Photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants in aqueous solution by Bi(4)Nb(x)Ta((1-x))O(8)I

In this work, Bi₄Nb_xTa_(1−x)O₈I photocatalysts have been synthesized by solid state reaction method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and UV-Vis near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of these photocatalysts was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solutions under visible light, UV light and solar irradiation. The effects of catalyst dosage, initial pH and MO concentration on the removal efficiency were studied, and the photocatalytic reaction kinetics of MO degradation as well. The results indicated that Bi₄Nb_xTa_(1−x)O₈I exhibited high photocatalytic activity for the removal of MO in aqueous solutions. For example, the removal efficiency of MO by Bi₄Nb_0.1Ta_0.9O₈I was as high as 92% within 12 h visible light irradiation under the optimal conditions: initial MO concentration of 5-10 mg L⁻¹, catalyst dosage of 6 g L⁻¹ and natural pH (6-8), the MO molecules could be completely degradated by Bi₄Nb_0.1Ta_0.9O₈I within 40 min under UV light irradiation, and the photodegradation efficiency reaches to 60% after 7 h solar irradiation. Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation of Bisphenol A (BPA) was also investigated under visible light irradiation. It is found that 99% BPA could be mineralized by Bi₄Nb_0.1Ta_0.9O₈I after 16 h visible light irradiation. Through HPLC/MS, BOD, TOC, UV-Vis measurements, we determined possible degradation products of MO and BPA. The results indicated that MO was degradated into products which are easier to be biodegradable and innocuous treated, and BPA could be mineralized completely. Furthermore, the possibility for the photosensitization effect in the degradation process of MO under visible light irradiation has been excluded.     

Nano-TiO2 enhances the toxicity of copper in natural water to Daphnia magna

The acute toxicity of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in aquatic environments at high concentrations has been well-established. This study demonstrates that, at a concentration generally considered to be safe in the environment, nano-TiO₂ remarkably enhanced the toxicity of copper to Daphnia magna by increasing the copper bioaccumulation. Specifically, at 2 mg L⁻¹ nano-TiO₂, the (LC₅₀) of Cu²⁺ concentration observed to kill half the population, decreased from 111 μg L⁻¹ to 42 μg L⁻¹. Correspondingly, the level of metallothionein decreased from 135 μg g⁻¹ wet weight to 99 μg g⁻¹ wet weight at a Cu²⁺ level of 100 μg L⁻¹. The copper was found to be adsorbed onto the nano-TiO₂, and ingested and accumulated in the animals, thereby causing toxic injury. The nano-TiO₂ may compete for free copper ions with sulfhydryl groups, causing the inhibition of the detoxification by metallothioneins.     

A possible new mechanism involved in ferro-cyanide metabolism by plants

Background, aim, and scope  

Ferro-cyanide is one of the commonly found species at cyanide-contaminated soils and groundwater. Unlike botanical metabolism of KCN via the β-cyanoalanine pathway, processes involved in the plant-mediated assimilation of ferro-cyanide are still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible mechanism involved in uptake and assimilation of ferro-cyanide by plants.     

建筑屋顶雨水径流初期冲刷效应研究

以无量纲化后的雨水径流污染物和径流输送量为基础,通过引入间隙函数,建立了雨水径流污染物的初期冲刷效应定量评价公式,对建筑屋顶雨水初期冲刷现象进行了研究.结果表明:(1)建筑屋顶雨水径流污染物浓度总体上呈现出前期高于后期的现象,且污染物浓度较低,建筑屋顶雨水利用可作为雨水利用的优先方向.(2)间隙函数存在峰值区域,峰值区...     

阴极氧还原产电生物可渗透反应栅的研究Ⅱ.酸蚀处理对不锈钢丝电极性能的影响

不锈钢毛虽然用作阴极氧还原产电生物反应栅（CORE—PRB）的电极材料虽然有很多优点,但是反应电流较小。尝试对不锈钢毛进行酸蚀处理后用作电极材料,并分别研究比较了4种不同电极组合的产电反应性能。酸蚀处理显著提高不锈钢毛阳极的反应性能,并对提高不锈钢毛阴极的反应性能有一定作用。酸蚀的作用主要是使不锈钢毛表面变得粗糙,有利于提高电极表面积和材料的生物亲和性。虽然生物产电反应对COD降解的直接贡献不到10％,但是不同电极组合下COD的去除率与它们生物产电反应的贡献率呈现高度正相关性。     

