Removal of arsenic(III,V) by a granular Mn-oxide-doped Al oxide adsorbent: surface characterization and performance

In order to remove arsenic (As) from contaminated water, granular Mn-oxide-doped Al oxide (GMAO) was fabricated using the compression method with the addition of organic binder. The analysis results of XRD, SEM, and BET indicated that GMAO was microporous with a large specific surface area of 54.26 m^2/g, and it was formed through the aggregation of massive Al/Mn oxide nanoparticles with an amorphous pattern. EDX, mapping, FTIR, and XPS results showed the uniform distribution of Al/Mn elements and numerous hydroxyl groups on the adsorbent surface. Compression tests indicated a satisfactory mechanical strength of GMAO. Batch adsorption results showed that As(V) adsorption achieved equilibrium faster than As(III), whereas the maximum adsorption capacity of As(III) estimated from the Langmuir isotherm at 25 °C (48.52 mg/g) was greater than that of As(V) (37.94 mg/g). The As removal efficiency could be maintained in a wide pH range of 3~8. The presence of phosphate posed a significant adverse effect on As adsorption due to the competition mechanisms. In contrast, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ could favor As adsorption via cation-bridge involvement. A regeneration method was developed by using sodium hydroxide solution for As elution from saturated adsorbents, which permitted GMAO to keep over 75% of its As adsorption capacity even after five adsorption–regeneration cycles. Column experiments showed that the breakthrough volumes for the treatment of As(III)-spiked and As(V)-spiked water (As concentration = 100 μg/L) were 2224 and 1952, respectively. Overall, GMAO is a potential adsorbent for effectively removing As from As-contaminated groundwater in filter application.

     

Experimental thermal storage research of organic binary phase change materials in building environment

This paper aims to reveal the heat transfer mechanism of low-temperature phase change material (PCM) and design PCM heat storage device in building heating environment. Firstly, low-temperature binary PCMs of lauric acid and stearic acid are prepared, and their thermal properties are investigated by DSC. Then, shell and tube latent heat thermal energy storage units are conducted, and heat transfer experiments are carried out to analyze the heat transfer mechanism of PCM. The results demonstrate that natural convection plays an important role in heat transfer process, and the heat storage efficiency of PCMs can be significantly enhanced by increasing the fin width and improving the inlet heat transfer fluid (HTF) temperature. Furthermore, some proposals are put forward to guide the design of PCM storage device in building heating environment.     

城镇化过程对鄱阳湖流域生态系统的影响

城镇化是社会经济发展和现代文明的重要标志,但带来了严重的资源危机和生态环境问题。以鄱阳湖独特的流域特征为研究对象,以城市人口数量表征城镇化的进程,分类解析1990~2011年江西省统计年鉴数据,通过讨论鄱阳湖土地资源结构变化、水资源变化特征、湿地生态系统、生物多样性等资源消耗程度,以及大气污染和水污染为代表的城镇主要污染问题,探讨快速城镇化下鄱阳湖生态环境对干扰的响应。结果表明：鄱阳湖流域各城市的城镇化进展及其机制不同,南昌、九江和上饶城市扩张迅速,而景德镇和赣州发展较平缓;城镇化导致水资源日益紧缺,各城市年总用水量2003年以后均呈增加趋势,其中农业用水量逐年增加,工业用水量各城市年变化存在差异;生物多样性特征受到严重威胁,湖泊水面及湿地面积的持续减少,生物环境的组成和结构发生改变;九江等城市工业废气排放量加大、南昌等城市工业废水排放高,造成湖区环境恶化。根据分析,建议鄱阳湖流域未来从规划土地利用类型、统一调配水资源、制定生物多样性保护对策、加强环境污染治理、强化环保宣传和规划与政策法律化等多方面采取措施。本文为鄱阳湖生态系统可持续发展和生态经济区的城镇化建设提供理论参考     

