Hazardous substances in indoor dust emitted from waste TV recycling facility

Various hazardous substances contained in waste TV sets might be released into environment via dust during recycling activities. Two brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and five kinds of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni) were detected in indoor dust collected from two workshops (TV dismantling workshop and subsequent recycling workshop). PBDEs concentrations in dust from waste wires recycling line (722,000 ng/g) were the highest among the studied sites, followed by those in manual dismantling–sorting line (117,000 ng/g), whereas TBBPA concentrations were the highest in manual dismantling–sorting line (557 ng/g) and printed circuit board (PCB) recycling line (428 ng/g). For heavy metals, Cu and Pb were the most enriched metals in all dust samples. The highest concentration of Pb (22,900 mg/kg) was found in TV dismantling workshop-floor dust. Meanwhile, Cu was the predominant metal in dust from the PCB recycling line, especially in dust collected from electrostatic separation area (42,700 mg/kg). Occupational exposure assessment results showed that workers were the most exposed to BDE-209 among the four PBDE congeners (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153, and BDE-209) in both workshops. The hazard quotient (HQ) indicated that noncancerous effects were unlikely for both BFRs and heavy metals (HQ?<?1), and carcinogenic risks for Cd, Cr, and Ni (risk?<?10^?6) on workers in two workshops were relatively low.     

Iron improving bio-char derived from microalgae on removal of tetracycline from aqueous system

Novel magnetic carbonaceous bio-char was hydrothermal prepared from microalgae under different loadings of iron and its structures and surface chemistry were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET). The morphology of bio-char changed from sheet to particle as iron loading increased and its surface area also increased. When 3.0 g of dried microalgae and 6.0 mmol iron salt ((NH₄)₂SO₄·FeSO₄·6H₂O) were mixed and treated, the obtained bio-char possessing the highest amount of oxygen-containing functional groups resulted in the best adsorption performance on tetracycline (TC). This adsorption process was fitted to Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was 95.86 mg/g, which is higher than other bio-char reported. The iron loading contributed to the higher adsorption capacity of bio-char, which may be due to three factors, the high surface area, more hydrogen bonding, and bridging effects of the structural Fe for TC. Our data suggest that bio-char may have more important role in stabilization of pollutants in the environment.     

Effects of di-n-butyl phthalate on the physiology and ultrastructure of cucumber seedling roots

Agricultural pollution caused by the use of plastic sheetings has been documented to be a widespread problem in most of the major crop-planting regions of the world. In order to better understand the phytotoxic mechanisms induced by phthalic acid esters involved with this problem, Cucumber sativus L. cv Jinyan No. 4 were sown in pots to the three-leaf-stage in the presence of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP; 0, 30, 50, 100, and 200 mg L^?1) for 1, 3, 5, or 7 days. Physiology, biochemistry, and ultrastructure of seedling roots were examined. The results indicated that activities of three antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD)) were stimulated at low-DBP treatments and decreased under higher levels (>100 mg L^?1) compared to the controls. On the other hand, SOD and POD provided a better defense against DBP-induced oxidative damage in the roots of cucumber seeding, compared to CAT. The productions of both malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) were promoted under DBP stress. Visible impact on the cytoderm, mitochondrion, and vacuole was detected, possibly as a consequence of free radical generation. These results suggested that activation of the antioxidant system by DBP led to the formation of reactive oxygen species that resulted in cellular damage.     

Composting of waste algae: A review

Although composting has been successfully used at pilot scale to manage waste algae removed from eutrophied water environments and the compost product applied as a fertiliser, clear guidelines are not available for full scale algae composting. The review reports on the application of composting to stabilize waste algae, which to date has mainly been macro-algae, and identifies the peculiarities of algae as a composting feedstock, these being: relatively low carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, which can result in nitrogen loss as NH₃ and even N₂O; high moisture content and low porosity, which together make aeration challenging; potentially high salinity, which can have adverse consequence for composting; and potentially have high metals and toxin content, which can affect application of the product as a fertiliser. To overcome the challenges that these peculiarities impose co-compost materials can be employed.     

Co-composting of livestock manure with rice straw: Characterization and establishment of maturity evaluation system

Composting is considered to be a primary treatment method for livestock manure and rice straw, and high degree of maturity is a prerequisite for safe land application of the composting products. In this study pilot-scale experiments were carried out to characterize the co-composting process of livestock manure with rice straw, as well as to establish a maturity evaluation index system for the composts obtained. Two pilot composting piles with different feedstocks were conducted for 3 months: (1) swine manure and rice straw (SM–RS); and (2) dairy manure and rice straw (DM–RS). During the composting process, parameters including temperature, moisture, pH, total organic carbon (TOC), organic matter (OM), different forms of nitrogen (total, ammonia and nitrate), and humification index (humic acid and fulvic acid) were monitored in addition to germination index (GI), plant growth index (PGI) and Solvita maturity index. OM loss followed the first-order kinetic model in both piles, and a slightly faster OM mineralization was achieved in the SM–RS pile. Also, the SM–RS pile exhibited slightly better performance than the DM–RS according to the evolutions of temperature, OM degradation, GI and PGI. The C/N ratio, GI and PGI could be included in the maturity evaluation index system in which GI > 120% and PGI > 1.00 signal mature co-composts.     

