Improving the feasibility of aquaculture feed by using microalgae

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aquaculture industry is an efficient edible protein producer and grows faster than any other food sector. Therefore, it requires enormous amounts...     

Analysis of stability of silica nano-particle-laden microbubble dispersion

Microbubbles are small gas-filled bubbles which have wide application in various industries. The stability of microbubble is of primary concern for the application of microbubble. In this research, the stability of microbubble dispersion generated using CTAB surfactant is analyzed by drainage mechanism. The stability of microbubble dispersion is studied on the basis of the half-life of microbubble dispersion. Microbubble dispersion gas fraction and apparent rise velocity of interface of microbubble dispersion are also calculated. The size of microbubble is estimated from the apparent rise velocity of interface of microbubble dispersion. Further, silica nano-particles are added to the surfactants to study their effect on the stability of microbubble dispersion. The observed results clearly indicate that the stability of microbubble dispersion is significantly affected by the surfactant concentration and the weight of silica nano-particle in the liquid. Similar results were observed for the apparent rise velocity of interface and bubble size of dispersion. The present work may be beneficial for the application of microbubble in various chemical and biochemical industries and scientific community.

     

Review and prospects of mining chemical dust suppressant: classification and mechanisms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Coal mine pollution is a serious threat to the mine safe production and occupational health of miners. Chemical dust suppression can effectively...     

The individual and cumulative effect of brominated flame retardant and polyvinylchloride (PVC) on thermal degradation of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers without and with a polybrominated epoxy type flame retardant were thermally degraded at 450 degrees C alone (10 g) and mixed with polyvinylchloride (PVC) (8 g/2 g). Gaseous and liquid products of degradation were analysed by various gas chromatographic methods (GC with TCD, FID, AED, MSD) in order to determine the individual and cumulative effect of bromine and chlorine on the quality and quantity of degradation compounds. It was found that nitrogen, chlorine, bromine and oxygen are present as organic compounds in liquid products, their quantity depends on the pyrolysed polymer or polymer mixture. Bromophenol and dibromophenols were the main brominated compounds that come from the flame retardant. 1-Chloroethylbenzene was the main chlorine compound observed in liquid products. It was also determined that interactions appear at high temperatures during decomposition between the flame retardant, PVC and the ABS copolymer.     

Improved computational model (AQUIFAS) for activated sludge, integrated fixed-film activated sludge, and moving-bed biofilm reactor systems, Part I: Semi-empirical model development

Research was undertaken to develop a model for activated sludge, integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS), and moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) systems. The model can operate with up to 12 cells (reactors) in series, with biofilm media incorporated to one or more cells, except the anaerobic cells. The process configuration can be any combination of anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic, post-anoxic with or without supplemental carbon, and reaeration; it can also include any combination of step feed and recycles, including recycles for mixed liquor, return activated sludge, nitrates, and membrane bioreactors. This paper presents the structure of the model. The model embeds a biofilm model into a multicell activated sludge model. The biofilm flux rates for organics, nutrients, and biomass can be computed by two methods--a semi-empirical model of the biofilm that is relatively simpler, or a diffusional model that is computationally intensive. The values of the kinetic parameters for the model were measured using pilot-scale activated sludge, IFAS, and MBBR systems. For the semiempirical version, a series of Monod equations were developed for chemical oxygen demand, ammonium-nitrogen, and oxidized-nitrogen fluxes to the biofilm. Within the equations, a second Monod expression is used to simulate the effect of changes in biofilm thickness and fraction nitrifiers in the biofilm. The biofilm flux model is then linked to the activated sludge model. The diffusional model and the verification of the models are presented in subsequent papers (Sen and Randall, 2008a, 2008b). The model can be used to quantify the amount of media and surface area required to achieve nitrification, identify the best locations for the media, and optimize the dissolved oxygen levels and nitrate recycle rates. Some of the advanced features include the ability to apply different media types and fill fractions in cells; quantify nitrification, denitrification, and biomass production in the biofilm and mixed liquor suspended solids; and perform dynamic simulations.     

