Light-induced variation in environmentally persistent free radicals and the generation of reactive radical species in humic substances

• Light irradiation increased the concentration of free radicals on HS. • The increased spin densities on HS readily returned back to the original value. • The “unstable” free radicals induced the formation of reactive radical species. • Reactive radicals’ concentration correlated strongly with EPFRs’ concentration. Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) in humic substances play an essential role in soil geochemical processes. Light is known to induce EPFRs formation for dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments; however, the impacts of light irradiation on the variation of EPFRs in soil humic substances remain unclear. In this study, humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin were extracted from peat soil and then in situ irradiated using simulated sunlight. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy results showed that with the increasing irradiation time, the spin densities and g-factors of humic substances rapidly increased during the initial 20 min and then gradually reached a plateau. After irradiation for 2h, the maximum spin density levels were up to 1.63 × 10¹⁷, 2.06 × 10¹⁷, and 1.77 × 10¹⁷ spins/g for the humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin, respectively. And the superoxide radicals increased to 1.05 × 10¹⁴–1.46 × 10¹⁴ spins/g while the alkyl radicals increased to 0.47 × 10¹⁴–1.76 × 10¹⁴ spins/g. The light-induced EPFRs were relatively unstable and readily returned back to their original state under dark and oxic conditions. Significant positive correlations were observed between the concentrations of EPFRs and reactive radical species (R² = 0.65–0.98, p<0.05), which suggested that the newly produced EPFRs contributed to the formation of reactive radical species. Our findings indicate that under the irradiation humic substances are likely to be more toxic and reactive in soil due to the formation of EPFRs.     

Enhanced reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil by in-vessel anaerobic composting with zero-valent iron

Anaerobic dechlorination is an effective degradation pathway for higher chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The enhanced reductive dechlorination of PCB-contaminated soil by anaerobic composting with zero-valent iron (ZVI) was studied, and preliminary reasons for the enhanced reductive dechlorination with ZVI were investigated. The results show that the addition of nanoscale ZVI can enhance dechlorination during in-vessel anaerobic composting. After 140 days, the average number of removed Cl per biphenyl with 10 mg g^?1 of added nanoscale ZVI was 0.63, enhancing the dechlorination by 34 % and improving the initial dechlorination speed. The ZVI enhances dechlorination by providing a suitable acid base environment, reducing volatile fatty acid inhibition and stimulating the microorganisms. The C/N ratios for treatments with the highest rate of ZVI addition were smaller than for the control, indicating that ZVI addition can promote compost maturity.     

Long-term monitoring and modeling of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans from municipal solid waste incinerators and surrounding area in northern Taiwan

Municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) have long been the major contributors of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) to ambient air in Taiwan. After stringent MSWI emission standards were introduced in 2001, the long-term continuous monitoring of flue gas and ambient air quality became necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the related control strategies. Three MSWIs and the surrounding ambient air were investigated in the current study for PCDD/F characteristics during 2006 to 2011. The average concentrations in the flue gas ranged from 0.008?~?0.0488 ng I-TEQ/Nm³, which is much less than the emission standard in Taiwan (0.1 ng I-TEQ/Nm³) (I-TEQ is the abbreviation of International Toxic Equivalent). This led to extremely low levels in the ambient air, 0.0255 pg I-TEQ/Nm³, much less than the levels seen in most urban areas around the world. Additionally, the results obtained using the Industrial Source Complex Short-Term Dispersion Model (ISCST3) indicate that the PCDD/F contributions from the three MSWIs to the ambient air were only in the range from 0.164?~?0.723 %. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the PCDD/Fs in the air samples had very similar characteristics to those from mobile sources. The results thus show that stringent regulations have been an effective control strategy, especially for urban areas, such as Taipei City.     

A simple method to prepare magnetic modified beer yeast and its application for cationic dye adsorption

The purpose of this research is to use a simple method to prepare magnetic modified biomass with good adsorption performances for cationic ions. The magnetic modified biomass was prepared by two steps: (1) preparation of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) modified biomass in N, N-dimethylacetamide solution and (2) preparation of magnetic PMDA modified biomass by a situ co-precipitation method under the assistance of ultrasound irradiation in ammonia water. The adsorption potential of the as-prepared magnetic modified biomass was analyzed by using cationic dyes: methylene blue and basic magenta as model dyes. Optical micrograph and x-ray diffraction analyses showed that Fe₃O₄ particles were precipitated on the modified biomass surface. The as-prepared biosorbent could be recycled easily by using an applied magnetic field. Titration analysis showed that the total concentration of the functional groups on the magnetic PMDA modified biomass was calculated to be 0.75 mmol g^?1 by using the first derivative method. The adsorption capacities (q _m) of the magnetic PMDA modified biomass for methylene blue and basic magenta were 609.0 and 520.9 mg g^?1, respectively, according to the Langmuir equation. Kinetics experiment showed that adsorption could be completed within 150 min for both dyes. The desorption experiment showed that the magnetic sorbent could be used repeatedly after regeneration. The as-prepared magnetic modified sorbent had a potential in the dyeing industry wastewater treatment.     

