Copper recovery from waste printed circuit boards concentrated metal scraps by electrolysis

Copper recovery is the core of waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) treatment. In this study, we proposed a feasible and efficient way to recover copper from WPCBs concentrated metal scraps by direct electrolysis and factors that affect copper recovery rate and purity, mainly CuSO₄·5H₂O concentration, NaCl concentration, H₂SO₄ concentration and current density, were discussed in detail. The results indicated that copper recovery rate increased first with the increase of CuSO₄·5H₂O, NaCl, H₂SO₄ and current density and then decreased with further increasing these conditions. NaCl, H₂SO₄ and current density also showed a similar impact on copper purity, which also increased first and then decreased. Copper purity increased with the increase of CuSO₄·5H₂O. When the concentration of CuSO₄·5H₂O, NaCl and H₂SO₄ was respectively 90, 40 and 118 g/L and current density was 80 mA/cm², copper recovery rate and purity was up to 97.32% and 99.86%, respectively. Thus, electrolysis proposes a feasible and prospective approach for waste printed circuit boards recycle, even for e-waste, though more researches are needed for industrial application.

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Investigation of the accumulation of ash,heavy metals,and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to assess the stability of lysis–cryptic growth sludge reduction in sequencing batch reactor

The accumulation of ash, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (collectively called potential accumulating substances, PAS) was evaluated to ascertain the stability of lysis–cryptic growth sludge reduction process (LSRP) for municipal sludge treatment. One sequencing batch reactor (SBR) incorporated with homogenization was run to test the LSRP and another SBR as a control. The continuous monitoring results for 2 months showed that the ash and heavy metals slightly increased, and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons decreased by 18.0%, indicating that there may be negligible accumulations during the LSRP. Their accumulations met pattern I, as demonstrated by statistical analysis, proving no PAS accumulation for LSRP. This was further confirmed by sludge activity and system performance. Moreover, the mechanism for no PAS accumulation was discussed. It was concluded that the LSRP was stable with no worries about PAS accumulation under the operational conditions.     

Heavy metal pollution in sediments of the largest reservoir (Three Gorges Reservoir) in China: a review

The Three Gorges Dam in China is the world’s largest dam. Upon its completion in 2003, the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) became the largest reservoir in China and plays an important role in economic development and national drinking water safety. However, as a sink and source of heavy metals, there is a lack of continuous and comparative data on heavy metal pollution in sediments. This study reviewed all available literatures published on heavy metals in TGR sediments and further provided a comprehensive assessment of the pollution tendency of these heavy metals. The results showed that heavy metal concentrations in TGR sediments varied spatially and temporally. Temporal variations indicated that Hg in tributaries, as well as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the mainstream, exhibited a higher probability to exceed background values after the impoundment of TGR. Pollution assessments by contamination factor, geoaccumulation index, and potential ecological risk were similar. High Cd and Hg concentrations in both the mainstream and tributaries are a cause for much concern. However, sediment quality guidelines produced different results, as most previous studies adopted different sampling and measurement strategies. The data inconsistencies and lack of continuity regarding the reservoir confirm the need for a continuous monitoring network and the development of quality criteria relevant to the sediments of the TGR in the future.     

Heavy metal (Cu,Cd, Pb,Cr) washing from river sediment using biosurfactant rhamnolipid

Heavy metal-contaminated sediments posed a serious threat to both human beings and environment. A biosurfactant, rhamnolipid, was employed as the washing agent to remove heavy metals in river sediment. Batch experiments were conducted to test the removal capability. The effects of rhamnolipid concentration, washing time, solution pH, and liquid/solid ratio were investigated. The speciation of heavy metals before and after washing in sediment was also analyzed. Heavy metal washing was favored at high concentration, long washing time, and high pH. In addition, the efficiency of washing was closely related to the original speciation of heavy metals in sediment. Rhamnolipid mainly targeted metals in exchangeable, carbonate-bound or Fe-Mn oxide-bound fractions. Overall, rhamnolipid biosurfactant as a washing agent could effectively remove heavy metals from sediment.

     

Pollution characteristics and potential ecological risk assessment of metals in the sediments of Xiaoqing River,Jinan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The spatial–temporal changing characteristics and potential ecological risk combined with local policies and industrial status were analyzed....     

Individual and combined inhibition of phenol and thiocyanate on microbial activity of partial nitritation

This study evaluated the individual and interactive effect of phenol and thiocyanate (SCN⁻) on partial nitritation (PN) activity using batch test and response surface methodology. The IC₅₀ of phenol and SCN⁻ on PN sludge were 5.6 and 351 mg L⁻¹, respectively. The PN sludge was insensitive to phenol and SCN⁻ at levels lower than 1.77 and 43.3 mg L⁻¹, respectively. A regression model equation was developed and validated to predict the relative specific respiration rate (RSRR) of PN sludge exposed to different phenol and SCN⁻ concentrations. In the range of independent variables, the most severe inhibition was observed with a valley value (17%) for RSRR, when the phenol and SCN⁻ concentrations were 4.08 and 198 mg L⁻¹, respectively. An isobole plot was used to judge the combined toxicity of phenol and SCN⁻, and the joint inhibitory effect was variable depending on the composition and concentration of the toxic components. Furthermore, the toxic compounds showed independent effects, which is the most common type of combined toxicity.

     

Role of illumination intensity in microcystin development using Microcystis aeruginosa as the model algae

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) is one of the most common genera of cyanobacteria in algal blooms. In the present work, the impact of the...     

上埋式管道穿越高填方填挖结合部位的受力状态研究

以延安新区黄土高填方工程中的上埋式排水管道为原型,开展了相似比为1:2的室内试验,试验前在模型箱底部一定位置预设沉降底板模拟实际填方的工后沉降过程,在试验土体和管道中布设压力盒、位移计和应变片,以采集试验过程中的管土接触压力、管-土相对位移和管道应变等数据。研究表明,负土拱效应对管道的上部压力影响明显,竖向压力系数最大达3.4,与沉降量的关系符合三次多项式曲线,负土拱效应对管道的影响不可忽略。开挖纵向剖面后发现管道下部土层间出现明显的脱空裂缝,是管道下部管-土接触压力减小的原因。该成果为黄土高填方场地中管周土压力的计算、管道变形控制提供参考。     

絮团粘性分维数的概念及其分析模型

水处理中的絮团具有复杂的形态结构,分维数是描述这种结构的有力工具。通过分析固液体系的粘度与絮团分维数之间的关系,提出了絮团粘性分维数的新概念及粘性分维数测定的数学物理模型,并进行了实验验证。与常用的质量分维数、边界分维数、面积分维数、体积分维数、表面积分维数等相比,絮团的粘性分维数及其测定模型具有易于测量、可同时表征不同类型絮团、可定量分析絮凝产品组成等特点,从而为絮团形态结构的定性及定量研究开辟了新的途径。