Comprehending adsorption of methylethylketone and toluene and microwave regeneration effectiveness for beaded activated carbon derived from recycled waste bamboo tar

ABSTRACT

Beaded activated carbons (BACs) were derived from waste bamboo tar through carbonization (500°C for 2 hr) followed by physical activation using carbon dioxide (800–900°C for 2–4 hr). The adsorbent was examined for their physical and chemical properties, adsorption capacities toward methylethylketone (MEK) and toluene, and regenerabilities under microwave heating. It was found that the maximum total surface area reached for bamboo-tar-derived BAC after physical activation was 1364 m² g^?1, and more than 95% of the area was attributed to the microporous structures. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models were applied to the adsorption isotherm fitting, and the minimum R² for each model was 0.986, 0.915, and 0.943, respectively. The isosteric heats of adsorption calculated based on D-R parameters for methylethylketone and toluene were 44.04 to 51.50 and 45.88 to 73.27 KJ mol^?1, respectively. They were slightly over the range of physisorption and increased with adsorbate loading, which might be related to the micropore filling mechanism. Microwave regeneration under 600 W of power output removed most of the adsorbate (>93.03%) within 8 min. The results of this study are intended to benefit future study on waste-derived adsorbent in environmental applications.     

Dense Polyacrylic Acid-Immobilized Polypropylene Non-woven Fabrics Prepared Via UV-Induced Photograft Technique for the Recovery of Rare Earth Ions from Aqueous Solution

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this work, a novel and easy-separating rare earth adsorbent (PAA/PPNWF) was successfully synthesized by generating dense polyacrylic acid (PAA) on the...     

Preparation and uranium (VI) biosorption for tri-amidoxime modified marine fungus material

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The preparation, characterization, and uranium (VI) adsorption properties of tri-amidoxime modified marine fungus material (ZZF51-GPTS-EDA-AM/ZGEA)...     

Responses of phytoplankton functional groups to environmental factors in the Pearl River,South China

The variations of phytoplankton functional groups and their correlation with environmental factors, as well as the applicability of phytoplankton functional groups to serve as biological water quality indicator in the Pearl River, South China, were studied in the present study. A total of 96 samples were collected and divided into 21 functional groups from September 2016 to July 2017. The phytoplankton functional groups P and G were dominant during the investigation, and their biomass contributing was ranged 0.06 to 89.07%, the average 30.73%, and ranged 1.47 to 62.40%, the average 9.33% of the total biomass, respectively. The results showed environmental estrogens—BPA (bisphenol A), E2 (17β-estradiol), E1 (estrone), 4-t-OP (4-tert-octylphenol), 4-NP (nonylphenol), TCS (triclosan), and TCC (triclocarban)—in the Pearl River were significantly different, and with average values of 269.30 ng L^?1, 2.76 ng L^?1, 4.24 ng L^?1, 53.68 ng L^?1, 952.72 ng L^?1, 16.79 ng L^?1, and 8.61 ng L^?1, respectively. This was likely responsible for the differences in the phytoplankton functional groups. We observed positive correlations between P and A, and G and J. Functional groups P biomass decreased significantly with functional groups L_M increased, and functional groups M and J with X2. We found positive correlations between functional group G and concentrations of E1 and TCC; functional group A and total nitrogen (TN), 4-NP, 4-t-OP, and E2; functional groups L_M and L1 and total suspended particles, BPA, and TCS; and functional group G and negative total phosphorus (TP), pH, and TCS. The study showed that TN, TP, and the environmental estrogens in the aquatic ecosystems were correlation with phytoplankton functional groups type, and affected the ecological balance in aquatic environments.