Biosorption and biodegradation of Acid Orange 7 by Enterococcus faecalis strain ZL: optimization by response surface methodological approach

Reactive dyes account for one of the major sources of dye wastes in textile effluent. In this study, decolorization of the monoazo dye, Acid Orange 7 (AO7) by the Enterococcus faecalis strain ZL that isolated from a palm oil mill effluent treatment plant has been investigated. Decolorization efficiency of azo dye is greatly affected by the types of nutrients and the size of inoculum used. In this work, one-factor-at-a-time (method and response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize these operational factors and also to study the combined interaction between them. Analysis of AO7 decolorization was done using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, desorption study, UV–Vis spectral analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The optimum condition via RSM for the color removal of AO7 was found to be as follows: yeast extract, 0.1 %?w/v, glycerol concentration of 0.1 %?v/v, and inoculum density of 2.5 %?v/v at initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L at 37 °C. Decolorization efficiency of 98 % was achieved in only 5 h. The kinetic of AO7 decolorization was found to be first order with respect to dye concentration with a k value of 0.87/h. FTIR, desorption study, UV–Vis spectral analysis, FESEM, and HPLC findings indicated that the decolorization of AO7 was mainly due to the biosorption as well as biodegradation of the bacterial cells. In addition, HPLC analyses also showed the formation of sulfanilic acid as a possible degradation product of AO7 under facultative anaerobic condition. This study explored the ability of E. faecalis strain ZL in decolorizing AO7 by biosorption as well as biodegradation process.     

Selective Leaching of Valuable Metals from Waste Printed Circuit Boards

Abstract

This study was carried out to recover valuable metals from the printed circuit boards (PCBs) of waste computers. PCB samples were crushed to smaller than 1 mm by a shredder and initially separated into 30% conducting and 70% nonconducting materials by an electrostatic separator. The conducting materials, which contained the valuable metals, were then used as the feed material for magnetic separation, where it was found that 42% of the conducting materials were magnetic and 58% were nonmagnetic. Leaching of the nonmagnetic component using 2 M H₂SO₄ and 0.2 M H₂O₂ at 85 °C for 12 hr resulted in greater than 95% extraction of Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, and Al. Au and Ag were extracted at 40 °C with a leaching solution of 0.2 M (NH₄)₂S₂O₃, 0.02 M CuSO₄, and 0.4 M NH₄OH, which resulted in recovery of more than 95% of the Au within 48 hr and 100% of the Ag within 24 hr. The residues were next reacted with a 2 M NaCl solution to leach out Pb, which took place within 2 hr at room temperature.     

改性甘蔗渣对Cu2+和Zn2+的吸附机理

研究了均苯四甲酸二酐(PMDA)和乙二胺四乙酸二酐(EDTAD)改性甘蔗渣对重金属离子Cu2+和Zn2+的吸附性能,包括吸附动力学和吸附等温线。结果表明,改性后的甘蔗渣对重金属离子Cu2+和Zn2+的吸附容量有显著提高,对Cu2+和Zn2+吸附等温线均符合Langmuir方程,吸附为单分子层吸附。根据Langmuir方程,PMDA和EDTAD改性甘蔗渣对Cu2+的吸附量分别为60.21和33.45 mg/g,对Zn2+的吸附量分别是70.53和36.53 mg/g。两种改性甘蔗渣对两种金属离子的吸附在30 min内均可完成,用准二级吸附动力学方程模拟动力学过程得到较好的线性相关性。以EDTA溶液为洗脱剂对吸附Cu2+和Zn2+的改性甘蔗渣进行洗脱再生,再生的吸附剂可反复使用。     

长柄扁桃核壳活性炭的制备及表征

以长柄扁桃核壳为原料采用磷酸活化法制备活性炭,分别研究了温度、时间、浸渍比和磷酸浓度对活性炭吸附性能的影响;进而采用氮气吸附曲线和SEM对最佳工艺条件下的活性炭进行了表征。结果表明,长柄扁桃核壳是一种优质的活性炭原料;当温度为400℃,活化时间2 h,浸渍比2：1,磷酸浓度60%时,得到产率为46.46%,碘吸附值和亚甲基蓝吸附值分别为1 073 mg/g、255 mg/g,比表面积高达1 740 m²/g,中孔率为73.12%的孔隙发达的高中孔率活性炭。     

Waste prevention for sustainable resource and waste management

Although the 2Rs (reduce and reuse) are considered high-priority approaches, there has not been enough quantitative research on effective 2R management. The purpose of this paper is to provide information obtained through the International Workshop in Kyoto, Japan, on 11–13 November 2015, which included invited experts and researchers in several countries who were in charge of 3R policies, and an additional review of 245 previous studies. It was found that, regarding policy development, the decoupling between environmental pressures and economy growth was recognized as an essential step towards a sustainable society. 3R and resource management policies, including waste prevention, will play a crucial role. Approaches using material/substance flow analyses have become sophisticated enough to describe the fate of resources and/or hazardous substances based on human activity and the environment, including the final sink. Life-cycle assessment has also been developed to evaluate waste prevention activities. Regarding target products for waste prevention, food loss is one of the waste fractions with the highest priority because its countermeasures have significant upstream and downstream effects. Persistent organic pollutants and hazardous compounds should also be taken into account in the situation where recycling activities are globally widespread for the promotion of a material-cycling society.     

新型饮用水除氟材料Bio-F除氟机制研究

采用了SEM、BET、FT-IR、XRD等现代分析测试方法,研究了Bio-F的表面微观结构及吸附氟离子机制.结果表明,Bio-F吸附氟离子后比表面积由12.411m2·g-1减少为10.692m2·g-1,平均孔容减少了0.004 cm3·g-1,最可几孔径分布在1.88nm左右.Bio-F吸附氟离子的过程包括离子交换和吸附作用,吸附方式包括物理吸附和化学吸附,离子交换时材料与氟离子结合可能形成Ca10(PO4)5CO3(OH)F.