Current status and historical variations of phthalate ester (PAE) contamination in the sediments from a large Chinese lake (Lake Chaohu)

The residual levels of phthalate esters (PAEs) in the surface and two core sediments from Lake Chaohu were measured with a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer (GC–MS). The temporal–spatial distributions, compositions of PAEs, and their effecting factors were investigated. The results indicated that di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were three dominant PAE components in both the surface and core sediments. The residual level of total detected PAEs (∑PAEs) in the surface sediments (2.146?±?2.255 μg/g dw) was lower than that in the western core sediments (10.615?±?9.733 μg/g) and in the eastern core sediments (5.109?±?4.741 μg/g). The average content of ∑PAEs in the surface sediments from the inflow rivers (4.128?±?1.738 μg/g dw) was an order of magnitude higher than those from the lake (0.323?±?0.093 μg/g dw), and there were similar PAE compositions between the lake and inflow rivers. This finding means that there were important effects of PAE input from the inflow rivers on the compositions and distributions of PAEs in the surface sediments. An increasing trend was found for the residual levels of ΣPAEs, DnBP, and DIBP from the bottom to the surface in both the western and eastern core sediments. Increasing PAE usage with the population growth, urbanization, and industrial and agricultural development in Lake Chaohu watershed would result in the increasing production of PAEs and their resulting presence in the sediments. The significant positive relationships were also found between the PAE contents and the percentage of sand particles, as well as TOC contents in the sediment cores.     

In situ immobilization of cadmium in soil by stabilized biochar-supported iron phosphate nanoparticles

The potential for nanoscale phosphate amendments to remediate heavy metal contamination has been widely investigated, but the strong tendency of nanoparticles to form aggregates limits the application of this technique in soil. This study synthesized a composite of biochar-supported iron phosphate nanoparticle (BC@Fe₃(PO₄)₂) stabilized by a sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to improve the stability and mobility of the amendment in soil. The sedimentation test and column test demonstrated that BC@Fe₃(PO₄)₂ exhibited better stability and mobility than iron phosphate nanoparticles. After 28 days of simulated in situ remediation, the immobilization efficiency of Cd was 60.2 %, and the physiological-based extraction test bioaccessibility was reduced by 53.9 %. The results of sequential extraction procedures indicated that the transformation from exchangeable (EX) Cd to organic matter (OM) and residue (RS) was responsible for the decrease in Cd leachability in soil. Accordingly, the pot test indicated that Cd uptake by cabbage mustard was suppressed by 86.8 %. Compared to tests using iron phosphate nanoparticles, the addition of BC@Fe₃(PO₄)₂ to soil could reduce the Fe uptake of cabbage mustard. Overall, this study revealed that BC@Fe₃(PO₄)₂ could provide effective in situ remediation of Cd in soil.     

Influence of filtration velocity on DON variation in BAF for micropolluted surface water treatment

Biological aerated filters (BAFs) are widely used for the treatment of micropolluted surface water. However, the biological process produces dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), which, as precursors of nitrogenous disinfection by-products, pose potential threats to drinking water safety. Therefore, to control DON in BAF effluent, it is necessary to study the influence of BAF operation parameters on DON production. In this study, the influence of filtration velocity in a BAF on DON production was investigated. Under different filtration velocity (0.5, 2, and 4 m/h) conditions, profiles of DON concentrations along the media layer were measured. The profile at a filtration velocity of 0.5 m/h showed a decreasing trend, and the ones under filtration velocities of 2 and 4 m/h fluctuated in a small range (from 0.1 to 0.4 mg/L). Moreover, the relatively high filtration velocities of 2 and 4 m/h resulted in a lower level of DON concentration. Additionally, 3D excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize DON. It is found that the patterns of DON at a relatively high filtration velocity condition (4 m/h) were obviously different from the ones under low filtration velocity conditions (0.5 and 2 m/h).     

Effect of alginate on the aggregation kinetics of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs): bridging interaction and hetero-aggregation induced by Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

The stability of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) is expected to play a key role in the environmental risk assessment of nanotoxicity in aquatic systems. In this study, the effect of alginate (model polysaccharides) on the stability of CuO NPs in various environmentally relevant ionic strength conditions was investigated by using time-resolved dynamic light scattering. Significant aggregation of CuO NPs was observed in the presence of both monovalent and divalent cations. The critical coagulation concentrations (CCC) were 54.5 and 2.9 mM for NaNO₃ and Ca(NO₃)₂, respectively. The presence of alginate slowed nano-CuO aggregation rates over the entire NaNO₃ concentration range due to the combined electrostatic and steric effect. High concentrations of Ca²⁺ (>6 mM) resulted in stronger adsorption of alginate onto CuO NPs; however, enhanced aggregation of CuO NPs occurred simultaneously under the same conditions. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that the bridging interaction of alginate with Ca²⁺ might be an important mechanism for the enhanced aggregation. Furthermore, significant coagulation of the alginate molecules was observed in solutions of high Ca²⁺ concentrations, indicating a hetero-aggregation mechanism between the alginate-covered CuO NPs and the unabsorbed alginate. These results suggested a different aggregation mechanism of NPs might co-exist in aqueous systems enriched with natural organic matter, which should be taken into consideration in future studies.

