowest observable effect levels (LOELs) reported for hormones (e.g., 0.01–0.03 μg L⁻¹).     

Cultivation of freshwater microalgae in biodiesel wash water

Biodiesel wash water is a contaminating industrial effluent that must be treated prior to disposal. The use of this effluent as a low-cost alternative cultivation medium for microalgae could represent a viable supplementary treatment. We cultivated 11 microalgae species with potential use for biodiesel production to assess their growth capacities in biodiesel industrial washing waters. Only Monoraphidium contortum, Ankistrodesmus sp., Chlorococcum sp., and one unidentified Chlorophyceae species grew effectively in that effluent. M. contortum showed the highest growth capacity and had the second highest fatty acid content (267.9 mg g⁻¹ of DW), predominantly producing palmitic (20.9%), 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic (14%), oleic (16.2%), linoleic (10.5%), and linolenic acids (23.2%). In the second phase of the experiment, the microalgae were cultivated in biodiesel wash water at 75% of its initial concentration as well as in WC (control) medium. After 21 days of cultivation, 25.8 and 7.2% of the effluent nitrate and phosphate were removed, respectively, and the chemical oxygen demand was diminished by 31.2%. These results suggest the possibility of cultivating biodiesel producing microalgae in industrial wash water effluents.

     

Measurement of the vapor phase deposition of polychlorinated bipheyls (PCBs) using a water surface sampler

A water surface sampler (WSS) was employed in combination with greased knife-edge surface deposition plates (KSSs) to measure the vapor phase deposition rates of PCBs to the sampler at an urban site, Chicago, IL. This sampler employed a water circulation system that continuously removed deposited PCBs. Total (gas+particle) and particulate PCB fluxes were collected with the WSS and KSSs, respectively. Gas phase PCB fluxes were then calculated by subtracting the KSS fluxes (particulate) from the WSS fluxes (gas+particle). The calculated gas phase PCB fluxes averaged 830±910 ng m⁻²d⁻¹. This flux value is, in general, higher than the fluxes determined using simultaneously measured air–water concentrations in natural waters and is in the absorption direction. This difference is primarily because the PCBs were continuously removed from the WSS water keeping the water PCB concentration near zero.Concurrently, ambient air samples were collected using a modified high volume air sampler. The gas phase PCB concentrations ranged between 1.10 and 4.46 ng m⁻³ (average±SD, 2.29±1.28 ng m⁻³). The gas phase fluxes were divided by the simultaneously measured gas phase ambient concentrations to determine the overall gas phase mass transfer coefficients (MTCs) for PCBs. The average gas phase overall MTCs (K_g) for each homolog group ranged between 0.22 and 1.32 cm s⁻¹ (0.54±0.47 cm s⁻¹). The average MTC was in good agreement with those determined using similar techniques.     

滤布滤池强化处理城市二级出水中试研究

采用滤布滤池对南方某城市污水处理厂二级出水进行强化处理中试研究,以达到中水回用的目的。实验选用氯化铁(FeCl₃)、聚合氯化铝铁（PAFC）和聚合氯化铝（PAC）作为强化滤布滤池除磷效果的混凝剂。当不投加混凝剂时,滤布滤池对TP和COD的平均去除率为28.76%和8%,其中TP的去除效果受进水水质影响较大;当投加氯化铁、聚合氯化铝铁与聚合氯化铝强化滤布滤池时,滤布滤池对TP的平均去除率分别为63.58%、60.13%和66.94%,TP去除效果受进水水质影响较小;对SS的平均去除率分别为70.7%、64.3%和49.1%;对COD平均去除率分别为17.7%、26.3%和27.7%。滤布滤池对TN和NH₃-N去除效果不稳定。     

Hydroxyl concentration estimates in the sunlit snowpack at Summit,Greenland

Experiments were performed at Summit, Greenland (72°34′ N, 38°29′ W) to investigate hydroxyl mixing ratios in the sunlit surface snowpack (or firn). We added a carefully selected mixture of hydrocarbon gases (with a wide range of hydroxyl reactivities) to a UV and visible light transparent flow chamber containing undisturbed natural firn. The relative decrease in mixing ratios of these gases allowed estimation of the lower limit mixing ratio of hydroxyl radicals in the near-surface firn pore spaces. Hydroxyl mixing ratios in the firn air followed a diurnal cycle in summer 2003 (10–12 July), with peak values of more than 3.2×10⁶ molecules cm⁻³ between 13:00 and 16:00 local time. The minimum value estimated was 1.1×10⁶ molecules cm⁻³ at 20:00 local time. Results during spring of 2004 showed lower, but rapidly increasing, peak hydroxyl mixing ratios of 1.1×10⁶ molecules cm⁻³ in the early afternoon on 15 April and 1.5×10⁶ molecules cm⁻³ on 1 May. Our firn hydroxyl estimates were similar to directly measured above-snow ambient levels during the spring field season, but were only about 30% of ambient levels during summer.     

