A robust simulation–optimization modeling system for effluent trading—a case study of nonpoint source pollution control

In this study, a robust simulation–optimization modeling system (RSOMS) is developed for supporting agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) effluent trading planning. The RSOMS can enhance effluent trading through incorporation of a distributed simulation model and an optimization model within its framework. The modeling system not only can handle uncertainties expressed as probability density functions and interval values but also deal with the variability of the second-stage costs that are above the expected level as well as capture the notion of risk under high-variability situations. A case study is conducted for mitigating agricultural NPS pollution with an effluent trading program in Xiangxi watershed. Compared with non-trading policy, trading scheme can successfully mitigate agricultural NPS pollution with an increased system benefit. Through trading scheme, [213.7, 288.8]?×?10³ kg of TN and [11.8, 30.2]?×?10³ kg of TP emissions from cropped area can be cut down during the planning horizon. The results can help identify desired effluent trading schemes for water quality management with the tradeoff between the system benefit and reliability being balanced and risk aversion being considered.     

Ag/ZnO hollow sphere composites: reusable photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol

Characterizations of Ag/ZnO hollow sphere by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and UV–vis absorption spectra have been made after its synthesis. The results showed that the composite was hollow structure with diameters of about 1–4 μm. The samples synthesized were tested and identified as silver doped ZnO, which have extended and boosted the spectral absorption. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/ZnO hollow spheres was assessed using 17α-ethinylestradiol aqueous solution under UV irradiation. It has been observed that the 17α-ethinylestradiol absorption efficiency and degradation rate is higher for Ag/ZnO hollow spheres. As reusable photocatalysts, Ag/ZnO hollow spheres which could be easily separated from a suspension will facilitate their application in wastewater treatment with enhanced photostability.     

Influence of soil and hydrocarbon properties on the solvent extraction of high-concentration weathered petroleum from contaminated soils

Petroleum ether was used to extract petroleum hydrocarbons from soils collected from six oil fields with different history of exploratory and contamination. It was capable of fast removing 76–94 % of the total petroleum hydrocarbons including 25 alkanes (C₁₁–C₃₅) and 16 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soils at room temperature. The partial least squares analysis indicated that the solvent extraction efficiencies were positively correlated with soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, moisture, pH, and sand content of soils, while negative effects were observed in the properties reflecting the molecular size (e.g., molecular weight and number of carbon atoms) and hydrophobicity (e.g., water solubility, octanol–water partition coefficient, soil organic carbon partition coefficient) of hydrocarbons. The high concentration of weathered crude oil at the order of 10⁵ mg kg^?1 in this study was demonstrated adverse for solvent extraction by providing an obvious nonaqueous phase liquid phase for hydrocarbon sinking and increasing the sequestration of soluble hydrocarbons in the insoluble oil fractions during weathering. A full picture of the mass distribution and transport mechanism of petroleum contaminants in soils will ultimately require a variety of studies to gain insights into the dynamic interactions between environmental indicator hydrocarbons and their host oil matrix.     

Oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by horseradish peroxidase in water containing an organic cosolvent

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that are toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic. We investigated the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed oxidation of PAHs in water containing N,N-dimethylformamide. Four PAHs (anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and fluoranthene) were investigated using single-PAH and mixed-PAH systems. The results provide useful information regarding the preferential oxidation of anthracene over other PAHs regardless of the reaction time, enzyme dosage, and hydrogen peroxide concentration. The removal of PAHs was found to be very strongly correlated with the ionization potential (IP), and much greater PAH oxidation was observed at a lower IP. The oxidation of anthracene was specifically pH- and temperature-dependent, with the optimal pH and temperature being 8.0 and 40 °C, respectively. The redox mediators 1-hydroxybenzotriazole and veratryl alcohol promoted the transformation of anthracene by HRP; 9,10-anthraquinone was the main product detected from the anthracene oxidation system. The results of this study not only provide a better understanding of the oxidation of PAHs by utilizing a plant biocatalyst, but also provide a theoretical basis for establishing the HRP-catalyzed treatment of PAH-contaminated wastewater.     

Characterization of the extracellular biodemulsifiers secreted by Bacillus cereus LH-6 and the enhancement of demulsifying efficiency by optimizing the cultivation conditions

A highly efficient demulsifying strain, LH-6, was isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil and identified as Bacillus cereus by 16S rDNA gene analysis. It achieved 95.61 and 95.40 % demulsifying ratios within 12 h for water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-in-water (O/W) model emulsions, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) detections indicated that the LH-6’s extracellular biodemulsifiers were different types of lipopeptides for the W/O and O/W emulsions. Optimization of the culture medium composition was conducted to improve the biosynthesis and demulsifying efficiency of the biodemulsifier. The optimal carbon source was liquid paraffin, while waste frying oil could also be an alternative carbon source. The optimal nitrogen sources were ammonium sulfate and yeast extract. To further enhance the biodemulsifier efficiency, the optimal cultivation conditions were determined using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite rotation design (CCRD). Using the optimized cultivation conditions, the demulsifying ratios increased to 98.23 and 97.65 % for the W/O and O/W model emulsions, respectively.     

