A batch study on the bio-fixation of carbon dioxide in the absorbed solution from a chemical wet scrubber by hot spring and marine algae

Carbon dioxide mass transfer is a key factor in cultivating micro-algae except for the light limitation of photosynthesis. It is a novel idea to enhance mass transfer with the cyclic procedure of absorbing CO(2) with a high performance alkaline abosorber such as a packed tower and regenerating the alkaline solution with algal photosynthesis. Hence, the algae with high affinity for alkaline condition must be purified. In this study, a hot spring alga (HSA) was purified from an alkaline hot spring (pH 9.3, 62 degrees C) in Taiwan and grows well over pH 11.5 and 50 degrees C. For performance of HSA, CO(2) removal efficiencies in the packed tower increase about 5-fold in a suitable growth condition compared to that without adding any potassium hydroxide. But ammonia solution was not a good choice for this system with regard to carbon dioxide removal efficiency because of its toxicity on HSA. In addition, HSA also exhibits a high growth rate under the controlled pHs from 7 to 11. Besides, a well mass balance of carbon and nitrogen made sure that less other byproducts formed in the procedure of carboxylation. For analysis of some metals in HSA, such as Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, related to the photosynthesis increased by a rising cultivated pH and revealed that those metals might be accumulated under alkaline conditions but the growth rate was still limited by the ratio of bicarbonate (useful carbon source) and carbonate. Meanwhile, Nannochlopsis oculta (NAO) was also tested under different additional carbon sources. The results revealed that solutions of sodium/potassium carbonate are better carbon sources than ammonia carbonate/bicarbonate for the growth of NAO. However, pH 9.6 of growth limitation based on sodium was lower than one of HSA. The integrated system is, therefore, more feasible to treat CO(2) in the flue gases using the algae with higher alkaline affinity such as HSA in small volume bioreactors.     

Effects of coal spoil amendment on heavy metal accumulation and physiological aspects of ryegrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lolium perenne</Emphasis> L.) growing in copper mine tailings

Copper mine tailings pose many threats to the surrounding environment and human health, and thus, their remediation is fundamental. Coal spoil is the waste by-product of coal mining and characterized by low levels of metals, high content of organic matter, and many essential microelements. This study was designed to evaluate the role of coal spoil on heavy uptake and physiological responses of Lolium perenne L. grown in copper mine tailings amended with coal spoil at rates of 0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 20%. The results showed that applying coal spoil to copper mine tailings decreased the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents in tailings and reduced those metal contents in both roots and shoots of the plant. However, application of coal spoil increased the DTPA-extractable Cr concentration in tailings and also increased Cr uptake and accumulation by Lolium perenne L. The statistical analysis of physiological parameters indicated that chlorophyll and carotenoid increased at the lower amendments of coal spoil followed by a decrease compared to their respective controls. Protein content was enhanced at all the coal spoil amendments. When treated with coal spoil, the activities of superoxide dismutases (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) responded differently. CAT activity was inhibited, but POD activity was increased with increasing amendment ratio of coal spoil. SOD activity increased up to 1% coal spoil followed by a decrease. Overall, the addition of coal spoil decreased the oxidative stress in Lolium perenne L., reflected by the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the plant. It is concluded that coal spoil has the potential to stabilize most metals studied in copper mine tailings and ameliorate the harmful effects in Lolium perenne L. through changing the physiological attributes of the plant grown in copper mine tailings.     

Preliminary study on removing Cs+/Sr2+ by activated porous calcium silicate—A by-product from high-alumina fly ash recycling industry

¹³⁷Cs⁺/⁹⁰Sr²⁺-containing radioactive wastewater is one of the most important problems that the world has been facing with. A by-product, activated porous calcium silicate, is generated at high levels by the pre-desiliconizing and soda-lime-sintering processes for producing Al₂O₃ from high-alumina fly ash. In order to examine if this by-product could be used as an absorbent for removal of ¹³⁷Cs⁺/⁹⁰Sr²⁺ from radioactive wastewater, various parameters, such as pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, and initial concentration, were discussed. Results indicated that the equilibrium reached in about 2 hr. Activated porous calcium silicate was highly pH sensitive and able to remove Cs⁺/Sr²⁺ in a near-neutral environment. The adsorption equilibrium was best described by Freundlich isotherm equations, and the adsorption of Cs⁺/Sr²⁺ was a physical process. The adsorption kinetic data could be better fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption was controlled by multidiffusion. Current study showed that activated porous calcium silicate has a good adsorption of Cs⁺/Sr²⁺ for their removal. However, other characteristics, such as selectivity because of coexisting cations, elution and regeneration, thermal stability, and acid resistance, should be discussed carefully before using it in an actual field.

Implications:Removing ¹³⁷Cs⁺/⁹⁰Sr²⁺ from radioactive wastewater is one of the tough issues that has been attracting more and more attention world widely, which is the same as fly ash. For recycling high-alumina fly ash, in which Al is extracted to produce Al₂O₃, a huge amount of activated porous calcium silicate is generated year by year. In this paper, this by-product was successfully used as an absorbent to remove ¹³⁷Cs⁺/⁹⁰Sr²⁺ from radioactive wastewater for the first time. Factors that affect the absorbability and the mechanisms were discussed in details, providing a possible choice for disposal of ¹³⁷Cs⁺/⁹⁰Sr²⁺-containing radioactive wastewater.     