甲苯对UASB反应器中溶解性微生物产物的影响

以乙酸钠为外加碳源,考察了UASB反应器内甲苯对可溶性微生物产物（SMP）的影响。实验结果表明：低质量浓度（20~70 mg/L）的甲苯对微生物有刺激作用,使得污泥增殖速率变小,SMP的质量浓度也逐渐减少,经过一段时间的驯化后,系统COD和TOC的去除率分别达到93%和94%以上,下降趋势较小;较高质量浓度（70~200 mg/L）的甲苯对微生物有抑制作用,污泥活性下降,反应器运行状况开始恶化,SMP的质量浓度也逐渐增大,经过一段时间的驯化后,系统COD和TOC的去除率分别维持在81%和83%以上;当甲苯质量浓度超过200 mg/L时,表现为污泥活性严重下降,对COD的去除效果极差。     

共代谢膜生物反应器法处理二甲基亚砜废水

采用蔗糖作为共代谢基质与一体式好氧膜生物反应器（MBR）工艺相结合处理二甲基亚砜（DMSO）废水。考察了装置的污泥驯化效果、DMSO去除率、污泥的性能、HRT和冲击负荷对DMSO去除率的影响。试验结果表明：驯化第29天,DMSO去除率达98.5%,表明MBR内的污泥已驯化成功;在MBR运行的正式期,当DMSO处于高负荷状态时,DMSO去除率较低;随蔗糖加入量的增加,DMSO去除率逐渐提高,最终恢复到DMSO高负荷冲击前的DMSO去除效果;正常运行时,装置进水ρ（DMSO）=257~1 448 mg/L（平均值为718 mg/L）、出水ρ（DMSO）=6~22 mg/L（平均值为7 mg/L）,DMSO去除率为96.4%~99.6%（平均值为98.9%）;在MBR运行的正式期,污泥体积指数小于100 mL/g,表明污泥的沉降性能较好,MLVSS/MLSS较高,表明污泥的活性高,MBR内MLSS的平均值为5.52 g/L,MLVSS的平均值为4.78 g/L;MBR适宜的HRT为12 h。     

负载型Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂的制备及其低温脱硝活性简

以成型TiO₂作为载体,通过浸渍法制备了Mn-Ce/TiO₂低温SCR催化剂,并系统研究了制备方法、煅烧条件、活性组分担载量、Mn含量等参数对催化剂催化还原NO性能的影响。结果表明,煅烧温度的升高会促使活性组分结晶度的提高,从而引起催化活性的降低,在500℃和600℃下所得Mn-Ce/TiO₂催化剂活性组分为无定型态,表现出较高的脱硝活性。活性组分担载量的增加有利于催化活性的提高。Mn含量对Mn-Ce/TiO₂催化剂的活性有较大影响,当Mn/（Mn+Ce）摩尔比为40%和85%时,催化剂活性最高。     

镍基催化剂对污泥微波热解制生物气效能的影响

为实现污水污泥减量化、无害化及资源化的目标,在微波热解污水污泥基础上,进行了镍基催化剂对制取生物气效能影响的研究。采用元素分析对污泥元素进行检测,气/质联用分析(GC-MS)和气相色谱(GC)对热解生物气的组成和含量进行测定。实验结果表明,镍基催化剂的添加对微波热解污水污泥制取生物气有较大促进作用。5%添加量与800℃热解终温条件下具有最佳催化效果:生物气中H2、CO产量最大,H2产量由29 g/kg增加到35.8 g/kg,提升23.4%,CO产量由302.7 g/kg增加到383.3 g/kg,提升26.6%;同时催化剂还能提高热能利用效率,降低热解终温,即5%添加量在700℃热解终温时可达到空白800℃时的产气效果;镍基催化剂主要在500~600℃时发挥催化作用,加快了H2和CO的释放。微波热解污泥制取的生物气具有产量大、富含H2与CO等优点,可推动污水污泥的资源化进程。     

突变灰盖鬼伞过氧化物酶降解刚果红的响应面法优化分析简

酶法降解偶氮染料刚果红是一个复杂的过程,受温度、pH、酶量、刚果红浓度和双氧水浓度显著影响。为研究各因素及因素间交互作用对刚果红降解影响,提高刚果红的降解率,分别使用单因素法和响应面分析法对刚果红降解条件进行了优化。单因素实验结果显示灰盖鬼伞过氧化物酶降解刚果红的最适条件为：pH 5.0、32℃、酶量4.98 U、双氧水0.1 mmol/L、刚果红20 mg/L,此时刚果红最高降解率为34.84%。然后选双氧水浓度、刚果红浓度和灰盖鬼伞过氧化物酶量作为3个因素,通过中心组合设计实验,用响应面法对刚果红降解进行优化分析,最后得到一个拟合度良好的二次多项方程模型（R²=0.9900）。方差分析结果显示,刚果红浓度和酶量是影响最显著的因素,双氧水与酶以及染料与酶之间的交互作用极显著。响应面分析优化后的反应体系为：双氧水浓度0.15 mmol/L,刚果红浓度为27.21 mg/L,酶为2.0 7 U,在此条件下,刚果红降解率达58.13%。