Synthesis of functionalized mesoporous material from rice husk ash and its application in the removal of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The rice husk ash (RHA) was used as an alternative source of silica for the synthesis of the functionalized mesoporous material, which was used in the...     

活性炭纤维对氯仿气体动态吸附的研究

为了探讨活性炭纤维(ACF)对氯仿有机废气的动态吸附,考察氯仿气体流速、浓度、温度、ACF再生次数对吸附效率的影响以及滤速和压降的关系。结果表明:低浓度、低流速、低温度均有利于吸附。ACF对氯仿的吸附以物理吸附为主。提高氯仿气体滤速,气体压降增大。     

The food-print of Paris: long-term reconstruction of the nitrogen flows imported into the city from its rural hinterland

Between the tenth and twentieth century the population of Paris city increased from a few thousand to near 10 million inhabitants. In response to the growing urban demand during this period, the agrarian systems of the surrounding rural areas tremendously increased their potential for commercial export of agricultural products, made possible by a surplus of agricultural production over local consumption by humans and livestock in these areas. Expressed in terms of nitrogen, the potential for export increased from about 60 kg N/km2/year of rural territory in the Middle Ages, to more than 5,000 kg N/km2/year from modern agriculture. As a result of the balance between urban population growth and rural productivity, the rural area required to supply Paris (i.e. its food-print) did not change substantially for several centuries, remaining at the size of the Seine watershed surrounding the city (around 60,000 km2). The theoretical estimate of the size of the supplying hinterland at the end of the eighteenth century is confirmed by the figures deduced from the analysis of the historical city toll data (octroi). During the second half of the twentieth century, the ‘food-print’ of Paris reduced in size, owing to an unprecedented increase in the potential for commercial export associated with modern agricultural systems based on chemical N fertilization. We argue that analysing the capacity of territories to satisfy the demand for nitrogen-containing food products of local or distant urban population and markets might provide new and useful insights when assessing world food resource allocation in the context of increasing population and urbanization.     

Binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by humic acids formed during composting

Binding of two model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenanthrene and pyrene, by humic acids (HAs) isolated from an organic substrate at different stages of composting and a soil was investigated using a batch fluorescence quenching method and the modified Freundlich model. With respect to soil HA, the organic substrate HA fractions were characterized by larger binding affinities for both phenanthrene and pyrene. Further, isotherm deviation from linearity was larger for soil HA than for organic substrate HAs, indicating a larger heterogeneity of binding sites in the former. The composting process decreased the binding affinity and increased the heterogeneity of binding sites of HAs. The changes undergone by the HA fraction during composting may be expected to contribute to facilitate microbial accessibility to PAHs. The results obtained also suggest that bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils with matured compost, rather than with fresh organic amendments, may result in faster and more effective cleanup.     

Study of the dispersion of VOCs emitted by a municipal solid waste landfill

The dispersion of VOCs emitted by a municipal solid waste landfill was studied for a period of over one year. Sixteen VOCs were monitored: linear alkanes from C₇ to C₁₁, BTEX, trimethylbenzene, trichlorethylene, tetrachlorethylene, α and β-pinenes, limonene. The analytical procedure was first comprised of static long-term sampling of about 2 months using radial diffusion Radiello tubes containing activated carbon, followed by extraction by solvent (i.e. CS₂) and GC/MS analysis. The results were initially analysed on the basis of the total concentration of the quantified VOCs, then by examining the concentrations of certain selected compounds. The influence of different parameters such as operating conditions, meteorological conditions and site morphology was highlighted on the basis of total VOC concentrations. In order to study the VOC's dispersion more closely, 5 compounds were chosen: toluene, benzene, limonene, and the sum trichlorethylene + tetrachlorethylene, as a “marker”, to verify the origin of the VOCs emitted. The results showed that the main source of VOCs is the open cell and lead to different hypotheses on interferences from neighbouring sources and to the proposal of solutions to limit the emission of VOCs and their dispersion. To our knowledge, this type of study has not been accomplished until this day.     

