Research on transesterification parameters for producing plant sterols with supercritical methanol

The supercritical fluid method, regarded as a type of individual production process in the course of preparing plant sterols, has become a promising technology, which possesses advantages of high conversion rate without any pretreatment and need of a catalyst. This study examined the reaction process of the deodorizer distillate (DOD), which mainly included the direct transesterification of DOD to convert into free sterols. The effects of the ratio of methanol to DOD, reaction temperature and time on transesterification were studied. Furthermore, the interactions between different factors were also assessed using the response surface methodology. The optimal conditions obtained were as follows: reaction temperature 553 K, reaction time 80 min, and CH₃OH: DOD = 25:1 (mass ratio). Under these conditions, 36.42% sterol concentration was obtained, which is significantly higher in comparison with the initial sterols’ concentration in raw material (22.45%).     

Leaching-induced migration and compositional form change of Cu,Zn, and Cd from sludge to loess

Land utilization of sewage sludge has become one of the major issues in environmental mitigation in China. This is particularly important in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China. Sludge enriched with organic matter and nutrients might effectively help to resolve the problems of silty loess soils as evidenced by porosity defect, structural alterations and absence of fertility. After sludge flows into the loess, irrigation water contains heavy metals that leach and migrate into sludge and consequently related human health risks may occur that raise concerns; and this situation needs to be rectified. The characteristics of the vertical migration and composition form change of Cu, Zn, and Cd from composted sludge to loess, and corresponding influencing factors, were investigated by performing a soil column simulation test under the leaching treatment of a one-year irrigation water capacity. Results demonstrated that: (1) composted sludge significantly improved loess fertility, and irrigation leaching transported only a small quantity of organic matter in sludge in the plough layer; (2) although some of the Cu, Zn, and Cd in composted sludge migrated to and concentrated in the middle and upper layers of the soil column during leaching, these metals were mostly retained in the plough layer; and (3) after the leaching treatment of the one-year irrigation water capacity, the compositions of Cu, Zn, and Cd (particularly Cu and Zn) in both plough layer and loess began to stabilize with low concentrations in the exudate. These findings confirmed the applicability of composted sludge in loess regions. This study provided a new insight into the sludge reuse in alkaline soils in arid and semi-arid region.     

Effects of a diesel oxidation catalyst on gaseous pollutants and fine particles from an engine operating on diesel and biodiesel

The effects of a diesel oxidation catalytic (DOC) converter on diesel engine emissions were investigated on a diesel bench at various loads for two steady-state speeds using diesel fuel and B20. The DOC was very effective in hydrocarbon (HC) and CO oxidation. Approximately 90%–95% reduction in CO and 36%–70% reduction in HC were realized using the DOC. Special attention was focused on the effects of the DOC on elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) fractions in fine particles (PM_2.5) emitted from the diesel engine. The carbonaceous compositions of PM_2.5 were analyzed by the method of thermal/optical reflectance (TOR). The results showed that total carbon (TC), OC and EC emissions for PM_2.5 from diesel fuel were generally reduced by the DOC. For diesel fuel, TC emissions decreased 22%–32% after the DOC depending on operating modes. The decrease in TC was attributed to 35%–97% decrease in OC and 3%–65% decrease in EC emissions. At low load, a significant increase in the OC/EC ratio of PM_2.5 was observed after the DOC. The effect of the DOC on the carbonaceous compositions in PM_2.5 from B20 showed different trends compared to diesel fuel. At low load, a slight increase in EC emissions and a significant decrease in OC/EC ratio of PM_2.5 after DOC were observed for B20.     

Determination of persistent organic pollutants by gas chromatography/laser multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

An authentic mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls was measured using a short wide-bore capillary column for the group separation of major components present in an actual sample of Kanechlor. The limits of detection were improved by ca. 2 fold in comparison with those obtained using a conventional capillary column, since the retention time was reduced and the amount of analytes introduced into the mass spectrometer per unit time could be increased. On the other hand, surface-water and sediment samples containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were collected from the river located in the vicinity of a waste water treatment plant. Even acenaphthylene, a minor component of the mixture could be measured for the sediment sample, and the concentrations were determined for several heavy PAHs. As demonstrated, a technique involving laser multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry was useful as a sensitive and selective analytical tool for the trace analysis of persistent organic pollutants in an environmental sample.     