Estimation of building-related construction and demolition waste in Shanghai

One methodology is proposed to estimate the quantification and composition of building-related construction and demolition (C&D) waste in a fast developing region like Shanghai, PR China. The varieties of structure types and building waste intensities due to the requirement of progressive building design and structure codes in different decades are considered in this regional C&D waste estimation study. It is concluded that approximately 13.71 million tons of C&D waste was generated in 2012 in Shanghai, of which more than 80% of this C&D waste was concrete, bricks and blocks. Analysis from this study can be applied to facilitate C&D waste governors and researchers the duty of formulating precise policies and specifications. As a matter of fact, at least a half of the enormous amount of C&D waste could be recycled if implementing proper recycling technologies and measures. The appropriate managements would be economically and environmentally beneficial to Shanghai where the per capita per year output of C&D waste has been as high as 842 kg in 2010.     

电镀污泥的热处理特性以及对金属回收的影响

焙烧-酸浸法可有效回收电镀污泥中的有价金属,而污泥的热处理特性是决定能否采用焙烧预处理的重要因素。研究了氧化焙烧和还原焙烧对污泥成分和金属浸出性的影响,并对焙烧前后的污泥进行了金属形态分析和X射线衍射(XRD)分析。结果表明,焙烧预处理实现了污泥减量和金属富集;ES1经氧化焙烧后金属浸出率接近原泥,Cu的浸出率达99%;ES2的还原焙烧效果优于氧化焙烧,特别是Cu的浸出率超过97%,XRD分析发现,还原焙烧过程中金属Cu被还原为铁铜合金;2种焙烧均造成了ES3中目标金属Ni的浸出率的降低;金属浸出性的下降与残渣态的形成有关。     

The characteristics of nitrate removal by the psychrotolerant denitrifying bacterium Acinetobacter johnonii DBP-3, isolated from a low-temperature eutrophic body of water

A psychrotolerant denitrifying bacterial strain, DBP-3, was isolated from a eutrophic body of water by low-temperature-oriented acclimation culture. Based on its morphologicalandbiochemicalcharacteristics and 16S rDNA gene sequence, the bacterium was identified as belonging to the genus Acinetobacter and closely related to A. johnonii. The satisfactory growth of DBP-3 was observed at 10–30°C and pH 7–9. Strain DBP-3 was able to utilize three types of carbon sources (sodium acetate > sodium citrate > glucose) to support growth and denitrification. DBP-3 grew faster, but with lower nitrate removal efficiency and higher nitrite accumulation, under aerobic conditions than under anoxic conditions. DBP-3 was extremely susceptible to tetracycline and rifampicine and less sensitive to ampicillin and penicillin. The growth of DBP-3 was significantly affected by Hg (II), Cr (VI), Pb (II), Cd (II), and As (III) at 0.32, 0.63, 1.25, 2.5, and 25.0 mg L^?1, respectively. Interestingly, chromium (VI) significantly promoted DBP-3 growth at concentrations lower than 0.32 mg L^?1. These data may be helpful to support the use of strain DBP-3 in the purification of eutrophic water bodies at low temperatures.     

Kinetics study of fermentative hydrogen production from liquid swine manure supplemented with glucose under controlled pH

Kinetics of H₂ production from liquid swine manure supplemented with glucose by mixed anaerobic cultures was investigated using batch experiments under four different pH conditions (4.4, 5.0, 5.6, and uncontrolled). The temperature for the experiments was controlled at 37 ± 1°C and the length of experiments varied between 50 and 120 hours, depending upon the time needed for completion of each individual experiment. The modified Gompertz model was evaluated for its suitability for describing the H₂ production potential, H₂ production rate, and substrate consumption rate for all the experiments. The results showed that the Gompertz model could adequately fit the experimental results. The effect of pH was significant on all kinetic parameters for H₂ production including yield, production rate and lag time, and the substrate utilization rate. The optimal pH was found to be 5.0, at which a maximum H₂ production rate (0.64 L H₂/h) was obtained, and deviation from the optimal pH could result in substantial reductions in H₂ production rate (0.32 L H₂/h for pH 4.0 and 0.43 L H₂/h for pH 5.6). The results also showed that if pH was not controlled for the batch fermentation process, the substrate utilization efficiency could steeply decrease from 98.8% to 33.7%.     

