Acceleration of floc-water separation and floc reduction with magnetic nanoparticles during demulsification of complex waste cutting emulsions

Waste cutting emulsions are difficult to treat efficiently owing to their complex composition and stable emulsified structure. As an important treatment method for emulsions, chemical demulsification is faced with challenges such as low flocs–water separation rates and high sludge production. Hence, in this study, Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were used to enhance chemical demulsification performance for treating waste cutting emulsions under a magnetic field. The addition of MNPs significantly decreased the time required to attain sludge–water separation and sludge compression equilibrium, from 210 to 20 min. In addition, the volume percentage of sludge produced at the equilibrium state was reduced from 45% to 10%. This excellent flocculation–separation performance was stable over a pH range of 3–11. The magnetization of the flocculants and oil droplets to form a flocculant–MNP–oil droplet composite, and the magnetic transfer of the composite were two key processes that enhanced the separation of cutting emulsions. Specifically, the interactions among MNPs, flocculants, and oil droplets were important in the magnetization process, which was controlled by the structures and properties of the three components. Under the magnetic field, the magnetized flocculant–MNP–oil droplet composites were considerably accelerated and separated from water, and the sludge was simultaneously compressed. Thus, this study expands the applicability of magnetic separation techniques in the treatment of complex waste cutting emulsions.     

An investigation of changes in water quality throughout the drinking water production/distribution chain using toxicological and fluorescence analyses

Changes in water quality from source water to finished water and tap water at two conventional drinking water treatment plants(DWTPs) were monitored.Beside the routine water quality testing,Caenorhabditis elegans-based toxicity assays and the fluorescence excitation–emission matrices technique were also applied.Both DWTPs supplied drinking water that met government standards.Under current test conditions,both the investigated finished water and tap water samples exhibited stronger lethal,genotoxic and reprotoxic potential than the relative source water sample,and the tap water sample was more lethal but tended to be less genotoxic than the corresponding finished water sample.Meanwhile,the nearly complete removal of tryptophan-like substances and newly generated tyrosine-like substances were observed after the treatment of drinking water,and humic-like substances were identified in the tap water.Based on these findings,toxic pollutants,including genotoxic/reproductive toxicants,are produced in the drinking water treatment and/or distribution processes.Moreover,further studies are needed to clarify the potentially important roles of tyrosine-like and humic-like substances in mediating drinking water toxicity and to identify the potential sources of these contaminants.Additionally,tryptophan-like fluorescence may be adopted as a useful parameter to monitor the treatment performance of DWTPs.Our observations provided insights into the importance of utilizing biotoxicity assays and fluorescence spectroscopy as tools to complement the routine evaluation of drinking water.     

Plasmonic silver/silver oxide nanoparticles anchored bismuth vanadate as a novel visible-light ternary photocatalyst for degrading pharmaceutical micropollutants

The degradation of pharmaceutical micropollutants is an intensifying environmental problem and synthesis of efficient photocatalysts for this purpose is one of the foremost challenges worldwide. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop novel plasmonic Ag/Ag₂O/BiVO₄ nanocomposite photocatalysts by simple precipitation and thermal decomposition methods, which could exhibit higher photocatalytic activity for mineralized pharmaceutical micropollutants. Among the different treatments, the best performance was observed for the Ag/Ag₂O/BiVO₄ nanocomposites (5 wt.%; 10 min's visible light irradiation) which exhibited 6.57 times higher photodegradation rate than the pure BiVO₄. Further, the effects of different influencing factors on the photodegradation system of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) were investigated and the feasibility for its practical application was explored through the specific light sources, water source and cycle experiments. The mechanistic study demonstrated that the photogenerated holes (h⁺), superoxide radicals (?O₂^?) and hydroxyl radicals (?OH) participated in TC-HCl removal process, which is different from the pure BiVO₄ reaction system. Hence, the present work can provide a new approach for the formation of novel plasmonic photocatalysts with high photoactivity and can act as effective practical application for environmental remediation.     

Investigation to meet China II emission legislation for marine diesel engine with diesel methanol compound combustion technology

In order to reduce the pollutant emission and alleviate the pressure of petroleum resources shortage and greenhouse gas emission at the same time, the use of clean and renewable alternative fuel for marine engines is a promising option. In this study, a marine diesel engine, which was modified to run in diesel methanol compound combustion (DMCC) mode, was investigated. After the diesel injection parameters were calibrated, and combined with a sample after-treatment device DOC (diesel oxidation catalyst), the engine could meet the requirements of China II legislation. The overall MSP (methanol substitute percent) reached 54.1%. The value of each pollutant emission was much lower than that in China II emission legislation, and there was almost no methanol and formaldehyde emissions. When methanol was injected into the inlet manifold, the intake air temperature decreased a lot, as well as the exhaust gas temperature, which were beneficial to increase engine thermal efficiency and improve engine room environment. Compared with the engine running in pure diesel mode, when the engine ran in diesel/methanol dual fuel mode, the combustion phase was advanced, and the combustion duration became shorter. Therefore, the engine thermal efficiency increased, and fuel consumption decreased significantly.     