纳米Fe3O4对小鼠肺细胞的氧化损伤

纳米Fe3O4作为一种功能材料,在生物医药、生物靶向材料、微波吸收材料和高梯度磁分离器等方面应用前景广阔,其潜在的生物毒性也备受关注。为研究纳米Fe3O4对生物体可能造成的氧化损伤,以昆明小鼠为受试体,设置5、10、20和40mg·kg-14个染毒组,腹腔注射染毒7d后,测定小鼠肺组织中活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)、还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)和丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)的含量。结果显示,随着纳米Fe3O4染毒剂量的升高,肺组织ROS和MDA含量逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,各指标均呈一定的剂量-效应关系。剂量≥10mg·kg-1,肺组织ROS含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05);剂量≥20mg·kg-1,肺组织MDA含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05);剂量≥40mg·kg-1,肺组织GSH含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05)。研究表明,较高剂量(≥20mg·kg-1)的纳米Fe3O4颗粒材料会引起小鼠肺细胞的氧化损伤。     

三唑酮对大型溞21天慢性毒性效应

三唑类杀菌剂是一种在农业上广泛应用的广谱性杀菌剂.三唑类杀菌剂在农田施用后能够向土壤深处迁移和扩散,从而污染土壤和地下水体,因此三唑类杀菌剂对土壤生态环境能够造成一定的破坏.选择三唑酮为研究对象,参照经济合作与发展组织(Organization for Economic Co-operation and Develop...     

基于模糊综合评价的流域社会经济活动对太湖生态影响评价研究

太湖是我国的五大淡水湖之一。太湖流域是我国经济最发达、水污染最严重的地区之一,正面临着严重的环境问题。随着太湖流域社会经济的发展,太湖流域生态环境将承受更大的压力。因此,分析人类社会经济活动对太湖流域生态的影响,对研究太湖生态环境具有重要意义。采用系统分析的方法,围绕流域人类社会经济活动对湖泊生态安全的影响,建立湖泊生态安全的评价指标体系,利用层次分析法计算各指标因子的权重。在此基础上,以太湖流域2005年和2006年相关数据为依据,以MATLAB为工具,根据模糊数学的原理,利用多级模糊综合评价的方法对太湖进行生态综合评价,确定流域社会经济活动对整个湖泊生态系统的影响。研究结果表明,3个重要指数得分高低顺序依次为：水体环境状态指数＞水体污染负荷指数＞社会经济压力指数;除了点源污染以外,面源污染也是太湖流域生态环境问题的重要根源。     

Changes of organic acid exudation and rhizosphere pH in rice plants under chromium stress.

The effect of chromium (Cr) stress on the changes of rhizosphere pH, organic acid exudation, and Cr accumulation in plants was studied using two rice genotypes differing in grain Cr accumulation. The results showed that rhizosphere pH increased with increasing level of Cr in the culture solution and with an extended time of Cr exposure. Among the six organic acids examined in this experiment, oxalic and malic acid contents were relatively higher, and had a significant positive correlation with the rhizosphere pH, indicating that they play an important role in changing rhizosphere pH. The Cr content in roots was significantly higher than that in stems and leaves. Cr accumulation in plants was significantly and positively correlated with rhizosphere pH, and the exudation of oxalic, malic and citric acids, suggesting that an increase in rhizosphere pH, and exudation of oxalic, malic and citric acid enhances Cr accumulation in rice plants.     

伞罩型除尘脱硫塔内除雾器性能研究

除雾器是湿法烟气脱硫(WFGD)系统内重要的设备之一,其性能对WFGD系统运行的可靠性有重要影响.利用Fluent6.2软件对新型伞罩型除尘脱硫塔内的三维两相流场进行数值模拟,气相采用RNG湍流模型,液相采用离散相模型,选择SIMPLE算法进行计算,分析塔内的折板除雾器和旋流板除雾器的速度场、压力场和液滴的分布情况.结果表明,烟气经过折板除雾器,产生了明显的压降,且在拐角区域湍流耗散强烈,是实现气液分离的关键区域;烟气经过旋流板除雾器,速度和压强分布具有良好的对称性,液滴被气流旋转抛向壁面实现气液分离.模拟结果对新型的WFGD除雾器的设计和运行具有一定的理论指导意义.     

铁屑还原及微波铁屑诱导氧化降解偶氮染料历程的研究

研究了铁屑内电解还原及微波诱导氧化降解偶氮染料的反应历程,采用胶束毛细管电泳法对跟踪了2种不同降解方法下的中间产物变化.实验结果表明,染料的偶氮键(-N=N-)易被铁屑内电解还原,反应过程中有中间产物苯胺生成.微波诱导铁屑氧化偶氮染料的反应过程中未检测到其他芳环类化合物生成,在微波辐照2 min时脱色率已达90%以上,TOC去除率也高达78%,矿化较为彻底;在微波辐照铁屑诱导氧化降解污染物的同时,也使铁屑自身得以活化再生,提高了铁屑的内电解能力.