Degradation of aqueous Rhodamine B by plasma generated along the water surface and its enhancement using nanocrystalline Fe-, Mn-, and Ce-doped TiO2 films

The degradation of aqueous Rhodamine B (RhB) was examined using a dual-channel spark switch module designed to regulate the steepness of pulsed high voltage with microsecond rise time. Depending on the energy per pulse, a spark along the water surface (SPWS) or streamer along the water surface (STWS) was formed. STWS was found to have a better degradation effect and energy efficiency toward RhB than SPWS at the same power; however, addition of H₂O₂ amounts resulted in increased degradation, the effect being more pronounced using SPWS. The initial concentration of RhB also appeared to influence the rate constant of the degradation reaction. Furthermore, TiO₂ films doped with Fe, Mn, and Ce were found to enhance the degradation performance of plasma. A possible reaction mechanism of plasma formation along the water surface was concluded by determination of the main inorganic products in the liquid and gas phases.     

烟气脱硫溶液中硫酸根的去除

分别采用石灰乳化学沉淀法和低温结晶法去除烟气脱硫溶液中的SO42-。实验结果表明：在室温、CaO溶液质量分数25%的条件下,石灰乳化学沉淀法对SO42-的去除率仅为59.51%,且向溶液中引入了Ca2+,产生的硫酸钙固体废物难以再生利用;采用低温结晶法处理烟气脱硫溶液,在结晶温度7 ℃、结晶时间3 h、NaOH加入量34.8 g/L的条件下,SO42-的去除率为82.04%、滤液中的ρ（Na+）为3.88 g/L。在现场工业应用试验中,采用低温结晶法去除烟气脱硫溶液中的SO42-,平均SO42-的去除率可达70.00%以上,滤液中的ρ（Na+）小于15.00 g/L。该法可有效抑制烟气脱硫溶液中SO42-含量的增加。     

氯化镁复配硫酸铝混凝性能及絮体特性

在研究氢氧化镁混凝特性的基础上,复配氯化镁和硫酸铝作为混凝剂,以高岭土配水水样为研究对象,运用iPDA在线监测技术对混凝过程絮体形成进行监测,探讨了单独使用氯化镁和硫酸铝以及二者复配使用的混凝效果和絮体特性,确定复配使用的各种条件。结果表明,对于浊度20 NTU,pH 11.5的高岭土配水水样,氯化镁、硫酸铝最佳投加量分别为7.2 mg/L(Mg2+计)和3 mg/L(Al3+计);硫酸铝跟氯化镁复配使用时,先投加硫酸铝,间隔30 s后投加氯化镁,混凝效果较好;在镁离子最佳投加量7.2 mg/L时,铝和镁最佳质量比在1∶3~1∶2之间;镁铝复配时其FI值明显大于单独作用时,即絮体尺寸大小:二者复配硫酸铝氯化镁,而且复配条件下Zeta电位值在零电势左右浮动,浮动范围小,更利于聚集沉淀;镁铝复配时发生了协同效应,弥补了单独使用氯化镁混凝过程的不足。     

微电解-Fenton联合工艺预处理煤层气井压裂废水

利用Fenton强化微电解工艺对煤层气井压裂废水展开预处理研究,以COD去除率和可生化性(B/C)为考察指标,单独工艺正交实验结果表明pH为3、反应时间为90 min、铁碳体积比为1.5∶1和pH为4、反应时间为80 min、H2O2投加量为4 mL/L分别是微电解与Fenton反应的最优条件,各可获得48.1%和44.9%的COD去除率。在最优条件下进行微电解-Fenton联合运行实验,连续61 h内COD去除率均稳定在65%以上,B/C由0.158上升到0.3以上,有利于后续生化处理的运行。     

新型硅镁胶(MgO·2SiO_2)对模拟放射性废水中Co~(2+)的吸附性能

以泡花碱和氯化镁为原料合成出了一种新型硅镁胶(MgO·2SiO2)吸附材料,用傅里叶红外光谱仪对其进行了表征,并对模拟放射性废水中的Co2+进行吸附实验。结果表明,控制合成pH在10.50~11.00,可以得到目标硅镁胶(MgO·2SiO2),在460 cm-1处出现了较强的吸收峰,这是由Mg—O伸缩振动和Si—Mg—O弯曲振动引起。在500℃焙烧4h后,可以得到吸附性能良好的硅镁胶,随着溶液pH的升高,去除率增大,在pH为4~8时达到最大。25℃时,最大吸附量可达135.5 mg/g,吸附过程符合Langmuir等温吸附方程和准二级动力学方程。重复使用4次,对Co2+的吸附量仍然达到130 mg/g,说明硅镁胶是一种可重复利用的吸附剂。