Zinc removal from synthetic waters using magnetite/graphene oxide composites

The removal of heavy metals from wastewater has become a global challenge, which demands the continuous study of efficient and low-cost treatment alternatives such as adsorption. In this research, the removal of zinc was evaluated using batch adsorption processes with nonconventional materials such as graphene oxide (GO), magnetite (MG), and their composites (GO:MG), formulated with three weight ratios (2:1, 1:1, and 1:2). Graphene was synthesized by the modified Marcano method, using pencil lead graphite as a precursor. MG and the composites were synthesized by chemical coprecipitation of ferrous sulfate and ferric chloride. The materials were characterized by Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method to determine the functional groups, microstructural and morphological characteristics, and specific surface area. Batch adsorption tests were carried out to optimize the adsorbent dose and contact time with zinc solutions of 10 ppm. Zinc adsorption reached equilibrium at 2 h, with an optimal dose between 0.25 and 1.0 g/L. The maximum zinc removal efficiencies/adsorption capacities were 98.6%/165.6, 83.4%/47.6, 83.5%/21.9, 72.8%/19.9, and 82.2%/9.25 mg/g using GO, 2GO:1MG, 1GO:1MG, 1GO:2MG, and MG, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis of the isotherm and adsorption kinetics models determined that the adsorption processes using MG and the composites fit the Sips and pseudo-second-order models.     

Use of beryllium-7 to document soil redistribution following forest harvest operations

Rapid and reliable methods for documenting soil erosion associated with forest harvest operations are needed to support the development of best management practices for soil and water conservation. To address this need, the potential for using 7Be measurements to estimate patterns and amounts of soil redistribution associated with individual post-harvest events was explored. The 7Be technique, which was originally developed for use on agricultural land, was employed to estimate soil redistribution associated with a period of heavy rainfall within a harvested forest area located in the Lake Region of Chile (39 degrees 44'7' S, 73 degrees 10'39' W; 22% slope; and mean annual rainfall 2300 mm yr(-1)). The results provided by the 7Be technique were validated against direct measurements of soil gain or loss during the same period obtained using erosion pins. The information produced by the two approaches was similar. The results of this study demonstrate the potential for using 7Be measurements to document event-based erosion in recently harvested forest areas.     

Choosing policy instruments for controlling ozone depleting substances in a developing context: the case of Chile

Chile ratified the Montreal Protocol in 1990 which sets out an agenda for the reduction and then elimination of ozone depleting substances (ODS); however, by 1998 the country had not yet defined a strategy to encourage greater compliance, so that in the same year the National Environmental Commission decided to examine the policy options available. This paper examines the process followed to develop this strategy. As a first step it was necessary to look at how far the implicit policy of "business as usual" could be stretched without jeopardizing Chile's compliance obligations. A second step included quantifying compliance costs and their impact on different policy instruments and so policy choice. Finally, the attitudes of decision-makers or participants were identified, by interviews with officials of the different public agents involved, in order to weigh their views about policy. A strategy was proposed, based on this information, which the Chilean regulator has used, although not in its entirety. The methodology developed could well be useful for developing-country Protocol signatories building their own appropriate compliance strategy.     

浙江经验:"三生统筹"理念下的农村环境综合整治

浙江是我国农村现代化进展较快的省,也是农村环境问题较为突出的省.浙江省按照"三生统筹"理念,政府和市场各尽所能,重点推进了乡镇企业污染集中治理,实施了以农村聚居点环境综合整治为主题的"万村整治,千村示范"工程以及生态农业促进计划,在解决农村三类环境污染问题上积累了若干经验:对于乡镇企业以及集约化畜禽养殖场的污染问题,通过产业布局调整和进园、市场化、集中治理机制解决;对于农村聚居点的环境污染问题,采取资源、能源、环境问题统筹,政府投资和民营资金介入统筹的办法解决;对于农业面源污染问题,通过提高化肥、农药利用率及推行绿色食品管理体系等前置手段解决.在我国农村现代化进程迅速的今天,"浙江经验"对其他省市的借鉴意义明显.     

TiO2/活性炭催化剂对4-CP的吸附和光催化活性

采用常压金属有机物化学气相沉积技术在活性炭表面沉积构成纳米TiO2催化剂,XRD分析表明,沉积在活性炭表面的TiO2为锐钛矿晶型.TEM分析表明负载量为8%(wt)时,TiO2颗粒的粒径为10-20nm;载体负载前后BET面积仅改变了6%,表明负载TiO2后对活性炭的结构影响不大.利用Langmuir-Hinshelwood动力学模型探讨了TiO2/活性炭催化剂对4-CP的吸附行为和光催化活性之间的关系,求出4-CP降解反应速率常数Kr,在紫外光照条件下催化剂对4-CP的吸附明显增强.     

纳米级铁粉脱氯降解四氯化碳

四氯化碳的生产和使用,给人类带来了较大危害.为此,采用纳米铁粉这一新方法对其进行脱氯处理.试验以纳米级铁粉对四氯化碳的脱氯率为考察指标,选用L25(56)正交试验方案,考察了降解介质的初始pH值、纳米铁粉的质量、降解温度、摇床转速和脱氯时间5个影响因素.结果表明,pH值这一因素有极显著影响;在得出的纳米铁粉对四氯化碳脱氯的最佳工艺条件下,获得了99.5%的脱氯率,为有机氯化物脱氯开辟了一条新途径.     

基于人工神经网络的气体泄爆最大超压预测研究

为解决传统经验公式在预测气体泄爆中最大超压出现时的较大偏差或过于保守的问题,提出使用人工神经网络预测气体泄爆最大超压。基于124组实验数据,采用BP与RBF神经网络,通过优化算法计算与迭代循环对泄爆样本中的影响因素进行降维与选择,并确定2类神经网络本身在学习与计算气体泄爆样本时的相关参数。结果表明:PCA（主成分分析法）在当前样本条件下的降维效果较差,而通过迭代对比确认气体泄爆样本中的5类特征全部保留时神经网络的训练模拟效果最好;通过对124组实验数据进行随机挑选训练集与测试集的训练模拟结果发现,神经网络对气体泄爆中最大超压的预测效果较好;通过对比Molkov提出的和经Fakandu等改进的NFPA 68经验公式以及2类神经网络的预测结果表明,神经网络相比于传统气体泄爆经验公式具有明显优势。     

Correction to: Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation in a changing production forest matrix

Ambio - In the original published article, the sentence “Nevertheless, semi-natural forest remnants continue to be harvested and fragmented (Svensson et al. 2018; Jonsson et al. 2019), and...     

Geochemical distribution of selected elements in flotation tailings and soils/sediments from the dam spill at the abandoned antimony mine Stolice,Serbia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Materials held within mine tailings pose a serious risk to the environment in cases of tailings dam failure. Collapse of the tailing dam at the...     

Effects of acidic attack on chemical,mineralogical, and morphological properties of geomaterials

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Exposure of geomaterials to acidic leachates may compromise their structure and functionality due to changes in physicochemical, mineralogical, and...