水稻秸秆生物炭中铜和镉的形态分布及释放特性

由于目前缺乏对生物质原料来源的管控办法,极有可能用产自受污染农田土壤的秸秆制备出具有高重金属含量的生物炭,因此,研究生物炭中重金属的形态分布及其释放特性对于防控生物炭应用产生的环境风险具有重要意义.基于此,分别采集江西省贵溪铜冶炼厂周边九牛岗污染区和中国科学院鹰潭红壤生态实验站清洁区种植的水稻秸秆制备生物炭（分别记为“九牛岗生物炭”和“红壤站生物炭”）,分析两种生物炭中Cu、Cd的含量及其化学形态分布,考察不同固液比及pH对生物炭中Cu、Cd浸出的影响.结果表明:九牛岗生物炭中Cu、Cd的总量（以w计）分别为119.99、3.83 mg/kg,显著高于红壤站生物炭（19.50、0.96 mg/kg）.尽管九牛岗生物炭中w（酸溶态Cu）、w（酸溶态Cd）显著高于红壤站生物炭,但在形态分布上,九牛岗生物炭中Cu、Cd主要为相对稳定态（可氧化态和残渣态）,二者占比分别为80.3%、76.7%,高于红壤站生物炭（二者占比分别为53.2%、48.0%）.高固液比和低pH可有效增加两种生物炭中Cu、Cd的浸出毒性,其中,九牛岗生物炭在固液比为1:20和1:60时,浸出液中ρ（Cu）、ρ（Cd）均超过GB/T 14848—2017《地下水质量标准》中Ⅱ类标准限值.动力学及累积释放试验表明,两种生物炭中的部分Cu、Cd可在短时间内迅速释放而后逐渐平稳并有上升趋势,且九牛岗生物炭中Cu、Cd释放量显著高于红壤站生物炭.研究显示,来自污染区水稻秸秆生物炭中的Cu、Cd活性显著高于清洁区生物炭,具有更高的环境风险.      

环境浓度下邻苯二甲酸二乙酯对秀丽隐杆线虫的生态毒理效应

DEP (diethyl phthalate,邻苯二甲酸二乙酯)是一种在环境中普遍存在的具有潜在神经和生殖毒性的增塑剂,其会干扰环境生物的发育水平、运动行为及生化水平.以秀丽隐杆线虫的体长、体宽、头部摆动频率及生化指标作为测试终点,评估环境中DEP对秀丽隐杆线虫的生态毒理效应.在不同环境浓度(0、0.000 2、0.002、0.02、0.2、2 mg/L)的DEP溶液中,对秀丽隐杆线虫进行不同时间(24 h、72 h和10 d)的暴露试验.结果表明:①在不同浓度DEP溶液中暴露24 h后,秀丽隐杆线虫的发育水平均未受到显著影响(P>0.05).②在不同浓度DEP溶液中暴露72 h后,秀丽隐杆线虫的发育水平受到干扰.与对照组相比,在DEP浓度最高(2 mg/L)时,秀丽隐杆线虫体长下降了3.21%(P < 0.05);在DEP浓度为0.000 2 mg/L时,秀丽隐杆线虫的体宽呈上升趋势,且头部摆动频率明显加快了5.52%(P < 0.01),秀丽隐杆线虫的发育水平受到显著抑制.③在不同浓度DEP溶液中暴露10 d后,与对照组相比,秀丽隐杆线虫的体长、体宽和头摆频率均出现下降;在DEP浓度为2 mg/L时,秀丽隐杆线虫体内活性氧自由基、脂褐素和细胞凋亡水平累积均增长显著,出现氧化应激损伤.研究显示,不同环境浓度的DEP溶液会对秀丽隐杆线虫产生一定的毒性影响,且不同暴露时间和暴露浓度产生的毒性影响也存在一定差异.      