Superior photodecomposition of pyrene by metal ion-loaded TiO2 catalyst under UV light irradiation

Background

The photocatalytic degradation of pyrene under UV (125?W Hg-Arc, 10.4?mW/cm²) irradiation of TiO₂ aqueous suspension has been found to be highly improved with the dissolved transition metal ions like Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ag⁺, and Au³⁺, etc. As the reduction potential of these metals lies below the conduction band (CB) position (?0.1?eV) of TiO₂, the photoexcited electron transfer occurs more readily and reduces electron?Chole recombination rate. Therefore, it has a beneficial influence on the photocatalytic ability of TiO₂ because of rapid Fermi energy equilibrium between the CB of TiO₂ and its surface adsorbed metal ions.

Results and discussion

The Fermi level is referred to as the electrochemical potential and plays an important role in the band theory of solids. When metal and semiconductor are in contact, electron migration from photoirradiated semiconductor to the deposited metal occurs at the interface until two Fermi levels equilibrate and enhanced the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor photocatalyst. Ni²⁺ having more negative reduction potential (?0.25?eV) than the CB of TiO₂ imparts negligible co-catalytic activity to TiO₂ photoreaction. It also revealed that loading of Au³⁺ ions displayed higher degradation rate of pyrene than Au photodeposition. Furthermore, when the amount of dissolved Fe⁺³ and Au³⁺ ions gradually increases from 0.1 to 2?wt.%, the pyrene photodecomposition rate also become faster.     

珠江口沉积物重金属污染及其潜在生态危害评价

对珠江口表层沉积物中重金属的分布及富集状况进行了分析 ,并采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对其生态危害程度进行了评价。结果表明 :珠江口表层沉积物中Zn、Cr、Cu、Cd等重金属含量呈现由西北渐向东南递减的变化特点 ,而Pb、As、Hg等重金属元素的含量分布无明显规律 ;这些重金属中 ,以Hg的富集程度最高 ,其余元素的富集均较低。生态危害评价显示 ,除Hg属中等危害程度外 ,其余的重金属元素均属轻微危害程度 ;珠江口表层沉积物中主要重金属污染程度的顺序为Hg >Cd >Pb >Cu >As>Cr>Zn。     

弧焊机器人用数控焊接变位机的研制

依据现有进口弧焊机器人的技术特点和工作要求 ,研制了与之配套的数控焊接变位机。该机工作台可进行旋转和倾斜两个运动 ,可使工件在最佳的位置进行焊接 ,与弧焊机器人一起构成了柔性加工单元。在实际焊接应用中 ,效果良好     

基于主成分和粒子群优化支持向量机的水质评价模型

水质的评价是治理水污染必不可少的工作。为了准确、快速地对水质进行评价,利用主成分分析法从水质监测常见的多个物化指标提取出主成分,然后将主成分作为支持向量分类机的输入,利用历史数据进行水质评价训练并用粒子群算法优化参数,构造出水质评价模型,将从物化指标中得出的主成分代入此模型即可得到水质类别。最后,选取水质监测点实测数据进行试验,结果表明,模型的水质评价结果准确且稳定。     

电极改性对电极生物膜反硝化反应器硝酸盐氮去除性能的影响

探究在碳纤维毡电极上利用恒电压电化学聚合聚吡咯(PPy)的聚合效果,并利用傅里叶变换红外线(FTIR)及扫描电镜(SEM)对其进行表征;将聚吡咯覆膜改性后的碳纤维毡电极应用到自养反硝化的电极生物膜反应器(BER)中,考察电极改性对自养反硝化电极生物膜反应器的硝酸盐氮去除性能影响,并研究电极改性对生物膜附着量及生物膜微生物群落的影响。结果表明,恒电压电化学聚合能够在碳纤维电极表面形成均匀稳定的聚吡咯膜,从而实现聚吡咯在炭纤维毡电极上的覆膜改性。改性后的电极应用到自养反硝化电极生物膜反应器中,可使反应器对NO3--N的去除效率由对照反应器的67.3%增加到83.9%,处理效果提高了24.7%。对反应器内电极生物膜进行生物量测定和扫描电镜分析,可以看到R2反应器中改性电极生物膜附着量明显多于R1反应器中未改性电极生物膜的附着量,说明电极改性有利于生物膜的附着。电极生物膜微生物16S rDNA分析中R1反应器电极生物膜菌落组成中优势菌属为Dechloromonas sp.,而R2反应器电极生物膜的优势菌为Hydrogenophaga sp.(噬氢菌属)和Thauera sp.(陶厄氏菌属),两者有明显差别,并且R2反应器比R1反应器生物膜的菌落组成更多样化,这说明电极材料的改性对电极生物膜微生物群落的组成产生了影响。