饮用水源水无机金属污染的应急处理

根据密云水库供水现状,针对突发性无机金属污染事件,采用聚合氯化铝辅助化学沉淀法进行应急处理。选用Cu2＋、Fe2＋、Zn2＋和Cd2＋ 4种金属离子为目标污染物,首先通过小试实验确立了最佳混凝处理条件。结果表明,调节pH值为8．0左右,可使初始浓度为5mg／L和10mg／L的Cu2＋浓度降至0．96mg／L和0．67mg／L;初始浓度为1．5mg／L和3mg／L的Fe2＋浓度降至0．27mg／L和0．24mg／L;初始浓度为0．05mg／L和0．1mg／L的Cd2＋浓度降为0．0089mg／L和0．0078mg／L;调节pH值为9．0时,可使初始浓度为5mg／L和10mg／L的Zn2＋浓度降至0．57mg／L和0．48mg／L。4种污染物出水浓度均低于国家饮用水标准。在小试基础上,在北京第九水厂开展无机金属污染处理的中试实验,结果表明所选用的聚合氯化铝辅助化学沉淀法简便易行,可实现污染物快速、有效去除。     

超重力旋转填料床中柠檬酸钠法烟气脱硫

采用柠檬酸-柠檬酸钠缓冲溶液作为吸收液,在超重力旋转填料床(简称填料床)中进行模拟烟气中SO2的吸收和解吸实验,考察了吸收液组成及各操作参数对SO2吸收率及解吸率的影响.实验结果表明:吸收过程中吸收液的柠檬酸浓度越高、吸收液初始pH 越高,SO2吸收率越高;填料床转速增大、液气比增大,SO2 吸收率下降速率增大;解吸过...     

Quantification of the inhibitory effect of methyl fluoride on methanogenesis in mesophilic anaerobic granular systems

The inhibitory effect of CH₃F on methanogenesis in mesophilic anaerobic granules was tested at different concentrations (0-10% v/v, in the gas phase) and verified by the stable carbon isotopic signatures of CH₄ and CO₂. The results showed that the inhibitory effect increased with the initial CH₃F concentration up to 5%. The CH₃F concentration causing 50% metabolic inhibition was 0.32%. Complete inhibition of acetoclastic methanogenesis with a 91% reduction in total methanogenic activity was achieved when 5% CH₃F was initially added to the headspace, which resulted in 870 μM dissolved CH₃F in the liquid. It was much higher than that applied in other natural anoxic non-granular systems, indicating that the layered granular structure influenced the inhibitory effect. The obvious increase in hydrogen content indicated that high concentrations of CH₃F (?5%) suppressed hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis as well. The stable inhibition lasted for at least 6 d as the CH₃F concentration decreased slowly with incubation time. These results suggested that CH₃F could be used for investigating methanogenic processes in anaerobic granular systems after the CH₃F concentration and incubation time for specific inhibition of acetoclastic methanogenesis were carefully determined. In the present system, CH₃F concentration of 5% was suggested to be optimal.     

Caution needed in pretreatment of sediments for refining phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance analysis: results from a comprehensive assessment of pretreatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Pretreatment with chemicals such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is often used to improve the analysis of sediment P with solution P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (35P-NMR), but there is a lack of a comprehensive assessment of the methodology. In this study, the effects of EDTA pretreatment on sediment P extracted using a mixture of 0.25 mol L(-1) NaOH and 50 mmol L(-1) EDTA (NaOH-EDTA) were examined with 45 different sediments. The results showed that EDTA pre-extraction decreased the amount of P extracted by NaOH-EDTA when the concentration ratio of sediment Ca to the sum of sediment Fe and Al [Ca/(Fe+Al), on a wt/vol basis] was lower than 0.4. An increase in total extracted P, coupled with substantial increases in total extracted paramagnetic ions such as Fe and Mn, was observed for another group of sediments with Ca/(Fe+Al) > 0.5, possibly due to the matrix effect. Analysis of 16 representative sediments with 31P-NMR showed that orthophosphate diesters were substantially removed by EDTA pre-extraction for sediments with Ca/ (Fe+Al) between 0.4 and 0.7, reflecting a high risk posed by this pretreatment. Phosphorus diversity and concentration of individual P compounds were markedly improved for sediments with Ca/(Fe+Al) > 0.7, suggesting that EDTA pretreatment was particularly useful for 31P-NMR analysis of calcareous sediments. The present study showed that sediment properties played an important role in determining pretreatment effects. Caution is advised when applying pretreatment methods to different sediments.