不同制备温度下污泥生物炭对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附特性

以城市剩余污泥为原料,于300,400,500,600 ℃温度条件下制备生物炭,通过单因素静态吸附实验探讨制备温度对生物炭吸附Cr（Ⅵ）的影响。结果表明:在500 ℃以内随着温度上升制备的生物炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附量增加,制备温度高于500 ℃后变化不明显;扫描电镜（SEM）、比表面积（BET）、傅里叶红外光谱（FTIR）表征结果显示,热解温度对生物炭表面形貌和官能团组成有显著影响;等温模型及动力学拟合结果表明,生物炭吸附Cr（Ⅵ）为单分子层吸附、物理-化学复合吸附。热解温度对污泥制备生物炭吸附Cr（Ⅵ）的性能有显著影响,最佳制备温度为500 ℃,在此条件制备的生物炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的理论吸附量可达7.93 mg/g。     

污水处理过程专家系统的结构特点与应用研究进展

综述了专家系统在污水处理领域的结构和特点、针对的工艺以及应用现状方面取得的研究成果。重点介绍了专家系统中知识的获取和表示、规则的建立以及与故障树和其他人工智能技术的结合情况,并对专家系统在污水处理工艺选择、运行控制以及故障诊断3个阶段的研究现状进行了细致分析。在此基础上,提出了尚需解决的问题以及进一步研究与发展的方向。     

Concentrations and chemical compositions of PM10 during hazy and non-hazy days in Beijing

In order to study the concentrations of major components,characteristics and comparison in hazy and non-hazy days of PM_(10) in Beijing,aerosol samples were collected at urban site in Beijing from December 29,2014 to January 22,2015.Heavy metals like Zn,Pb,Mn,Cu,As,V,Cr and Cd were deeply studied considering their toxic effects on human being;nine water-soluble inorganic ions(SO_4~(2-),NO_3~-,NH_4~+,Na~+,K~+,Cl~-,Ca~(2+) and Mg~(2+)) and carbon fractions(OC and EC) were also analyzed.The concentrations of heavy metals were 1.03–1.98 times higher in hazy days than those in non-hazy days,mainly due to biomass burning and coal burning.The trends in total heavy metals concentrations were basically consistent with the trends in PM concentrations except for two obvious periods(12.29–12.30;1.14–1.15);but when air masses accumulated locally or around Beijing,trends in PM concentrations and heavy metals were opposite.The proportion for NO_3~-/SO_4~(2-) indicated that mobile sources such as automobiles were important reasons for haze in Beijing.Correlation between OC and EC during non-hazy days was strong(R~2= 0.95) but it was low(R~2= 0.67) during hazy days,and large variations for OC/EC values occurred in hazy days.The calculated mass concentration of SOC is 2.58 μg/m~3,which only accounted for 10.1% of the OC concentration.When air masses from the far north-west,they decreased PM concentration in Beijing and they were relatively clean;however,those from the near east,south-east and south of the mainland increased PM concentration and they were dirty.     

过硫酸钠缓释材料的释放性能及其对2, 4-二硝基甲苯的降解效果

针对原位化学氧化技术修复土壤和地下水时氧化剂因释放过快而导致的利用率低等问题,通过熔化成型法制备过硫酸钠缓释材料,分析石蜡、硅砂和过硫酸钠不同配比对材料成型度和释放性能的影响,研究缓释过程中溶液pH的变化,探讨其在水溶液中的缓释行为及其对2,4-二硝基甲苯（2,4-DNT）的降解效果.结果表明:当固定过硫酸钠质量为6 g、硅砂质量为18 g、蜡砂比（石蜡、硅砂质量之比）为1:4~1:8时,过硫酸钠缓释材料成型度适中,且过硫酸钠的累积缓释量随着时间的延长而逐渐增大,第31天时过硫酸钠累积释放百分比为74.67%~88.40%,可实现过硫酸钠的持续可控释放.当硅砂质量为18 g、蜡砂比为1:1~1:6时,过硫酸钠累积释放百分比随着过硫酸钠质量的增加而增大,且溶液中的pH呈先降低后上升的变化规律.缓释材料缓释前后实物图和显微镜分析结果显示,过硫酸钠缓释材料的释放是一个由外到内、速率由快变慢最终趋于平稳的过程.过硫酸钠质量为12 g、硅砂质量为18 g、蜡砂比为1:4的缓释材料对2,4-DNT具有较好的降解效果,第16次置换浓度为0.2 mg/L的2,4-DNT水溶液时,2,4-DNT的降解率为56.38%.研究显示,改变制备材料的配比可有效实现缓释材料中过硫酸钠的缓慢释放及对污染物的有效降解,可为原位化学氧化修复土壤和地下水提供理论支撑.