Effect of heat treatment on sorption of polar and nonpolar compounds to montmorillonites and soils

Batch sorption isotherms of 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, and tetracycline to organic-free montmorillonites and soils receiving heat treatment (375°C for 24 h) were compared with those to unheated sorbents. Sorption of the nonpolar 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene to soil was lowered after the removal of humus by heating, consistent with the mechanism of hydrophobic partition into organic matter. For 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, the enhanced sorption to heated soils was attributed to specific interactions with exchangeable cations facilitated by heating-induced irreversible partial dehydration of the clay interlayer. For tetracycline, an additional mechanism for sorption enhancement could be due to increased exposure of strong complexation sites on clay minerals after removal of the humic coating. These hypotheses were supported by the sorption data to heated and unheated Na-, K-, and Cs-saturated montmorillonites. The combustion method is commonly adopted to measure the content of black carbon in soils and sediments. However, findings from the present study indicate that combustion may greatly modify the structural properties of clay minerals, leading to misinterpreted sorption contributions of different soil components to sorption of polar or ionic compounds.     

Volatile organic compound concentrations, emission rates, and source apportionment in newly-built apartments at pre-occupancy stage

The present study investigated the indoor concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde and their indoor emission characteristics in newly-built apartments at the pre-occupancy stage. In total, 107 apartments were surveyed for indoor and outdoor VOC concentrations in two metropolitan cities and one rural area in Korea. A mass balanced model was used to estimate surface area-specific emission rates of individual VOCs and formaldehyde. Seven (benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene, o-xylene, n-hexane, and n-heptane) of 40 target compounds were detectable in all indoor air samples, whereas the first five were detected in all outdoor air samples. Formaldehyde was also predominant in the indoor air samples, with a high detection frequency of 96%. The indoor concentrations were significantly higher than the outdoor concentrations for aromatics, alcohols, terpenes, and ketones. However, six halogenated VOCs exhibited similar concentrations for indoor and outdoor air samples, suggesting that they are not major components emitted from building materials. It was also suggested that a certain portion of the apartments surveyed were constructed by not following the Korean Ministry of Environment guidelines for formaldehyde emissions. Toluene exhibited the highest emission rate with a median value of 138 μg m⁻² h⁻¹. The target compounds with median emission rates greater than 20 μg m⁻² h⁻¹ were toluene, 1-propanol, formaldehyde, and 2-butanone. The wood panels/vinyl floor coverings were the largest indoor pollutant source, followed by floorings, wall coverings, adhesives, and paints. The wood panels/vinyl floor coverings contributed nearly three times more to indoor VOC concentrations than paints.     

Performance of oil palm kernel shell gasification using a medium-scale downdraft gasifier

This article focused on the performance of oil palm kernel shell (PKS) gasification using a medium-scale downdraft gasifier with a feedstock capacity of 500 kg at a temperature range of 399–700°C and at a feed rate of 177 kg/h. This article is important for evaluating the reliability of PKS gasification for commercial power generation activities from biomass. The process performance was evaluated based on the syngas calorific value (CV), syngas flow rate, and its cold gas efficiency (CGE). The syngas flow rates and CVs were measured using a gas flow meter and a gas analyzer in real time. The data obtained were then analyzed to evaluate the performance of the process. The results showed that the CGE of the process was moderately high (51%) at 681°C, with a high syngas CV (4.45–4.89 MJ/Nm³) which was ideal for gas engine applications. The PKS gasification performance increased when the reactor temperature increased. Projections were made for the CGE and the syngas CV for the PKS gasification with increased reactor temperatures and it was found that these values could be increased up to 80% and 5.2 MJ/Nm^3, respectively at a reactor temperature of 900°C. In addition, the estimated power that could be generated was about 600 kW_e at a maximum operation of 500 kg/h of feed rate. Based on the analysis, a medium-scale PKS gasification is observed to be a promising process for power generation from biomass due to the favorable performance of the process.     

Mercury in dental amalgam: Are our health care workers at risk?