Assessing spatial variability of SO2 field as detected by an air quality network using Self-Organizing Maps,cluster, and Principal Component Analysis

In Bilbao (Spain), an air quality network measures sulphur dioxide levels at 4 locations. The objective of this paper is to develop a practical methodology to identify redundant sensors and evaluate a network's capability to correctly follow and represent SO₂ fields in Bilbao, in the frame of a continuous network optimization process.The methodology is developed and tested at this particular location, but it is general enough to be useable at other places as well, since it is not tied neither to the particular geographical characteristics of the place nor to the phenomenology of the air quality over the area.To assess the spatial variability of SO₂ measured at 4 locations in the area, three different techniques have been used: Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs), cluster analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results show that the three techniques yield the same results, but the information obtained via PCA can be helpful not only for that purpose but also to throw light on the major mechanisms involved. This might be used in future network optimization stages. The main advantage of cluster analysis and SOMs is that they provide readily interpretable results. All the calculations have been carried out using the freely available software R.     

Heterogeneous uptake of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) onto mineral dust aerosol under variable RH conditions

We have carried out kinetic studies to characterize the heterogeneous decay of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D₅) in the presence of representative mineral dust aerosol in order to obtain a better understanding of the atmospheric fate of these siloxanes. The heterogeneous chemistry of D₄ and D₅ with various mineral dusts was studied in an environmental aerosol reaction chamber using FTIR absorption spectroscopy to monitor the reaction. The apparent heterogeneous uptake coefficient, γ_app, for D₄ and D₅ with various mineral dusts was measured under dry conditions and as a function of relative humidity (RH). In addition, the effect of initial D₄ and D₅ concentration on the rate and yield of the reaction was examined. The uptake coefficient, γ_app, for D₄ and D₅ was similar for the most reactive aerosols tested, with kaolinite ≈hematite > silica. Limited uptake onto carbon black and calcite surfaces was observed for either siloxane. Reaction with hematite and kaolinite resulted in multilayer coverages, suggesting extensive polymerization of D₄ and D₅ on the aerosol surface.     

CAST工艺处理低C/N生活污水的强化脱氮性能

研究了不同运行条件对CAST工艺处理低C/N实际生活污水脱氮性能的影响,并对pH值和ORP的变化规律进行了分析。结果表明,传统4 h运行模式下,提高原水C/N比,TN去除效果并无显著提高;对于低C/N生活污水,降低充水比有利于提高出水TN去除率,然而,充水比降至16%时,系统因低负荷运行发生污泥膨胀。在不投加外碳源的情况下,采用分段进水交替A/O运行模式可大幅改善系统脱氮性能,且TN去除率随着交替次数的增多而提高,交替4次平均去除率达87.23%。系统采用实时控制方式运行时,可根据有机物降解、氨氧化及反硝化时pH值和ORP曲线上是否出现拐点,来判断反应系统的曝气以及搅拌时间是否过长、适当或不足。     

污泥膨胀状态下原生动物群落结构分析

系统研究了丝状菌膨胀与非丝状菌膨胀2种典型污泥状态下原生动物的群落结构特征及其演变规律。伴随丝状菌的大量增殖,原生动物总量相应减少,匍匐型纤毛虫及有壳类肉足虫数量迅速上升,占据明显的优势地位,典型原生动物为斜管虫（Chilodonella sp.）、小轮毛虫（Trochilia minuta）以及匣壳虫（Centropyxis sp.）;非丝状菌污泥膨胀对原生动物总量及种群结构影响较小,伴随粘性菌胶团的大量出现,各功能类群的比例变化较小,但原生动物总量持续增加,其中菌食性纤毛虫呈线性增加,典型原生动物为钟虫（Vorticella sp.）。     

壳聚糖衍生物-镁盐复配去除中性兰模拟废水色度的研究

研究了有机高分子絮凝剂NCTS-M对中性兰染料的絮凝性能。通过测量絮体的Zeta电位以及对絮体进行彩色电视显微扫描初步探讨了该絮凝过程的絮凝机理。结果表明,当投加量为30 mg/L,pH=6时,絮凝效果最明显,脱色率可达93.1%。其絮凝机理主要是压缩双电层以及高分子吸附架桥作用,以压缩双电层为基础。絮凝剂中镁离子在中性条件下对絮凝过程也起到了较强的助凝作用。