Real-world emission factors of fifteen carbonyl compounds measured in a Hong Kong tunnel

Real-world vehicle emissions of carbonyls were determined in summer and winter of 2003 at the Shing Mun Tunnel, Hong Kong. Fifteen carbonyl species have been analyzed in this study. The total measured carbonyls emission factors ranged from 21.7 to 68.9 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹ among different measurement periods, with an average of 35.8±11.9 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹. Higher carbonyl emissions were found to be associated with a high proportion of diesel-fueled vehicles. Total measured carbonyl emissions from Diesel-fueled Vehicle (DV, 71.5 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹) were about 7 times higher than those from Non-Diesel-fueled Vehicle (NDV, 10 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹). The five carbonyls with the largest DV emission factor were, in decreasing order, formaldehyde (38.3 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹), acetaldehyde (11.4 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹), acetone (5.3 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹), crotonaldehyde (5.2 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹) and benzaldehyde (2.0 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹). These five carbonyl compounds together accounted for 87% of the sum of all DV carbonyl emission factors. For NDV, the five most abundant carbonyls in NDV emission at the tunnel were, in decreasing order, formaldehyde (3.5 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹), acetone (1.8 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹), methyl ethyl ketone (1.6 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹), m,p-tolualdehyde (1.0 mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹) and acetaldehyde (mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹). They accounted for 85% of the sum of all NDV carbonyl emission factors.     

Characterization of aluminium-based water treatment residual for potential phosphorus removal in engineered wetlands

Aluminium-based water treatment residual (Al-WTR) is the most widely generated residual from water treatment facilities worldwide. It is regarded as a by-product of no reuse potential and landfilled. This study assessed Al-WTR as potential phosphate-removing substrate in engineered wetlands. Results indicate specific surface area ranged from 28.0 m² g⁻¹ to 41.4 m² g⁻¹. X-ray Diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopes all indicate Al-WTR is mainly composed of amorphous aluminium which influences its phosphorus (P) adsorption capacity. The pH and electrical conductivity ranged from 5.9 to 6.0 and 0.104 dS m⁻¹ to 0.140 dS m⁻¹ respectively, showing that it should support plant growth. Batch tests showed adsorption maxima of 31.9 mg P g⁻¹ and significant P removal was achieved in column tests. Overall, results showed that Al-WTR can be used for P removal in engineered wetlands and it carries the benefits of reuse of a by-product that promotes sustainability.     

A2O-MBR 工艺处理城市污水作农业灌溉用水中试研究简

为开发一种污水再生利用于农田灌溉领域的新型技术,本实验以城市污水为研究对象,采用A²O-MBR工艺进行中试研究,并将系统出水水质与《农田灌溉水质标准（GB5084-2005）》的主要水质指标进行对比分析。结果表明,系统COD和BOD₅出水浓度范围分别为3.2~59.6 mg/L、1.0~7.6 mg/L,系统出水pH为7.16~7.54,悬浮物浓度几乎为0,上述指标均符合标准;TP、TN和氨氮的出水范围分别为0.03~0.79 mg/L、1.6~17.7 mg/L和0.8~10.3 mg/L。《农田灌溉水质标准》没有对上述3个指标提出具体要求,且少量的氮磷是植物生长的营养元素。该系统出水的主要水质指标符合标准要求。     

Atmospheric distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and deposition to Galveston Bay,Texas, USA

Estimates of the atmospheric deposition to Galveston Bay of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are made using precipitation and meteorological data that were collected continuously from 2 February 1995 to 6 August 1996 at Seabrook, TX, USA. Particulate and vapor phase PAHs in ambient air and particulate and dissolved phases in rain samples were collected and analyzed. More than 95% of atmospheric PAHs were in the vapor phase and about 73% of PAHs in the rain were in the dissolved phase. Phenanthrene and napthalene were the dominant compounds in air vapor and rain dissolved phases, respectively, while 5 and 6 ring PAH were predominant in the particulate phase of both air and rain samples. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 4 to 161 ng m⁻³ in air samples and from 50 to 312 ng l⁻¹ in rain samples. Temporal variability in total PAH air concentrations were observed, with lower concentrations in the spring and fall (4–34 ng m ⁻³) compared to the summer and winter (37–161 ng m⁻³). PAHs in the air near Galveston Bay are derived from both combustion and petroleum vaporization. Gas exchange from the atmosphere to the surface water is estimated to be the major deposition process for PAHs (1211 μg m^{− 2} yr^{− 1}), relative to wet deposition (130 μg m⁻² yr^{− 1}) and dry deposition (99 μg m⁻² yr^{− 1}). Annual deposition of PAHs directly to Galveston Bay from the atmosphere is estimated as 2  t yr⁻¹.