Measurement of wastewater treatment efficiency by fluorescence and UV absorbance

The degree of chemical treatment in terms of removal of organic matter from different wastewaters has been investigated by employing potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄) and ozone in various combinations. The study was performed in both the batch and the continuous flow systems. The treatment efficiency was determined through three different methods, i.e., chemical oxygen demand (COD), fluorescence and ultraviolet (UV) absorption. Fluorescence and UV absorption techniques were employed due to their specificity in measurement of humic substances, aromatic compounds and heterocyclic systems, whereas COD is a general parameter for the estimation of total organic matter. Fluorescence and UV absorbance values were correlated with respective COD values.Abdul Bari is with the Department of ChemistryShaukat Farooq is with the Department of Civil Engineering     

焉耆盆地不同耕地土壤中微量元素污染风险对比研究

从新疆焉耆盆地不同耕地类型（辣椒地、小麦地、玉米地、番茄地、向日葵地、甜菜地）采集186个土壤样品,测定其中8种元素（As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb和Zn）的含量,利用污染负荷指数法（PLI）和潜在生态风险指数法（RI）,对不同耕地中微量元素的污染和潜在生态风险进行评估。结果表明：（1） 焉耆盆地不同耕地中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb与Zn含量平均值均未超出国家土壤环境质量二级标准;（2） 不同耕地中8种元素单项污染指数反映的环境风险各不相同,各耕地类型土壤PLI的平均值均呈现轻度污染;（3）不同耕地类型土壤中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的单项生态风险指数与各耕地类型RI值均属轻微风险水平。从空间分布可以看出,研究区所有农田类型的土壤RI在空间分布上均呈现轻微生态风险态势。辣椒地与小麦地中潜在生态风险指数较大的区域位于博湖县南部的农田,玉米地、番茄地、向日葵地和甜菜地中潜在生态风险指数较大区域主要分布于和硕县东部的农田。     

新疆焉耆盆地农田土壤重金属环境容量分析

为进一步了解土壤环境容量状况,从焉耆盆地采集191个农田土壤样品,测定其中As、Ni、Cr、Cu、Pb、Cd和Zn 7种重金属元素的含量,基于GIS技术,采用综合容量指数法分析农田土壤重金属环境容量特征与空间分布规律。结果表明:1）焉耆盆地农田土壤中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb与Zn含量平均值均未超出GB 15618—2018《土壤环境质量农用地土壤污染风险管控标准（试行）》中的土壤风险筛选值;2）农田土壤各重金属元素单项环境容量指数平均值由大到小依次为:As、Cr、Ni、Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn。As的环境容量指数处于高容量状态,Ni、Cr、Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn等元素环境容量指数均处于中容量状态;3）研究区7种重金属元素环境容量空间分布情况不同,研究区各容量区土壤面积顺序为:中容量区 > 高容量区 > 低容量区 > 超载区 > 警戒区。该结果可为研究区农田土壤环境保护和管理提供依据。     

A review on application of dielectric barrier discharge plasma technology on the abatement of volatile organic compounds

• Applications of non-thermal plasma reactors for reduction of VOCs were reviewed. • Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma was considered. • Effect of process parameters was studied. • Effect of catalysts and inhibitors were evaluated. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the waste treatment facilities have become a significant issue because they are not only causing odor nuisance but may also hazard to human health. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) technologies are newly developed methods and became a research trend in recent years regarding the removal of VOCs from the air environment. Due to its unique characteristics, such as bulk homogenized volume, plasma with high reaction efficiency dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) technology is considered one of the most promising techniques of NTP. This paper reviews recent progress of DBD plasma technology for abatement of VOCs. The principle of plasma generation in DBD and its configurations (electrode, discharge gap, dielectric barrier material, etc.) are discussed in details. Based on previously published literature, attention has been paid on the effect of DBD configuration on the removal of VOCs. The removal efficiency of VOCs in DBD reactors is presented too, considering various process parameters such as initial concentration, gas feeding rate, oxygen content and input power. Moreover, using DBD technology, the role of catalysis and inhibitors in VOCs removal are discussed. Finally, a modified configuration of the DBD reactor, i.e. double dielectric barrier discharge (DDBD) for the abatement of VOCs is discussed in details. It was suggested that the DDBD plasma reactor could be used for higher conversion efficiency as well as for avoiding solid residue deposition on the electrode. These depositions can interfere with the performance of the reactor.     

