Measurement of the surface charge of ultrafine particles from laser printers and analysis of their electrostatic force

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) released from laser printers are electrostatically charged during the working processes of the devices, and the electrostatic force can obviously influence the dynamics of the particles. Due to the measurement difficulty and scarcity of relevant research, this issue was not reported. This study tried to address this issue through experimental measurement of the surface charge of UFPs and numerical investigation on the influence of electrostatic force on the dynamics of UFPs. A test chamber was set up to collect the UFPs, and the Scanning Electron Microscope was used to observe the morphologies of the UFPs. Based on the particle diameter and surface zeta potential, the surface charge of UFPs was calculated. The measurement results gave that particle emitted from laser printers are negatively charged and the average surface charge of particle emissions for four laser printers is in a range of about ?4.16 × 10^?17 to ?6.07 × 10^?17 C (～?260 to ?379 e). This paper also discussed the influence of electrostatic force on the dynamics of UFPs. According to the numerical investigation, it was found that, in the absence of electric field, the electrostatic force has to be considered when the surface charge is larger than 1 × 10^?16 C and when the UFP is very close to the wall with a distance of less than 0.01 m. These findings will guide constructively in predicting the dispersion and deposition of particles emitted from laser printers.     

生物法-人工湿地组合工艺处理小城镇混合污水研究

为适应小城镇污水处理高效、低耗、管理简单的要求,开展了生物法(水解酸化/生物接触氧化)-人工湿地组合工艺(A/BCO-CW)处理小城镇片区混合污水的研究。结果表明,A/BCO系统在停留时间为3～6 h条件下,对悬浮物和有机物有高的去除效率,COD、BOD5和TSS去除率分别达到63.1%、67.7%和66.2%,避免了人工湿地堵塞和提高处理效率,减少了所需湿地面积44%。全年运行结果表明,在0.30～0.59 m/d水力负荷率下,垂直流-表面流-水平潜流人工湿地组合系统对COD、BOD5和TSS平均去除负荷达9.4、5.1和7.2 g/(m2.d)(42%、71.2%和85.2%);COD、BOD5去除速率常数为74.6±12.1 m/y、166±30.5 m/y,这些数值均处于文献中k值范围的高量程内。A/BCO-人工湿地系统对COD、BOD5和TSS具有好的处理效果,出水水质能够稳定达到《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838-2002)的IV类水标准,2种处理方法有效组合起来,所开发的低成本、高效率、可持续运行的城镇废水处理组合系统,将会在实际应用尤其是高有机负荷污水处理中发挥良好效用。     

超声协同TiO_2光催化降解4,4′-二溴联苯

以纳米TiO2膜为光催化剂,对4,4′-二溴联苯水溶液进行了超声光催化(US+UV)、光催化(UV)和超声(US)降解,探讨了初始浓度、超声的声强和频率等对降解4,4′-二溴联苯的影响。结果表明,4,4′-二溴联苯的超声光催化降解存在协同效应,降解率随4,4′-二溴联苯初始浓度的增大而下降,随声强和频率的增大而增大。超声光催化过程符合一级动力学方程,反应数率常数为0.011 min-1。超声光催化与光催化的降解产物不同。     

地下渗滤系统处理农村生活污水的研究

在天津武清区一村落构建了2个并行的地下渗滤系统,考察了其对农村生活污水的处理效果。该系统水力负荷为10 cm/d,处理能力为50 t/d。填充介质选用土壤、陶粒、炉渣和两种自然有机质,按5∶2∶2∶1的比例配置的人工土层。结果表明地下渗滤系统对污水中各种主要污染因子均有一定的去除效果,在进水COD和C/N较低的不利条件下,COD、总磷、氨氮、总氮、悬浮物均得到有效去除,出水中各项污染指标平均浓度均达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》中的一级A标准;具体到不同的污染指标,添加了不同有机质的2个并行系统的处理效果也有所不同。总体上看,地下渗滤系统作为农村生活污水的处理设施有很好的应用前景。     

天然矿物复合陶瓷材料制备及对印染废水脱色的研究

印染废水是水污染的重要来源之一,是目前较难处理与急需处理的工业废水。天然矿物材料通过吸附、光催化降解等作用可有效去除印染废水中的染料分子。为了开发新型环境矿物材料,采用白云石、菱镁矿等天然矿物作为原材料经粉碎、配料、造粒、烧结、水洗合成天然矿物复合陶瓷材料,用于印染废水的脱色。对酸性黑10B和直接混纺蓝D-3GL2种不同性质的染料废水进行了定量脱色研究。研究表明,当材料投加量为8 g/L,处理时间12 h,pH2~8,对2种废水均有95%以上的去除率;经800℃煅烧15 min的工艺进行再生活化,实现了陶瓷材料的循环使用。此方法制得的天然矿物复合陶瓷材料微孔结构明显,机械强度高,散失率低,解决了粉末材料在废水脱色过程中存在的固液难以分离的问题。     