Dental amalgam in fillings exposes workers to mercury. The exposure to mercury was investigated among 1871 dental health care workers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of mercury exposure among dental compared to nondental health care workers and to determine other risk factors for mercury exposure. Respondents answered questionnaires to obtain demographic, personal, professional, and workplace information and were examined for their own amalgam fillings. Chronic mercury exposure was assessed through urinary mercury levels. In total, 1409 dental and 462 nondental health care workers participated in the study. Median urine mercury levels for dental and nondental health care workers were 2.75 μg/L (interquartile range [IQR] = 3.0175) and 2.66 μg/L (IQR = 3.04) respectively. For mercury exposure, there were no significant risk factor found among the workers involved within the dental care. The Mann–Whitney test showed that urine mercury levels were significantly different between respondents who eat seafood more than 5 times per week compared to those who eat it less frequently or not at all (p = 0.003). The urinary mercury levels indicated significant difference between dental workers in their practice using squeeze cloths (Mann–Whitney test, p = 0.03). Multiple logistic regression showed that only the usage of cosmetic products that might contain mercury was found to be significantly associated with the urinary mercury levels (odds ratio [OR] = 15.237; CI: 3.612–64.276). Therefore, mean urinary mercury levels of health care workers were low. Exposure to dental amalgam is not associated with high mercury exposure. However, usage of cosmetic products containing mercury and high seafood consumption may lead to the increase of exposure to mercury.

Implications: Exposure to the high levels of mercury from dental amalgam can lead to serious health effects among the dental health care workers. Nationwide chronic mercury exposure among dental personnel was assessed through urinary mercury levels. Findings suggest low urinary mercury levels of these health care workers. Exposure to dental amalgam is not associated with high mercury exposure. However, the usage of cosmetic products containing mercury and high seafood consumption may lead to the increase of exposure to mercury.     

磁性膨润土的制备及类Fenton氧化法处理焦化废水

以Al-Fe柱撑膨润土为原料,通过原位氧化沉淀法负载纳米Fe₃O₄颗粒,制备磁性膨润土。采用XRD,SEM,EDS技术对磁性膨润土进行了表征,并将其作为类Fenton反应催化剂对焦化厂二沉池出水（COD为267.6 mg/L、色度为428度）进行了深度处理,探讨了各反应条件对处理效果的影响。实验结果表明：Fe₃O₄颗粒较为均匀地分布在膨润土表面,负载牢固;在H₂O₂加入量70 mmol/L、磁性膨润土加入量0.8 g/L、反应温度30 ℃、初始废水pH 5.0的条件下反应30 h,废水COD和色度的去除率分别达到78.5%和93.4%,COD和色度分别降至57.5 mg/L和28度,满足GB/T 19923—2005《城市污水再生利用 工业用水水质》的要求;磁性膨润土使用4次后,对废水的处理效果仍很稳定。     

稳定态纳米零价铁-厌氧菌联合处理法降解2,4,6-三氯苯酚

利用SEM、XRD、FTIR等手段对稳定态纳米零价铁（NH₂-SiO₂@NZVI）进行表征,并考察NH₂-SiO₂@NZVI-厌氧菌体系对2,4,6-三氯苯酚（2,4,6-TCP）的降解效果。实验结果表明：NH₂-SiO₂@NZVI具有较强的抗氧化能力及较好的分散性;当2,4,6-TCP质量浓度 50 mg/L、NH₂-SiO₂@NZVI加入量1 g/L、初始 pH 7.00、反应120 h时,2,4,6-TCP的去除率为34.76%,一级降解速率常数为0.022 1,均远大于普通纳米零价铁颗粒;在NH₂-SiO₂@NZVI-厌氧菌体系中,2,4,6-TCP的去除率可达82.70%,NH₂-SiO₂@NZVI与厌氧微生物之间表现出明显的协同效应,能有效缓解2,4,6-TCP对厌氧微生物的抑制作用,稳定体系pH,提高微生物的降解活性和产甲烷活性。     