Influences of adding easily degradable organic waste on the minimization and humification of organic matter during straw composting

To find a better composting process with low greenhouse gas emission and high humus production, the effect of adding kitchen waste on reduction and humification of organic matter during straw composting was studied. Three processes were compared, consisting of different ratios of straw and kitchen waste (1:2, 1:1, and 2:1). At four time points over a 62-d incubation, the reduction and humification of compost was evaluated by measuring the total mass, carbon content, and humic material content of the compost. Treatment 1 (straw/kitchen waste ratio of 1:2) reduced the total mass of compost the most. Treatment 2 (straw/kitchen waste ratio of 1:1) reduced the total carbon content the most, reflecting the highest emission of greenhouse gas. Treatment 3 produced the most humic acid material and released the lowest amount of carbon. Hence, from the point of view of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing stable organic matter such as humus and humic acid during composting, treatment #3 was optimal. The three treatments resulted in significant differences in microbial biomass and enzyme activity during composting. The highest amount of active microbial biomass was associated with the largest reduction in compost mass (treatment 1). Higher proportions of straw (treatments 2 and 3), which contains more lignin, were associated with greater β-glycosidase activity, which may generate more humus that can improve soil quality. Dehydrogenase activity seemed to be the most important microbial factor in organic carbon catabolism or humification.     

Chemical oxidation of sulfadiazine by the Fenton process: Kinetics,pathways, toxicity evaluation

This paper investigated sulfadiazine oxidation by the Fenton process under various reaction conditions. The reaction conditions tested in the experiments included the initial pH value of reaction solutions, and the dosages of ferrous ions and hydrogen peroxide. Under the reaction conditions with pH 3, 0.25 mM of ferrous ion and 2 mM of hydrogen peroxide, a removal efficiency of nearly 100% was achieved for sulfadiazine. A series of intermediate products including 4-OH-sulfadiazine/or 5-OH-sulfadiazine, 2-aminopyrimidine, sulfanilamide, formic acid, and oxalic acid were identified. Based on these products, the possible oxidation pathway of sulfadiazine by Fenton's reagent was proposed. The toxicity evaluation of reaction solutions showed increased antimicrobial effects following the Fenton oxidation process. The results from this study suggest that the Fenton oxidation process could remove sulfadiazine, but also increase solution toxicity due to the presence of more toxic products.     

Hydrothermal treatment for inactivating some hygienic microbial indicators from food waste–amended animal feed

To achieve the hygienic safety of food waste used as animal feed, a hydrothermal treatment process of 60–110 °C for 10–60 min was applied on the separated food waste from a university canteen. Based on the microbial analysis of raw waste, the inactivation of hygienic indicators of Staphylococcus aureus (SA), total coliform (TC), total aerobic plate counts (TPC), and molds and yeast (MY) were analyzed during the hydrothermal process. Results showed that indicators' concentrations were substantially reduced after hydrothermal treatment, with a greater reduction observed when the waste was treated with a higher temperature and pressure and a longer ramping time. The 110 °C hydrothermal treatment for 60 min was sufficient to disinfect food waste as animal feed from the viewpoint of hygienic safety. Results obtained so far indicate that hydrothermal treatment can significantly decrease microbial indicators' concentrations but does not lead to complete sterilization, because MY survived even after 60 min treatment at 110 °C. The information from the present study will contribute to the microbial risk control of food waste–amended animal feed, to cope with legislation on food or feed safety.

Implications: Reduction of microbial indicators at ramping time and holding time during the hydrothermal process showed that hydrothermal treatment is an effective method to achieve hygienic feed from food waste to a certain extent, but the conditions researched in this study were not enough for the complete sterilization of food waste, because of the different heat resistance of bacteria and spores.