废纸造纸废水结垢原因及防治对策研究

针对无锡某废纸造纸企业产生的污水经厌氧-好氧-化学混凝处理后,出水在放流池产生结垢现状,对各段污水中主要离子浓度进行跟踪分析,并对结垢的组分、结垢原因、机理和防治结垢对策进行了探讨。结果表明:垢样的主要成分为CaCO3;污水中含有较高浓度的钙离子和碳酸氢根离子是导致结垢的主要原因,较高的水温、pH值、流速、流动状态、池壁的粗糙程度以及PAC的投加对结垢也有一定的影响;最佳防治对策为使用Ca(OH)2+PAM代替PAC+PAM混凝,保证COD达标排放同时,也解决了出水结垢问题。     

Characterization of an efficient catalytic and organic solvent-tolerant azoreductase toward methyl red from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

The acyl carrier protein (ACP) phosphodiesterase gene (SO 4396) of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 which was analyzed to have azoreductase activity was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The ACP phosphodiesterase was found to reach maximum enzyme velocity 220.59 U/mg, named azoreductase in this study. The azoreductase had highest specific activity (153.16 U/mg) at pH 6.5, which showed a preference for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) as electron donor. The phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the azoreductase had preference for NADH and dependence for flavin mononucleotide (FMN). However, the azoreductase from S. oneidensis MR-1 still had high enzyme activity in the absence of FMN. The Mg²⁺ had a positive influence on the enzyme activity with 25 mM concentration, whereas Cr³⁺, Cd²⁺ usually had significantly negative effect on enzyme activity. The purified azoreductase retained nearly 100 % activity after incubating in 30 % dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 30 % acetone, 30 % methanol, 20 % ethanol, 20 % isopropanol, and 10 % propanol.     

Using biochar for remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants

Soil contamination with heavy metals and organic pollutants has increasingly become a serious global environmental issue in recent years. Considerable efforts have been made to remediate contaminated soils. Biochar has a large surface area, and high capacity to adsorb heavy metals and organic pollutants. Biochar can potentially be used to reduce the bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals and organic pollutants in soils through adsorption and other physicochemical reactions. Biochar is typically an alkaline material which can increase soil pH and contribute to stabilization of heavy metals. Application of biochar for remediation of contaminated soils may provide a new solution to the soil pollution problem. This paper provides an overview on the impact of biochar on the environmental fate and mobility of heavy metals and organic pollutants in contaminated soils and its implication for remediation of contaminated soils. Further research directions are identified to ensure a safe and sustainable use of biochar as a soil amendment for remediation of contaminated soils.     

Temporal patterns of atmospheric mercury species in northern Mississippi during 2011–2012: Influence of sudden population swings

Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and particulate bound mercury (PBM) were measured on the University of Mississippi campus from July 2011 to June 2012. It is believed to be the first time that concentrations of atmospheric mercury species have been documented in northern Mississippi, and at a location with relatively large and sudden swings in population. The mean concentration (±1SD) of GEM was 1.54 ± 0.32 ng m⁻³; levels were lower and generally more stable during the winter (1.48 ± 0.22) and spring (1.46 ± 0.27) compared with the summer (1.56 ± 0.32) and fall (1.63 ± 0.42). Mean concentrations for GOM and PBM were 3.87 pg m⁻³ and 4.58 pg m⁻³, respectively; levels tended to be highest in the afternoon and lowest in the early morning hours. During the fall and spring academic semesters concentrations and variability of GOM and PBM both increased, possibly from vehicle exhaust. There were moderate negative correlations with wind speed (all species) and humidity (GOM and PBM). Backward air mass trajectory modeling for the ten highest peaks for each mercury species revealed that the majority of these events occurred from air masses that passed through the northern continental US region. Overall, this study illustrates the complexity of temporal fluctuations of airborne mercury species, even in a small town environment.     

Remediation of DDTs contaminated soil in a novel Fenton-like system with zero-valent iron

Application of a novel Fenton-like system with zero-valent iron, EDTA and Air (ZVI/EDTA/Air) was investigated to degrade dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane, and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) in the actual contaminated soil from an organochlorine pesticide site. It was found DDTs in the soil were effectively degraded by the system at room temperature, ambient atmosphere pressure and near neutral pH. The dosages of EDTA and ZVI were the dominant factors influencing the removal of contaminants. An increase of EDTA from 0.05 to 0.2 mM and ZVI from 1 to 5 g L^?1 improved the removal of the contaminants significantly. However, excessive amount of EDTA led to a negative effect on the degradation process. Meanwhile, EDTA was simultaneously degraded so as to avoid the secondary pollution risk on soil remediation. Only a small amount of 4,4′-DDE and 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1-chloroethylene (4,4′-DDMU) generated as the intermediates of DDT degradation during the process. Our investigation suggests that the Fenton-like system is a promising alternative for remediation of organochlorine pesticides contaminated soils.