Phytoremediation potential of Pteris vittata L. under the combined contamination of As and Pb: beneficial interaction between As and Pb

The frequent co-existence of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) necessitates the investigation of clean-up technologies for multi-metal(loid)s. Field survey and hydroponic experiments were conducted to elucidate the co-accumulation of As and Pb in Pteris vittata L. The P. vittata population isolated from a Pb–Zn mine in Yunnan province, China is a potential extractor of As and Pb co-contamination. Hydroponic experiment found that the highest frond As and Pb concentrations in mining population of P. vittata reached 12.2 and 0.99 g kg^?1, respectively. The interaction between As and Pb in P. vittata was further more disclosed. Pb (2 mg L^?1) improved the frond As concentration by 60 to 150 % in mining populations of P. vittata. Micro-X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated that under the combined exposure of As and Pb, the As content in the rhizoid epidermis increased by about 10-fold, and the As(V) percentage increased in each rhizoid tissue, as compared with that under As exposure alone. The co-absorption of As and Pb on the epidermis and the enhanced transportation of As(V) from epidermis into the rhizoid were suggested to contribute to the increased As accumulation.     

Efficient bio-deodorization of aniline vapor in a biotrickling filter: metabolic mineralization and bacterial community analysis

A biotrickling filter inoculated with commercial mixed microorganisms B350 was employed to treat N-containing odorous vapor - aniline. Results indicated no aniline could be detected when empty bed residence time (EBRT) was larger than 110s at inlet concentration of 0.30 g m(-3). The variation of inlet concentration did not change removal efficiencies when concentration is less than 0.21 g m(-3) at fixed EBRT 110s. Biodegradation mechanism of aniline was tentatively proposed based on identified intermediates and predicted biodegradation pathway as well as final mineralized products. Aniline was firstly biodegraded to catechol, and then to levulinic acid and subsequently to succinic acid. Finally, about 62% aniline carbon was completely mineralized to CO(2), while about 91% aniline nitrogen was converted into ammonia and nitrate. Bacterial community in biotrickling filter was found that at least seven bands microbes were identified for high efficiencies of bioreactor at stable state. In all, biotrickling filter seeded with B350 would be a better choice for the purification odorous gas containing high concentration aniline.     

附着生活型轮虫的悬浮固体去除特性

附着生活型轮虫又称蛭形轮虫是污水生物处理中有益的后生动物。宿轮虫作为一种典型的蛭形轮虫,对其捕食特性的研究旨在建立宿轮虫的培养系,同时为在生物处理池中创造有利于宿轮虫大量生长的条件提供依据。实验通过选择营养较高且经济易得的小麦面粉代替细菌制成悬浮液作为食物用于培养宿轮虫,以得到宿轮虫的捕食特性。结果表明,悬浮颗粒的粒径是宿轮虫选择食物的重要指标,悬浮颗粒的粒径为2.5 μm时其种群增长最快,粒径小于10 μm时其能正常生长。实验结果不仅证明了宿轮虫能够去除污水中不能以自由沉降形式去除的悬浮颗粒,同时为宿轮虫的深入研究奠定了基础。     

活性炭/铁氧化物复合材料催化降解水中的苯酚

为了获得优良催化性能和分离性的复合材料,通过采用化学共沉淀法,把活性炭和铁氧化物进行复合,制备得到活性炭/铁氧化物复合材料。利用非均相Fenton反应处理模拟苯酚废水,考察了不同因素对苯酚去除率的影响。结果表明,在100 mL 100 mg/L的苯酚模拟废水中,复合材料m=0.1 g,温度为35℃,H2O2投加量为3 mL,pH=3,苯酚的去除率达到99%以上。制备得到的活性炭/铁氧化物复合材料具有磁性,能通过简单的磁分离技术就能快速从溶液中分离出来。通过对复合吸附材料降解稳定性的研究,发现经过5次循环使用后,苯酚去除率均在93%以上,表明其具有良好的循环使用性能。