     

Ultrasound assisted biogas production from landfill leachate

The aim of this study is to increase biogas production and methane yield from landfill leachate in anaerobic batch reactors by using low frequency ultrasound as a pretreatment step. In the first part of the study, optimum conditions for solubilization of organic matter in leachate samples were investigated using various sonication durations at an ultrasound frequency of 20 kHz. The level of organic matter solubilization during ultrasonic pretreatment experiments was determined by calculating the ratio of soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) to total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD). The sCOD/tCOD ratio was increased from 47% in raw leachate to 63% after 45 min sonication at 600 W/l. Non-parametric Friedman’s test indicated that ultrasonic pretreatment has a significant effect on sCOD parameter for leachate (p < 0.05). In the second part of the study, anaerobic batch reactors were operated for both ultrasonically pretreated and untreated landfill leachate samples in order to assess the effect of sonication on biogas and methane production rate. In anaerobic batch reactor feed with ultrasonically pretreated leachate, 40% more biogas was obtained compared to the control reactor. For statistical analysis, Mann–Whitney U test was performed to compare biogas and methane production rates for raw and pretreated leachate samples and it has been found that ultrasonic pretreatment significantly enhanced biogas and methane production rates from leachate (p < 0.05) in anaerobic batch reactors. The overall results showed that low frequency ultrasound pretreatment can be potentially used for wastewater management especially with integration of anaerobic processes.     

尼罗河三角洲与长江三角洲重金属污染对比研究

通过对比研究尼罗河三角洲与长江三角洲重金属污染特征,结果发现前者多数重金属含量高于后者,且尼罗河三角洲富集指数EF值约为长江三角洲3倍。此外,两者重金属分布格局差异明显,尼罗河三角洲呈东西高、中间低的"马鞍形"分布。自阿斯旺建坝后,干旱气候条件和人类活动使得尼罗河三角洲泻湖演变为重金属沉积中心。与之相反,长江三角洲重金属含量向海沿程降低,季风降水和巨量水沙对污染物扩散能力较强,污染水平较低。与世界其他地区河口相比,尼罗河三角洲重金属污染属于中等水平,而长江三角洲属于中下水平。对比研究表明两三角洲重金属物污染分布规律差异与其独特的流域自然条件和人类活动方式有密切关系。     

艾比湖区域景观格局与河流水质关系探讨

为进一步明确景观格局对河流水质的影响.本研究选择新疆艾比湖区域为研究对象,以28个水质采样点为中心,建立100、200、300、400 m的河流缓冲区,并提取土地利用/覆被-景观格局数据.首先,通过主成分分析获得水环境的主要水质变量.其次,利用多元线性回归探讨研究区不同宽度缓冲区土地利用/覆被-景观格局变化对河流水质的影响,获得水质管理的有效缓冲区.结果表明：①2015年5月,在艾比湖区域测得的18个地表水水质指标中提取TDS、SO₄^2-、NH₄⁺-N、HCO₃^-、Na⁺和TP这6个水质指标.②对斑块密度（PD）、最大斑块指数（LPI）、边缘密度（ED）、景观形状指数（LSI）、蔓延度指数（CONTAG）进行统计分析,发现人类活动在4个缓冲区内强弱不均.③本文在不同尺度的缓冲区下,将PD、LPI、ED、LSI、CONTAG和TDS、SO₄^2-、NH₄⁺-N、HCO₃^-、Na⁺、TP分别进行相关性分析,发现300m缓冲区相关性最为显著.④在300m缓冲区内,通过多元线性回归分析,将TDS、HCO₃^-与其各自对应的景观指数的关系进行定量化表达,进一步探明区域流域地表水与周围一定缓冲区范围内的景观格局的内在关系.     

