Effects of an iron-silicon material,a synthetic zeolite and an alkaline clay on vegetable uptake of As and Cd from a polluted agricultural soil and proposed remediation mechanisms

Economic and highly effective methods of in situ remediation of Cd and As polluted farmland in mining areas are urgently needed. Pot experiments with Brassica chinensis L. were carried out to determine the effects of three soil amendments [a novel iron-silicon material (ISM), a synthetic zeolite (SZ) and an alkaline clay (AC)] on vegetable uptake of As and Cd. SEM–EDS and XRD analyses were used to investigate the remediation mechanisms involved. Amendment with ISM significantly reduced the concentrations of As and Cd in edible parts of B. chinensis (by 84–94 % and 38–87 %, respectively), to levels that met food safety regulations and was much lower than those achieved by SZ and AC. ISM also significantly increased fresh biomass by 169–1412 % and 436–731 % in two consecutive growing seasons, while SZ and AC did not significantly affect vegetable growth. Correlation analysis suggested that it was the mitigating effects of ISM on soil acidity and on As and Cd toxicity, rather than nutrient amelioration, that contributed to the improvement in plant growth. SEM–EDS analysis showed that ISM contained far more Ca, Fe and Mn than did SZ or AC, and XRD analysis showed that in the ISM these elements were primarily in the form of silicates, oxides and phosphates that had high capacities for chemisorption of metal(loid)s. After incubation with solutions containing 800 mg L^?1 AsO₄ ^2? or Cd²⁺, ISM bound distinctly higher levels of As (6.18 % in relative mass percent by EDS analysis) and Cd (7.21 % in relative mass percent by EDS analysis) compared to SZ and AC. XRD analysis also showed that ISM facilitated the precipitation of Cd²⁺ as silicates, phosphates and hydroxides, and that arsenate combined with Fe, Al, Ca and Mg to form insoluble arsenate compounds. These precipitation mechanisms were much more active in ISM than in SZ or AC. Due to the greater pH elevation caused by the abundant calcium silicate, chemisorption and precipitation mechanisms in ISM treatments could be further enhanced. That heavy metal(loid)s fixation mechanisms of ISM ensure the remediation more irreversible and more resilient to environmental changes. With appropriate application rate and proper nutrients supplement, the readily available and economic ISM is a very promising amendment for safe crop production on multi-metal(loids) polluted soils.     

Multiple copper adsorption and regeneration by zeolite 4A synthesized from bauxite tailings

Copper ions were first adsorbed by zeolite 4A synthesized from bauxite tailings, the desorption of Cu(II) using Na₂EDTA solutions was performed, and the recycling of zeolite 4A in adsorption and desorption was systematically investigated. It was observed that the Cu(II) removal efficiency was directly dependent on the initial pH value. The maximum removal efficiency of Cu(II) was 96.2% with zeolite 4A when the initial pH value was 5.0. Cu(II) was completely absorbed in the first 30 min. It was also observed that the desorption efficiency and zeolite recovery were highly dependent on the initial pH and concentration of Na₂EDTA in the solution. The desorption efficiency and percent of zeolite recovered were 73.6 and 85.9%, respectively, when the Na₂EDTA solution concentration was 0.05 mol L^?1 and the pH value was 8. The recovered zeolites were pure single phase and highly crystalline. After 3 cycles, the removal efficiency of Cu(II) was as high as 78.9%, and the zeolite recovery was 46.9%, indicating that the recovered zeolites have good adsorption capacity and can repeatedly absorb Cu(II).

     

Identification of priority pharmaceuticals in the water environment of China

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the trace-level contamination of pharmaceuticals in the water environment all over the world. Considering a large number of pharmaceuticals used, it is crucial to establish a priority list of pharmaceuticals that should be monitored and/or treated first. In the present study, we developed a ranking system based on the pharmaceutical consumption, removal performance in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and potential ecological effects, and applied to the situation of China. 39 pharmaceuticals, which had available consumption data and also been reported previously in the WWTPs of China, were selected as candidate pharmaceuticals. Among them, seventeen pharmaceuticals were considered as priority pharmaceuticals, out of which, erythromycin, diclofenac acid and ibuprofen, had the high priority. Compared with other literatures, we found that some pharmaceuticals given concerns to globally should also be included in the priority list in China; while some pharmaceuticals, not mentioned in other literatures, such as cefalexin, ketoconazole, should be also given prior consideration in China. Among all the therapeutic classes, antibiotics, which were grossly abused in China, contributed the most to the priority pharmaceuticals. However, priority antibiotics accounted for only 32% of candidate antibiotics, while 71% and 100% of the candidate anti-inflammatory and antilipidemic respectively were identified as the priority pharmaceuticals, indicating that antibiotics might be overanxiously considered in the previous studies on their behaviors in the WWTPs of China.     

Chlorinated and brominated organic contaminants in fish from Shanghai markets: a case study of human exposure

In the present study were two favorite edible fish species for local residents, i.e., mandarin fish and crawfish, collected from the Shanghai market and analyzed for selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs). Efforts were also made to identify the potential sources of these contaminants. Comparable concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and HBCDD were found in muscle tissue of mandarin fish from Guangdong (GDF), the Pearl River Delta and from Taihu Lake (TLF), the Yangtze River Delta. Levels of chlordanes, PCBs and PBDEs were about one magnitude lower in TLF compared to GDF. The concentrations of OCPs in the butter-like gland of the crawfish (CFB) were 2-5 times of those in the crawfish muscle (CFM) while concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs were comparable. The different patterns and levels of chlorinated and brominated organohalogen contaminants seen in mandarin fish from GDF and TLF indicates that different types of chemicals might be used in the two delta regions. The present study also shows a good correlation between the concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachloroanisol (PCA) in fish for the first time. Fish consumption limits based on chemical contaminants with non-carcinogenic effects were calculated. The estimated maximum daily consumption limit for GDF, TLF, CFM and CFB were 1.5, 2.6, 3.7 and 0.08 kg, respectively, indicating no significant risk regarding the persistent organic pollutants measured in the present study.     

