Wastewater-nitrogen removal using polylactic acid/starch as carbon source: Optimization of operating parameters using response surface methodology

The use of PLA/starch blends for nitrogen removal was achieved. The influence of different operating parameters on responses was verified using RSM. The conditions for desired responses were successfully optimized simultaneously. Blends material may have a promising application prospect in the future. Nitrogen removal from ammonium-containing wastewater was conducted using polylactic acid (PLA)/starch blends as carbon source and carrier for functional bacteria. The exclusive and interactive influences of operating parameters (i.e., temperature, pH, stirring rate, and PLA-to-starch ratio (PLA proportion)) on nitrification (Y₁), denitrification (Y₂), and COD release rates (Y₃) were investigated through response surface methodology. Experimental results indicated that nitrogen removal could be successfully achieved in the PLA/starch blends through simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. The carbon release rate of the blends was controllable. The sensitivity of Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ to different operating parameters also differed. The sequence for each response was as follows: for Y₁, pH>stirring rate>PLA proportion>temperature; for Y₂, pH>PLA proportion>temperature>stirring rate; and for Y₃, stirring rate>pH>PLA proportion>temperature. In this study, the following optimum conditions were observed: temperature, 32.0°C; pH 7.7; stirring rate, 200.0 r·min^-1; and PLA proportion, 0.4. Under these conditions, Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ were 134.0 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, 160.9 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, and 7.6 × 10³ μg-O·g-blend^-1·h^-1, respectively. These results suggested that the PLA/starch blends may be an ideal packing material for nitrogen removal.     

Improved blending strategy for membrane modification by virtue of surface segregation using surface-tailored amphiphilic nanoparticles

Membrane modification is one of the most feasible and effective solutions to membrane fouling problem which tenaciously hampers the further augmentation of membrane separation technology. Blending modification with nanoparticles (NPs), owing to the convenience of being incorporated in established membrane production lines, possesses an advantageous viability in practical applications. However, the existing blending strategy suffers from a low utilization efficiency due to NP encasement by membrane matrix. The current study proposed an improved blending modification approach with amphiphilic NPs (aNPs), which were prepared through silanization using 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPMA) as coupling agents and ZnO or SiO₂ as pristine NPs (pNPs), respectively. The Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed the presence of appropriate organic components in both the ZnO and SiO₂ aNPs, which verified the success of the silanization process. As compared with the pristine and conventional pNP-blended membranes, both the ZnO aNP-blended and SiO₂ aNP-blended membranes with proper silanization (100% and 200%w/w) achieved a significantly increased blending efficiency with more NPs scattering on the internal and external membrane surfaces under scanning electron microscope observation. This improvement contributed to the increase of membrane hydrophilicity. Nevertheless, an extra dosage of the TMSPMA led to an encasement of NPs, thereby adversely affecting the properties of the resultant membranes. On the basis of all the tests, 100% (w/w) was selected as the optimum TMSPMA dosage for blending modification for both the ZnO and SiO₂ types.

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Arsenic trophodynamics along the food chains/webs of different ecosystems: a review

In drinking water, arsenic (As) food chain accumulation may pose a risk to human health. An attempt was made to synthesise the published information concerning As trophic transfer along the food chain/web of various marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Some investigations included As speciation. Further objectives were to outline the factors potentially influencing As trophodynamics and to understand the consequence of As trophic transfer in the environment.     

Effects of visible light radiation on macrophyte litter degradation and nutrient release in water samples from a eutrophic shallow lake

Visible light is a major fraction of the solar spectrum; however, information on visible light radiation of macrophyte detritus is lacking. In this study, we conducted a microcosm experiment to assess the effects of visible light radiation on degradation of two litter species: Potamogeton malaianus (P. malaianus) and Phragmites australis (Ph. australis). This research represents an investigation of mass loss, microbial activity and nutrients released over a period of 168 days. Overall, we found that visible light radiation had significant effects on litter decomposition, but it did not affect the microbial activities which degrade cellulose and lignin. The decomposition rate order of the three components in P. malaianus and Ph. australis in treatments was: cellulose?>?hemicellulose?>?lignin. The visible light radiation mainly affected the degradation of lignin, which is the primary compound in litter susceptible to photodegradation. The exposure to visible light radiation up to 17.6?Wm^?2 stimulated the dissolved organic carbon release and reduced the molecular weight to less reactive. Meanwhile, no obvious difference in nutrient contents (TP, TN, NO₃–N, NO₂–N, and NH₃–N) was observed among different visible light intensities. The results of this study contribute to better understanding of the photochemical behaviour of macrophyte litter in shallow lakes.     

浓度效应对卡马西平在生物炭上的吸附动力学影响

为了解人工合成药物在生物炭上的吸附动力学特征及其浓度效应的影响,选择卡马西平(CBZ)为目标污染物。探讨不同初始质量浓度(2、4、25、50 mg·L~(-1))在不同裂解温度(200、300、500℃)下制备的生物炭上的吸附动力学特征。结果表明,双室一级动力学模型可以精确地描述CBZ在生物炭上的吸附动力学特征。CBZ的快室吸附对总体吸附的贡献随初始浓度的增大而减小,而慢室吸附贡献则增大。π-π作用可能对CBZ的吸附贡献较大。孔隙填充可以描述慢室吸附过程,可能是吸附速率的控制环节。     

知识经济对云南环境科技的影响

知识经济对环境保护产生正面和负面方面的影响。对云南环境科技的影响，表现在思想观念的解放、思维方式的转变、科技方法的创新、常规技术升华、科技成果转化、环保产业结构调整等方面。我们应从不断总结、发展知识经济型环保产业、培养和储备人才等方面抓住机遇，实现云南环境科技的跨越。     

红嘴鸥与环境关系初探

分析调查表明，红嘴鸥适应环境能力较强，耐受重金属污染泊能力也较强，昆明滇池的重金属污染与红嘴鸥体内金属含量的高低没有直接关系，但大量红嘴鸥入城会造成局部区域的粪便污染，导致蚊虫滋生和疾病产生。     

珠穆朗玛峰北坡绒布冰川区水体的化学特征

１９９７－０５在珠峰地区绒布冰川采集的４类水样的实测资料表明,本区各类水体都呈碱性,ＰＨ值的大小顺序为：湖水〉湖水〉表层雪。河水和湖水的阴离子以ＳＯ＾２－４为最大,而表层雪样品以Ｃｌ－最大;     

工业废石膏在地基加固中的应用

研究和实践表明:工业废石膏与水泥配合加固软土地基,与单用水泥加固相比,加固土强度可以成倍提高。废石膏的最佳掺量一般为水泥用量的20%左右。用废石膏水泥加固时,其水化物不仅有与水泥相同的水化硅酸钙将松散的土粒胶结成整体,而且还产生钙矾石,其晶体膨胀填充孙隙使加固土强度进一步提高。利用废石膏加固地基不会产生二次污染。     

废催化剂浸出规律的静态实验方法

利用静态浸出实验方法对废催化剂中重金属在不同固水比和浸出次数条件下的浸出规律进行了系统研究。实验发现浸出次数大于３次后,重金属的浸出浓度和浸出速率趋于稳定,同时固水比的增加也没有明显改变废催化剂中重金属的浸出。认为在浸取次数大于３次以后,随着表面溶质的溶解,浸出过程主要为内扩散所控制。