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Graphical abstract Hetero-aggregation mechanism of CuO nanoparticles and alginate under high concentration of Ca²⁺

     

APSFZn在富营养化湖泊型水体中的应用

采用复合共聚法制备一种新型无机高分子絮凝剂凹凸棒-聚硅酸铁锌(APSFZn),并应用于富营养化湖泊型原水的实验研究。考察了水体p H、投加量、搅拌强度影响因素对絮凝效果的影响。研究表明,APSFZn具有较宽的p H使用范围。当p H为7.6、投加量为20 mg/L、搅拌强度为快搅速度200 r/min,快搅时间2 min,慢搅速度50 r/min,慢搅时间15 min时,APSFZn絮凝剂对Chl-a、CODMn、TP和TN的去除率分别为91.57%、87.11%、93.48%和48.98%。与传统絮凝剂PAC、PFS、PSFZn对比,APSFZn的絮凝效果明显优于传统絮凝剂。该絮凝剂制备简单、具有良好的稳定性和絮凝特性、工艺无二次污染,将APSFZn应用于富营养化湖泊型原水具有良好的絮凝效果。     

江苏省太湖流域水功能区纳污能力及限制排污总量研究

水功能区纳污能力及限制排污总量研究是制定区域水污染控制规划的基础。依据《江苏省地表水(环境)功能区划》,结合江苏省太湖流域现状水质和污染概况,针对河网区和湖库区分别采用一维、二维非稳态模型,计算江苏省太湖流域水功能区纳污能力,在此基础上,引入最大污染物入河量,核定50%、75%和90%水文保证率下的最大污染物入河量分别为2015年、2020年和2030年限排总量。结果表明:(1)CODMn和氨氮纳污能力分别为284 803 t/a和22 448 t/a;(2)2015年CODMn和氨氮限排总量分别为221 867 t/a和20 520 t/a,2020年和2030年限排总量递减,均小于纳污能力;(3)CODMn和氨氮入河量削减率分别为21.8%和46.3%,与水质超标率相差均在25%以内,基本相符。江苏省太湖流域纳污能力、限排总量、污染物入河量削减率和水质超标率之间关系合理,计算结果合理。研究成果为太湖流域水环境控制规划提供决策依据。     

铁盐与铝盐对腈纶废水生化出水混凝特性的对比

针对腈纶废水生化单元出水,对比研究了Al2(SO4)3和Fe2(SO4)3在不同絮凝剂投量和p H时的混凝处理效果,并利用紫外-可见分光光度法(UV-Vis)、三维荧光光谱(EEM)、凝胶渗透色谱(HPSEC)等对混凝特性进行了初步探讨。研究显示,2种混凝剂在投量为63.5 mg/L时可获得30%以上的COD去除率,且最佳p H为中性附近。当投量小于32 mg/L时,Al2(SO4)3较Fe2(SO4)3具有更高的COD去除率,进一步增大混凝剂的投量很难提高Al2(SO4)3对COD的去除率,而Fe2(SO4)3则在有限范围内能持续提高COD去除率。EEM光谱分析显示,与Al2(SO4)3相比,Fe2(SO4)3对有机物具有更广的处理范围和更好的去除效果。HPSEC分析表明,Fe2(SO4)3相对于Al2(SO4)3在去除重均分子量为2 776、1 856和1 325 Da的有机物组分方面具有优势。铁盐或铝盐混凝是深度净化腈纶废水生化单元出水的可行方案之一。     

不同好氧预处理方式对餐厨垃圾产甲烷的影响

为了研究不同好氧预处理方式对餐厨垃圾厌氧消化产甲烷的影响,通过建立3个模拟厌氧生物反应器,研究了传统厌氧生物反应器C1、上层好氧预处理-厌氧生物反应器C2和底部好氧预处理-厌氧生物反应器C3 3种不同操作条件下的产甲烷过程.结果表明,挥发性有机酸的累积使C1始终处于产甲烷滞后阶段;而C2、C3的好氧预处理通过加快易水解酸化组分和过量挥发性有机酸的好氧降解,有效缓解了酸性抑制,产甲烷滞后时间明显缩短至10 d内.第32天C2停止上层曝气后,在27 d内甲烷浓度达到了50％以上,同时,产甲烷速率迅速上升,并在第81天可达到峰值773 mL/(kg·d).C3在第11天停止底部曝气后,虽然经过22 d的时间甲烷浓度即上升至50％,但之后产甲烷速率经历回落阶段后再次逐渐上升,在实验结束时仅达到517 mL/(kg·d).上层曝气的好氧预处理方式所需曝气时间相对较长,但其产甲烷启动快,与底部曝气相比,其后期的甲烷化过程更稳定并可达到较高的产甲烷速率.     

盐效萃取法从电子产品清洗废液中回收异丙醇

用盐效萃取法从电子产品清洗废液中回收片丙醇,考察了碳酸钾水溶液与该清洗废液的质量比对脱水率的影响,测定了异丙醇-水-碳酸钾体系存40℃时的液液相平衡数据,用Pitzer理论和NRTL方程对液液相平衡数据进行了理论计算。结果表明：当质量分数为60．00％的碳酸钾水溶液与该废液的质晕比为2．00时,脱水率高达90．00％;将有机相进行精馏可得到质量分数为99．50％的异丙醇;计算值与实测值接近,水相和有机相的绝对平均偏差分别为0．62％和0．46％。