Improving disintegration and acidification of waste activated sludge by combined alkaline and microwave pretreatment

The individual alkaline or microwave pretreatment has been proved to be effective in disintegration and acidification of waste activated sludge (WAS). In this study, the effects of combined alkaline and microwave pretreatment at different pH and specific energy input (Es) on WAS disintegration were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). Combined pretreatment achieved disintegration degree (DD) of 65.87% at Es of 38,400 kJ/kg TS and pH 11.0. The ANOVA further demonstrated that pH showed more significant effect on DD than Es. Anaerobic batch experiment results showed that combined pretreatment not only significantly improved volatile fatty acids (VFAs) accumulation but also shortened the time for the highest VFAs accumulation. The maximal VFAs accumulation (1500 mg COD/L) obtained at Es of 28,800 kJ/kg TS and fermentation time of 72 h, which was about two times that of the treatment without microwave (850 mg COD/L) at 96 h. The analysis of VFAs composition showed that the VFAs mainly consisted of acetic and iso-valeric acids, accounting for 57.3–70.1% of total VFAs.     

Study on the reaction of 3-methyl-2-butenal and 3-methylbutanal with Cl atoms: kinetics and reaction mechanism

The reaction of Cl atoms with two C₅ aldehydes (3-methyl-2-butenal and 3-methylbutanal) were investigated by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrum (PTR-MS) using smog chamber at 298 ± 1 K and 760 Torr. A relative rate method was used to determine the rate constants of the title reactions with m-xylene and trans-2-butene as reference compounds: (3.04 ± 0.18)  ×  10⁻¹⁰ and (2.07 ± 0.14)  ×  10⁻¹⁰ cm³/(molecule⋅sec) for 3-methyl-2-butenal and 3-methylbutanal, respectively. Additionally, the gas-phase products were also identified by PTR-MS, and the possible reaction mechanisms were proposed basing on the identified products. The detected gas-phase products are similar for two C₅ aldehydes reactions, mainly including small molecules of aldehydes, ketones and chlorinated aldehyde compounds. The atmospheric lifetimes (τ) calculated for 3-methyl-2-butenal (τ = 7.0 hr, marine boundary layer (MBL)) and 3-methylbutanal (τ = 10.3 hr, MBL) according to the obtained rate constants. The results indicate that Cl atoms at MBL are competitive with OH radicals for the degradation contribution of C₅ aldehyde compounds.     

How do inundation provoke the release of phosphorus in soil-originated sediment due to nitrogen reduction after reclaiming lake from polder

Different N and P fractions in microcosm incubation experiment was measured using high-resolution in-situ Peeper and DGT techniques combining with sequential extraction procedure. The results showed the synchronous desorption and release of PO₄^3-, S^2- and Fe²⁺ from the solid soil-originated sediment. This trend indicated that the significant reduction of Fe-P and SO₄^2- occurred in the pore water during the inundation. The concentrations of PO₄^3- in the overlying water and pore water increased to more than 0.1 and 0.2 mg/L at the beginning of the incubation experiment. Decreased NO₃^-concentrations from more than 1.5 mg/L to less than 0.5 mg/L combining with increasing NH₄⁺ concentrations from less than 1 mg/L to more than 5 mg/L suggested the remarkable NO₃^- reduction via dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) pathway over time. High NH₄⁺ concentrations in the pore water aggravated the release of Fe²⁺ through reduction of Fe(III)-P as electric acceptors under anaerobic conditions. This process further stimulated the remarkable releasing of labile PO₄^3- from the solid phase to the solution and potential diffusion into overlying water. Additionally, high S^2- concentration at deeper layer indicated the reduction and releasing of S^2- from oxidation states, which can stimulated the NO₃^- reduction and the accumulation of NH₄⁺ in the pore water. This process can also provoke the reduction of Fe-P as electric acceptors following the release of labile PO₄^3- into pore water. Generally, inundation potentially facilitate the desorption of labile P and attention should be paid during the reclaiming lake from polder.     

微波消解-原子荧光光谱法测定垃圾焚烧飞灰中铅

采用微波消解-原子荧光光谱法测定了垃圾焚烧飞灰中铅的含量。重点研究了铁氰化钾的用量以及加入盐酸羟胺对测定结果的影响。试验结果表明:加入铁氰化钾可以促进铅烷生成,盐酸羟胺可起到抑制干扰的作用。方法的检出限为0.39μg/L,回收率为83.6%～101.3%。     

Highly efficient and energy-conserved flocculation of copper in wastewater by pulse-alternating current

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Copper wastewater from industry is detrimental to plants and environment. There are some problems in the aspects of high efficiency and energy saving...     

Impact of anthropogenic activities on urban stream water quality: a case study in Guangzhou,China

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly impacting the quality of urban surface water, particularly in regions undergoing intensive urbanization, such as Guangzhou of South China with a large urban stream network. To examine such impacts, we conducted field sampling on December 24, 2010, May 24, 2011, and August 28, 2011, representative of the low-, normal-, and high-flow periods, respectively. The first sampling was timed immediately after the closing of the 16th Asian Games (November 12–27, 2010) and the 10th Asian Para Games (December 12–19, 2010) held in Guangzhou. Assessments based on a pollution index method showed that the urban streams under investigation were extremely polluted, with direct discharge of untreated domestic sewage identified as the main pollution contributor. In addition, stream water quality around urban villages with high population densities was worse than that within business districts away from the urban villages. Pollution control measures implemented in preparation for the Asian Games were effective for urban streams within the business districts, but less effective for those adjacent to the urban villages. However, short-term efforts may not be able to achieve sustainable urban water quality improvements. In the case of Guangzhou, minimizing or even eliminating direct point-source inputs to the urban streams is perhaps the best option.     

Potential lung carcinogenicity induced by chronic exposure to PM2.5 in the rat

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may increase lung cancer risk, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study explored...     

空气质量指数计算方法在Excel中VBA的实现简

空气质量指数计算方法是目前全国各城市空气质量重要信息发布的基础,广泛应用于城市空气自动监测的空气质量评价。依据《HJ 633-2012环境空气质量指数（AQI）技术规定（试行）》发布环境空气质量指数（AQI）计算方法,利用VBA在Excel下编写宏程序,可以轻松实现空气质量日报信息的发布,使用户从手工重复性的填充和插入函数操作方式中彻底解放出来。     

In situ preparation of visible-light-driven carbon quantum dots/NaBiO3 hybrid materials for the photoreduction of Cr(VI)

In this study, different carbon quantum dots (CQDs)/NaBiO₃ hybrid materials were synthesized as photocatalysts to effectively utilize visible light for the photocatalytic degradation of contaminants effectively. These hybrid materials exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in the aqueous medium. Zero-dimensional nanoparticles of CQDs were embedded within the two-dimensional NaBiO₃ nanosheets by the hydrothermal process. Compared with that of the pure NaBiO₃ nanosheets, the photocatalytic performance of the hybrid catalysts was significantly high and 6 wt.% CQDs/NaBiO₃ catalyst exhibited better photocatalytic performance. We performed the first-principles density functional theory calculations to study the interfacial properties of pure NaBiO₃ nanosheets and hybrid photocatalysts, and confirmed the CQDs played an important role in the CQDs/NaBiO₃ composites. The experimental results indicated that the enhanced reduction of Cr(VI) was probably due to the high loading of CQDs (electron acceptor) on NaBiO_3, which made NaBiO₃ nanomaterials to respond in visible light and significantly improved their electron-hole separation efficiency.