复合型CoO/TiO2光催化剂降解亚甲基蓝动力学研究

以钛酸四丁酯为前驱体,采用溶胶凝胶法,制备了CoO掺杂的TiO2光催化剂。利用X射线衍射（XRD）、扫描电镜（SEM）、透射电镜（TEM）、紫外可见漫反射（UV-vis DRS）对催化剂进行了分析、表征。以中压汞灯为光源,研究了亚甲基蓝（MB）在CoO/TiO₂微粒水悬浮液中的降解动力学。结果表明：所制备的催化剂活性组分主要是锐钛矿型的二氧化钛和CoO固溶体,粒径为25～30 nm,分布均匀。亚甲基蓝的光催化降解动力学满足一级动力学,在一定的浓度范围内,反应速率常数随初始浓度增大而减少,适当的掺钴量可以有效地提高TiO₂光催化活性,其最佳掺杂量重量百分比为0.25%。     

A teratological assessment of four trihalomethanes in the rat

Four trihalomethanes were administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats from day 6 to day 15 of gestation. Chloroform (Ch) was administered at levels of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg and bromoform (Br), bromodichloromethane (BDCM) and chlorodibromomethane (CDBM) were administered at levels of 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/day. A separate control was used for each compound. Maternal weight gain was depressed in all groups receiving Ch and at the highest dose levels of BDCM and CDBM. Ch administration caused decreased maternal hemoglobin and hematocrit values at all dose levels and also produced increased serum inorganic phosphorus and cholesterol at the highest dose. Liver enlargement was observed at all dose levels of Ch but in no other treatment groups. Evidence of a fetotoxic response was observed with Ch, CDBM and Br but not BDCM. No dose-related histopathological changes were observed in either mothers or fetuses as a result of treatment. None of the chemicals tested produced any teratogenic effects.     

The modelling of trichloroethene photodegradation in Brij 35 surfactant by two-stage reaction.

Various clean-up technologies have been developed for the removal and/or destruction of trichloroethene (TCE) in the subsurface. Surfactant-aided soil washing followed by photodegradation could be a promising approach to such a task. The modelling of TCE photodegradation by UV in Brij 35 surfactant micelles is therefore investigated. Two stages of TCE degradation are observed in surfactant Brij 35 systems. A lag phase is observed at the commencement of the degradation, but the duration of the lag phase is significantly reduced as the initial pH increases. As the overall decay of TCE is also found to be faster at higher pH levels, it is suggested that the free radical reaction is dominant at high pH levels, and the formation of lag phases is mainly due to the deficiency of free radicals at lower pH levels. Since the period of the lag phase gradually decreases with the increase of initial pH level, and the two pseudo first-order reaction constants (one for the lag phase and one for the subsequent fast decay) for TCE decay in both stages are also pH dependent, a non-steady-state mathematical model is developed for the prediction of TCE photodegradation in Brij 35 solutions, in which the remaining fraction of TCE (C/C0) in the system can be determined at any instant by using a simple parameter of the initial system pH.     

Modeling the quantum yields of herbicide 2,4-D decay in UV/H2O2 process

The photodecay of herbicide 2,4-D in a hydrogen peroxide-aided photolysis process was studied and modeled. The decay rate of 2,4-D was known to be low in the natural environment, but rate improvement was achieved in an H2O2/UV system. The 2,4-D decay quantum yields under ultraviolet (UV) light at 253.7 nm increased from 4.86 x 10(-6) to 1.30 x 10(-4) as the ratio of [H2O2]/[2,4-D] increased from 0.05 to 12.5. Apparently, in the presence of UV light, the decay rate of 2,4-D could be greatly improved as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide increased. However, the efficiency of 2,4-D photodecay was retarded if the concentration of H2O2 was overdosed, because the excess hydrogen peroxide consumes the hydroxyl radicals (HO*) in the solution, resulting in a much weaker oxidant HO2*. The decay of 2,4-D was also pH dependent. A ranking of acid (highest), base (middle) and neutral (lowest) was observed owing to the property change of reactants and the shifting of dominant mechanisms among photolysis, photohydrolysis and chemical oxidation. Two mathematical models were proposed to predict the quantum yield for various [H2O2]/[2,4-D] ratios and initial pH levels, in which very good correlation was found for the ranges of regular application.     

The rate improvement and modeling of trichloroethene photodegradation by acetone sensitizer in surfactant solution

The photodecay of trichloroethene (TCE) in surfactant solution by the help of photosensitizer (acetone, ACE) was investigated and modeled. Apart from the direct photodegradation, photosensitization is presumed to be one of the major mechanisms contributing to overall decay. Quantum yields of TCE photodecay in solution with surfactant Brij 35 and optimal ACE dosage are about 25 times higher than in Brij 35 alone. However, with an excess ACE dosage, ACE will act as a light barrier and attenuate the light intensity available for TCE photodegradation. TCE photodegradation follows a two-stage kinetics, in which a lag phase is followed by a fast decay. Mathematical models were developed for the prediction of the two-stage photodegradation, in which the remaining fraction of TCE (C/C0) in the system becomes predictable.     

The catalytic incineration of styrene over an Mn2O3/Fe2O3 catalyst

In this study, styrene monomer (SM) was treated by a commercial catalyst, Mn2O3/Fe2O3, in a fixed-bed reactor. The study can be classified into two major parts. First, the effects of operating factors, such as temperature, SM concentration, space velocity, and O2 concentration, on the performance of the catalyst were investigated. Second, two catalyst life tests were carried out to characterize the deactivation effect of SM. The results show that the catalyst results in higher conversion of SM at a higher inlet temperature and higher O2 concentrations. The conversion of SM decreases with increasing SM concentration and space velocity. From the statistical analysis of the data, we find that temperature is the most important factor on the catalytic incineration. Oxygen concentration, SM concentration, and space velocity are significant parameters as well. This paper also provides information on the deactivation effect of SM. The catalysts were characterized by surface and pore-size analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) before and after the tests. The results show that the catalytic deactivation may be caused by carbon coating, and the pore size and surface area of the catalyst are smaller after deactivation.