一种活性污泥总DNA提取方法的优化

对3种活性污泥DNA提取方法———传统蛋白酶K-SDS-氯仿异戊醇法(CPSCI法)、液氮研磨法和脱腐处理法进行了对比,并针对CPSCI法从污泥量、保温时间、裂解方式及沉淀时间等4个方面进行了优化。结果表明,优化的蛋白酶K-氯仿-异戊醇法(OPSCI法)采用污泥量0.10 g、37℃静置10 min,加SDS常温旋涡振荡及异丙醇直接离心等条件可获得长度在23.1 kb左右的DNA,OD260nm/OD280nm为1.86,稀释10倍后即可进行16S rDNA PCR。该方法重复性好,提取得率高,纯度好,操作简便,为常规实验室开展活性污泥微生物多样性研究提供了帮助。     

高效氨氧化菌群富集、驯化及其动态变化规律分析

利用选择性培养基对氨氧化菌群进行了连续驯化,得到了氨氮去除效率稳定的氨氧化菌群。采用平板菌落计数法结合聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)技术考察了氨氧化菌群在连续传代过程中数量及群落结构的动态变化,并考察了pH值、碳源(HCO3-)浓度和氨氮浓度等因素对氨氧化菌群去除氨氮效率的影响。结果表明,通过连续驯化,氨氧化菌的比例由最初的1.8%提高到了31.3%。在碳源浓度为1.5 mg/L,NH4+-N初始浓度为200 mg/L,pH值为8的条件下,菌群对氨氮的去除率达99%以上。     

填埋场中亚硝酸还原酶测定条件的优化

填埋垃圾中的含氮化合物经一系列生物脱氮作用,最终使得填埋场中的氮素得以消减,在这一过程中亚硝酸还原酶起着十分重要的作用。以填埋场中的填埋垃圾为研究对象,在土壤亚硝酸还原酶测定方法的基础上,对亚硝酸还原酶活性测定条件进行了优化。结果表明,填埋垃圾中的亚硝酸还原酶活性测定的最优条件为:垃圾样品风干温度25℃,2mL的1%NaNO2溶液和2.5 mL的1%葡萄糖溶液,抽气5 min,置于25℃的培养箱中培养24 h。优化后的测定条件相对标准偏差(RSD)小于1.27%,表明该方法具有较高的灵敏度和精密度。     

基于改性凹凸棒土的强化混凝处理高藻低浊原水工艺

针对水厂低浊高藻水的处理难题,研究了改性凹凸棒土(改性凹土)联合聚合氯化铝(PAC)强化混凝的除藻除浊效果。设计实验原水条件为叶绿素a(chl-a)浓度为98.58~110.35μg/L,浊度(5.6±0.5)NTU。考察了PAC和改性凹土的复配投加量、混凝沉淀时间、pH、投加顺序、搅拌速率等工艺参数对Chl-a和浊度耦合去除效果的影响。结果表明,"PAC+改性凹土"对Chl-a和浊度的去除效果明显优于单投PAC的效果。当PAC投药量12 mg/L,改性凹土投药量10 mg/L,沉淀时间20 min时,对Chl-a和浊度的去除率可分别达到92.5%和89.2%,可至少减少40%的PAC投量,且形成的矾花密实,沉降速度快,去除效率高。最适pH范围为7~8。投加顺序应为先投加改性凹土,混合搅拌转数宜慢速,可控制为50 r/min。     

厌氧-局部循环供氧生物膜技术处理农村污水

通过模拟农村生活污水水质和间歇进水特点,利用“厌氧-局部循环供氧生物膜”技术,研究该工艺对有机物、氮、磷的去除效果.厌氧池和局部循环供氧池有效容积比为1∶1.6,曝气装置位于局部循环供氧池中间底部,环形导流板将局部循环供氧池分隔成中间好氧区和四周缺氧区,斜管沉淀池前置到厌氧池与局部循环供氧池之间,出水端设置循环水池.装置连续稳定运行12个月,平均进水量为140 L/d,生物反应区HRT为1.3d.监测结果表明,出水COD、BOD、NH3-N、TN和TP平均浓度分别在40.31、3.38、2.69、11.98和0.75 mg/L,达到了国家城镇污水处理厂污染物排放指标(GB-18918-2002)中的一级排放标准.研究表明,厌氧-局部循环供氧技术是一种适合农村分散污水处理的新工艺,可有效减轻农业面源污染.     

O3-H2O2氧化法处理印染废水

采用O₃-H₂O₂氧化法对印染废水进行氧化处理,比较了O₃氧化法和O₃-H₂O₂氧化法对印染废水的处理效果,考察了初始废水pH、H₂O₂加入量、O₃流量和反应时间对废水的色度去除率和COD去除率的影响。实验结果表明：O₃-H₂O₂氧化法对废水的COD和色度的去除效果比O₃氧化法更好;在初始废水pH为11、H₂O₂加入量为13mmol/L、O₃流量为6g/h、反应时间为60min的最佳工艺条件下,处理后废水COD为61.50mg/L,COD去除率为95.73%,废水色度为5倍,色度去除率为99.75%,TOC为37.84mg/L,TOC去除率为85.10%,BOD₅为22.76mg/L,BOD₅去除率为90.20%,BOD₅/COD为0.37。