Trichoderma harzianum: a green sorbent for Pb(II) uptake from aqueous solutions

This investigation describes the use of specially cultivated, nonliving biomass of Trichoderma harzianum as a biosorbent for the batch removal of Pb(II) from a stirred system under different experimental conditions. The metal removal depended upon pH, sorbent particle size, initial Pb(II) concentration, shaking speed, and sorption time. The optimal experimental conditions for the removal of Pb(II) by T. harzianum with an initial metal concentration of 100 mg L^?1 were obtained at a particle size of 53 μm, a pH of 4.5, a shaking speed of 200 rpm, and a contact time of 720 min. The results were analyzed in terms of adsorption isotherms and kinetic models. The Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo second-order model fitted well in the data. T. harzianum proved to be a good biomaterial for accumulating Pb(II) from aqueous solutions (q = 460 mg g^?1).     

Synergistic effects of chromium and copper on photosynthetic inhibition,subcellular distribution,and related gene expression in Brassica napus cultivars

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Nowadays, modern plant physiology focuses on complex behavior of metal co-contaminants in agrosystems. Keeping this in view, the current study was...     

Nitrogen nutrition in cotton and control strategies for greenhouse gas emissions: a review

Cotton (Gossypium hirustum L.) is grown globally as a major source of natural fiber. Nitrogen (N) management is cumbersome in cotton production systems; it has more impacts on yield, maturity, and lint quality of a cotton crop than other primary plant nutrient. Application and production of N fertilizers consume large amounts of energy, and excess application can cause environmental concerns, i.e., nitrate in ground water, and the production of nitrous oxide a highly potent greenhouse gas (GHG) to the atmosphere, which is a global concern. Therefore, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of cotton plant is critical in this context. Slow-release fertilizers (e.g., polymer-coated urea) have the potential to increase cotton yield and reduce environmental pollution due to more efficient use of nutrients. Limited literature is available on the mitigation of GHG emissions for cotton production. Therefore, this review focuses on the role of N fertilization, in cotton growth and GHG emission management strategies, and will assess, justify, and organize the researchable priorities. Nitrate and ammonium nitrogen are essential nutrients for successful crop production. Ammonia (NH₃) is a central intermediate in plant N metabolism. NH₃ is assimilated in cotton by the mediation of glutamine synthetase, glutamine (z-) oxoglutarate amino-transferase enzyme systems in two steps: the first step requires adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to add NH₃ to glutamate to form glutamine (Gln), and the second step transfers the NH₃ from glutamine (Gln) to α-ketoglutarate to form two glutamates. Once NH₃ has been incorporated into glutamate, it can be transferred to other carbon skeletons by various transaminases to form additional amino acids. The glutamate and glutamine formed can rapidly be used for the synthesis of low-molecular-weight organic N compounds (LMWONCs) such as amides, amino acids, ureides, amines, and peptides that are further synthesized into high-molecular-weight organic N compounds (HMWONCs) such as proteins and nucleic acids.     

Kinetics of carbon mineralization of biochars compared with wheat straw in three soils

Application of biochars to soils may stabilize soil organic matter and sequester carbon (C). The objectives of our research were to study in vitro C mineralization kinetics of various biochars in comparison with wheat straw in three soils and to study their contribution to C stabilization. Three soils (Oxisol, Alfisol topsoil, and Alfisol subsoil) were incubated at 25°C with wheat straw, charcoal, hydrothermal carbonization coal (HTC), low-temperature conversion coal (LTC), and a control (natural organic matter). Carbon mineralization was analyzed by alkali absorption of CO released at regular intervals over 365 d. Soil samples taken after 5 and 365 d of incubation were analyzed for soluble organic C and inorganic N. Chemical characterization of biochars and straw for C and N bonds was performed with Fourier transformation spectroscopy and with the N fractionation method, respectively. The LTC treatment contained more N in the heterocyclic-bound N fraction as compared with the biochars and straw. Charcoal was highly carbonized when compared with the HTC and LTC. The results show higher C mineralization and a lower half-life of straw-C compared with biochars. Among biochars, HTC showed some C mineralization when compared with charcoal and LTC over 365 d. Carbon mineralization rates were different in the three soils. The half-life of charcoal-C was higher in the Oxisol than in the Alfisol topsoil and subsoil, possibly due to high Fe-oxides in the Oxisol. The LTC-C had a higher half-life, possibly due to N unavailability. We conclude that biochar stabilization can be influenced by soil type.     

Risk posed by chlorinated organic compounds in Abu Qir Bay,East Alexandria,Egypt

Introduction  

In Egypt, the picture of threats to humans and the environment from the exposure to organic pollutants is still incomplete. Thus the objectives of this study were to assess the occurrence and distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and chlorpyrifos in sediments and mussels of Abu Qir Bay and their risks for environment and human health.