Characteristics of organic precursors and their relationship with disinfection by-products

The molecular weight distribution and chemical composition of precursors and their relationship with disinfection by-products (DBPs) were investigated. Most of the organic matter responsible for the major DBP precursors in the Pan-Hsin water are small compounds with a molecular weight less than 1 kDa. The hydrophobic acids display the greatest ability to produce DBP. Therefore, effective removal of small molecules or hydrophobic acidic organics prior to disinfection process will significantly reduce the DBP concentration in the finished water. Although the coagulation process is effective in removing large organic precursors and the removal efficiencies of CHCl3 formation potential and organic carbon increase proportionally to the molecular weight of the precursors, the conventional treatment methods have limited efficiency in eliminating small precursors, which have high DBP formation potential.     

Field crops (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. and Brassica chinensis L.) for phytoremediation of cadmium and nitrate co-contaminated soils via rotation with Sedum alfredii Hance

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Phytoremediation coupled with crop rotation (PCC) is a feasible strategy for remediation of contaminated soil without interrupting crop production....     

Quick determination of malodor-causing fatty acids in manure by capillary electrophoresis

The analysis of odor components in livestock waste has been extensively studied. Past research has identified volatile fatty acids, especially from C3 to C6, as indicators of malodor. Originally, the odorous components were analyzed by gas chromatography after a tedious absorption and troublesome extraction procedure or by a subjectively olfactory system or sense of smell. Thus, there is a need for the development of highly specific, quantitative analytical methods. In this research, a comprehensive liquid manure analysis approach-capillary electrophoresis (CE) with a systematic optimization procedure-was adopted to measure the concentration of propanoic acid (C2H5COOH, C3), butyric acid (C3H7COOH, C4), valeric acid (C4H9COOH, C5) and caproic acid (C5H11COOH, C6) in swine manure. Liquid samples after filtration were injected into CE directly. The following condition is finally proposed: fused-silica capillary, effective length 40 cm, 50 microm I.D.; buffer, 20 mM Tris and 10 mM p-anisate, pH 8.0; voltage 30 kV; temperature 25 degrees C. The results showed that CE provided a quantitative analysis of volatile fatty acids in liquid manure at the ppm level with minimum sample needed (nanoliter). Moreover, the use of CE is a timesaving technique; one measurement for the separation of those VFAs could be completed within 10 min.     

Interactive analysis of waste recycling and energy recovery program in a small-scale incinerator

Conflicting goals affecting solid waste management are explored in this paper to find the best implementation of resource recovery with a small-scale waste-to-energy process. Recycling paper and plastic material often leaves a shortage of thermal energy to support incineration that forces operators to supplement the process with auxiliary fuels. Although there are considerable profits to be made from material recovery, the increase of fuel usage causes conflict given that it is cost prohibitive. A series of trials performed on a small-scale 1.5-t/day incineration plant with a cyclone heat recovery system found that material recycling can impede performance. Experimental results are expressed as empirical regression formulas with regard to combustion temperature, energy transfer, and heat recovery. Process optimization is possible if the waste moisture content remains <30%. To test the robustness of the optimization analysis, a series of sensitivity analyses clarify the extent of material recycling needed with regard to plastic, paper, and metal. The experiments also test whether the moisture in the waste would decrease when recycling paper because of its exceptional capacity to absorb moisture. Results show that recycling paper is strongly recommended when the moisture content is >20%, whereas plastic recycling is not necessary at that moisture condition. Notably, plastic recovery reduces the heat needed to vaporize the water content of the solid waste, thus it is recommended only when the moisture content is <10%. For above-normal incineration temperatures, plastic recycling is encouraged, because it removes excess energy. Metal is confirmed as an overall priority in material recycling regardless of the moisture content of the incoming waste.     

固定化改性蒙脱土对苯酚吸附性能的研究

利用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵对天然蒙脱土进行改性,并用聚乙烯醇对改性蒙脱土进行固定化处理,然后进行柱状吸附和振荡条件的吸附试验。研究结果表明,HDTMA改性蒙脱土固定化后能有效吸附苯酚,不同环境条件对苯酚的柱状吸附能力产生不同的影响。在pH4~8的范围内,固定化改性蒙脱土对苯酚的吸附效果无显著性差异,pH在10以上,其吸附能力明显下降;温度对吸附效果影响不大;进水苯酚浓度越高,改性蒙脱土对苯酚的吸附量越大,但出水苯酚浓度也高;苯酚的流速越小,吸附容量越高,吸附效果越好。     