芘胁迫对5种羊茅属植物根系分泌的几类低分子量有机物的影响

根系分泌物与有机污染物的植物修复过程密切相关,研究胁迫条件下不同修复潜力植物根系分泌物的释放特征有助于揭示植物修复的内在机制.借助根际袋土培试验研究了芘胁迫(10~160 mg·kg~(-1))下5种羊茅属植物在不同胁迫期(30~70d)时根系分泌物中几种低分子量有机物的释放特征.结果表明:1芘胁迫促进了根系对可溶性糖的分泌:随着胁迫水平的升高、胁迫期的延长,其分泌量呈"先升后降"变化趋势,胁迫水平为C3(40.36 mg·kg~(-1))、胁迫期为40 d时达到最大值;修复潜力越大,趋势越明显.2芘胁迫增强了根系对低分子量有机酸的释放,修复潜力越大,释放高峰值出现时的胁迫浓度越高,且主要以草酸、乙酸、乳酸和苹果酸为主(98.15%),但修复潜力较强物种的根系分泌物中也检测到微量反丁烯二酸.3芘胁迫对氨基酸的种类影响不大,但对分泌量影响较大:苏氨酸、丝氨酸、甘氨酸、丙氨酸的分泌量随着胁迫水平的升高而剧增;脯氨酸、羟脯氨酸和天冬氨酸对芘胁迫的响应近乎以功能群的形式参与植物修复过程,参与的组分越多,修复潜力越强.可见,芘胁迫下根系分泌物中可溶性糖、低分子量有机酸以及氨基酸的释放特征与植物自身的修复潜力有关;修复潜力越强,释放量越多且成分越复杂,并表现出更强的环境适应性及生理可塑性.     

Regulation of matrix stiffness on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of breast cancer cells under hypoxia environment

Substrate stiffness and hypoxia are associated with tumor development and progression, respectively. However, the synergy of them on the biological behavior of human breast cancer cell is still largely unknown. This study explored how substrate stiffness regulates the cell phenotype, viability, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human breast cancer cells MCF-7 under hypoxia (1% O₂). TRITC-phalloidin staining showed that MCF-7 cells transformed from round to irregular polygon with stiffness increase either in normoxia or hypoxia. While being accompanied with the upward tendency from a 0.5- to a 20-kPa substrate, the percentage of cell apoptosis was significantly higher in hypoxia than that in normoxia, especially on the 20-kPa substrate. Additionally, it was hypoxia, but not normoxia, that promoted the EMT of MCF-7 by upregulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vimentin, Snail 1, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP 2) and 9 (MMP 9), and downregulating E-cadherin simultaneously regardless of the change of substrate stiffness. In summary, this study discovered that hypoxia and stiffer substrate (20 kPa) could synergistically induce phenotype change, apoptosis, and EMT of MCF-7 cells. Results of this study have an important significance on further exploring the synergistic effect of stiffness and hypoxia on the EMT of breast cancer cells and its molecular mechanism.     

秦岭红桦林土壤细菌群落剖面分布特征及其影响因素

研究秦岭辛家山林区红桦林细菌群落在土壤剖面上的分布状况,对评估土壤细菌在森林生态系统土壤肥力调节、碳氮循环等作用至关重要.采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术对土壤细菌16S r DNA V3~V4可变区进行测序,结合相关生物信息学分析,初步探讨了红桦林0~10、10~20、20~40和40~60 cm这4个土壤层细菌群落丰富度、多样性指数和细菌群落组成及丰度变化.结果表明,在红桦林土壤剖面上,OTUs、Chao1指数、Shannon指数均在0~10 cm处达到最大值,分别为1 688、2 314、8.66,土层间差异不显著.4个土壤层的优势菌门均为酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria),主要的优势菌属为Gp4、Gp6和Gp16.优势菌门的相对丰度在土层间并不相同,0~10 cm土壤层具有较高的变形菌门(Proteobacteria),其相对丰度为23.62%,而40~60 cm具有较高的酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria),相对丰度为62.88%.酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)与全氮、土壤有机碳、C/N、可溶性有机碳显著相关,变形菌门(Proteobacteria)与土壤含水量、土壤有机碳、可溶性有机碳显著相关.经RDA分析证明,影响秦岭红桦林土壤剖面细菌群落分布的主要土壤因素是可溶性有机碳.这些研究结果表明在秦岭红桦林土壤4个土层均有较高的细菌多样性,为进一步认识森林土壤细菌多样性奠定了理论基础,在研究森林生态系统土壤剖面养分循环过程时应予以考虑.