可见光/H2 O2/海藻酸铁非均相催化降解吖啶橙的研究

由海藻酸钠和氯化铁反应制备了海藻酸铁凝胶小球催化剂,考察了该催化剂的吸附和可见光下催化降解吖啶橙的性能.结果表明催化剂的吸附能力随pH升高而提高,且催化剂用量为40个凝胶小球时,可见光下吖啶橙能够在较宽pH值范围内脱色,脱色速率随H2O2的用量增加而增加,该反应符合Arrhenius规律,其表观活化能为49.6 kJ/mol.自由基清除剂的加入不会降低脱色速率,表明催化反应不是羟基自由基的机理,而与高活性的类{ Fe(Ⅳ)=O}高价铁中间产物有关.     

Anaerobic degradation of diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from river sediment in Taiwan

We investigated anaerobic degradation rates for three phthalate esters (PAEs), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), from river sediment in Taiwan. The respective anaerobic degradation rate constants for DEP, DBP, and DEHP were observed as 0.045, 0.074, and 0.027 1/day, with respective half-lives of 15.4, 9.4, and 25.7 days under optimal conditions of 30 °C and pH 7.0. Anaerobic degradation rates were enhanced by the addition of the surfactants brij 35 and triton N101 at a concentration of 1 critical micelle concentration (CMC), and by the addition of yeast extract. Degradation rates were inhibited by the addition of acetate, pyruvate, lactate, FeCl₃, MnO₂, NaCl, heavy metals, and nonylphenol. Our results indicate that methanogen, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and eubacteria are involved in the degradation of PAEs.     

Local circulation and aerosol water-soluble ions--a case study in Taiwan during Mei-yu season

The Mei-yu (plum rain) season is a short but important period when the weather changes from spring to summer in Taiwan. In this study, size-segregated aerosols were collected alternately at 5 sampling sites in northwestern Taiwan from June 16 to 24, 1994. For the first time in Taiwan, this study revealed the aerosol mass spectra and water-soluble ions in the Mei-yu season. For all samples, a bi-modal aerosol mass spectra was found with modal diameters at 3.2 and 0.32 microm, respectively. The aerosol samples were able to be divided into different groups to show their mass and ion spectra according to the calculated 5-hr backward air trajectory. The utilization of enrichment factors showed that aerosol Cl-, Na+, and Mg2+ for all sizes, and super-micron SO4(2-) were related to the sea. Both the scheme of "chlorine loss" (Ohta and Okita, 1990) and a multivariate analysis (Thurston and Spengler, 1985) for categorizing water-soluble ions showed that sea-salts were major contributors in the prevalence of a sea breeze. In contrast, the secondary salts were significant for land breeze and a mix of land-sea breeze. In conclusion, the influence of local circulation on the distribution of aerosol mass and ionic species was found to be prominent.     

Effect of adsorbents coated with titanium dioxide on the photocatalytic degradation of propoxur

Photocatalytic oxidation of pesticides in aqueous media irradiated by UV light is a rapidly growing field of research. Therefore, the treatment technology for degradation of propoxur (an insecticide) using titanium dioxide coated on the supports such as activated carbon, zeolite, brick, quartz and glass beads, was performed in this research. Results show that GAC/TiO2 is the best complexing agent for oxidizing propoxur because of its adsorption properities. The others follow the sequence: plain TiO2 > glass beads > zeolite > brick > quartz. The degradation rate of propoxur with plain TiO2 is higher than that with TiO2/GAC complexing agent. But the mineralization rate of propoxur with plain TiO2 is lower than that with TiO2/GAC complexing agent. However, it can be concluded that using GAC as the support can improve the photocatalytic efficiency.     

臭氧氧化污泥的试验研究

采用接触反应柱对污泥臭氧氧化过程中污泥性质的变化进行了研究。结果表明,在相同臭氧投量下,低浓度臭氧分解污泥的效率较高;在臭氧投量为0．1gO3／gss、臭氧浓度为16．8mg／L时,臭氧化使污泥溶液中的溶解性TOC从114．9mg／L增加到803．7mg／L;臭氧氧化后溶解性IC(无机碳)从2．63mg／L减少到1．02mg／L;臭氧氧化显著提高了污泥沉淀性能,氧化后污泥的SV和SVI相当于氧化前28．9％和58％。臭氧氧化使污泥的pH从初始的7．13降低到投量增加到0．44gO3／gss时的4．40。污泥臭氧化的最佳投量点为0．1gO3／gSS。