Adsorption and precipitation of tetracycline with struvite.

The interaction of tetracycline with struvite during adsorption and precipitation processes was investigated. Tetracycline removal by adsorption was affected by solution pH, contact time, and struvite concentration. The lowest tetracycline removal (8.4%) was observed at pH 7.7, the dissociation constant (pKa2) of tetracycline. Because of the electrostatic repulsion, the amount of tetracycline adsorbed on the surface was low. The small amount of adsorption was the result of surface complexation between tetracycline ions and metal ions. Calcium (Ca2+) ions in the adsorbent enhanced the binding of tetracycline. Freundlich (KF: 0.04, n: 1.49) and Redlich-Peterson (KR: 0.08, alphaR: 0.98, betaR: 0.49) models best defined the equilibrium data. In the case of struvite precipitation, approximately 22% of tetracycline was removed as a result of binding to struvite alongside struvite formation.     

Fixed-bed study for lanthanide (La, Eu, Yb) ions removal from aqueous solutions by immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa: experimental data and modelization

A fixed-bed study was carried out by using cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa immobilized in polyacrylamide gel as a biosorbent for the removal of lanthanide (La, Eu, Yb) ions from aqueous solutions. The effects of superficial liquid velocity based on empty column, particle size, influent concentration and bed depth on the lanthanum breakthrough curves were investigated. Immobilized biomass effectively removed lanthanum from a 6 mM solution with a maximum adsorption capacity of 342 micromolg(-1) (+/-10%) corresponding closely to that observed in earlier batch studies with free bacterial cells. The Bohart and Adams sorption model was employed to determine characteristic parameters useful for process design. Results indicated that the immobilized cells of P. aeruginosa enable removal of lanthanum, europium and ytterbium ions from aqueous effluents with significant and similar maximum adsorption capacities. Experiments with a mixed cation solution showed that the sequence of preferential biosorption was Eu3+ > or = Yb3+ > La3+. Around 96+/-4% of the bound lanthanum was desorbed from the column and concentrated by eluting with a 0.1 M EDTA solution. The feasibility of regenerating and reusing the biomass through three adsorption/desorption cycles was suggested. Neural networks were used to model breakthrough curves performed in the dynamic process. The ability of this statistical tool to predict the breakthrough times was discussed.     

Air pollution and health: correlation or causality? The case of the relationship between exposure to particles and cardiopulmonary mortality

Many epidemiologic studies have observed, in different contexts, a slight short-term relationship between particles in air and cardiopulmonary mortality, even when air quality standards were respected. The causality of this relationship is important to public health because of the number of people exposed. Our aim was to make a critical assessment of the arguments used in 15 reviews of published studies. We explain the importance of distinguishing validity from causality, and we systematically analyze the various criteria of judgment within the context of ecologic time studies. Our conclusion is that the observed relationship is valid and that most of the causality criteria are respected. It is hoped that the level of exposure of populations to these particles be reduced. In Europe, acting at the root of the problem, in particular on diesel emissions, will also enable the reduction of levels of other pollutants that can have an impact on health. In the United States, the situation is more complicated, as particles are mainly secondary. It is also essential to continue with research to become better acquainted with the determinants of personal global exposures and to better understand the toxic role of the various physicochemical factors of the particles.     

Chemical recognition of queen cells by honey bee workersApis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Summary Honey bee workers are able to nurse or to destroy and thus to recognize the capped queen cells containing a pupa. Fatty acid esters, especially methyl oleate, methyl palmitate and ethyl oleate were found in significant amounts on the queen pupal cuticle. Methyl oleate, the major component, along with smaller amounts of methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate, were involved in the recognition of queen cells by workers. In natural conditions of the colony, queen cells containing a paraffin pupal lure with methyl oleate were accepted 5.9 days by workers, releasing about 1.8 queen pupa equivalents during that period, when control cells (without ester) were kept only 2.1 days. Although these esters are non specific to honey bees, they are of great importance in social regulation of the honey bee colony.     

微生物对冰封期湖泊沉积物中有机磷降解释放的影响

以寒旱区湖泊乌梁素海为研究对象,以有机磷降解过程中的形态转化为主线,探讨了冰封期内底物添加与灭菌处理对有机磷释放特征的影响.结果表明,180 d冰封期内,灭菌处理(T_N)上覆水中可溶性总磷酸盐(DTP)和可溶性正磷酸盐(DIP)及可溶性有机磷(DOP)的质量浓度均高于底物添加处理(T_M),揭示T_M体系中厌氧微生物的同化利用降低了上覆水中磷的质量浓度;同时微生物驱动下铁的异化还原作用也是影响水-沉积物界面有机磷释放的重要机制.释放周期内,沉积物中活性有机磷(LOP)、总活性磷(TLP)的含量均减少;T_M体系的中等活性有机磷(MLOP)含量先减少后增加,非活性有机磷(NLOP)的含量先增加后减少;T_N的MLOP含量波动性增加,NLOP的含量波动性减少.释放初期(0~60 d),T_M的MLOP含量高于T_N,而NLOP的含量低于T_N;释放中末期(60~180 d),T_M的MLOP含量低于T_N,而NLOP的含量高于T_N.揭示释放中沉积物MLOP与NLOP之间存在相互转化的可能性.释放过程中,T_M沉积物有机磷的相对含量降低,无机磷的相对含量增高,呈现有机磷向无机磷转化的趋势,沉积物有机磷约有6.1%转化为无机磷,揭示了冰封期内,微生物可加速沉积物有机磷向无机磷的转化,提高了磷的生物可利用率,增加了沉积物磷向上覆水释放的风险.     

废旧Zn-C电池-活性污泥炭优化制备的研究

以污水处理厂二次污泥为主要原料,掺杂废旧Zn-C电池电极材料制备废旧Zn-C电池-活性污泥炭.同时,采用Plackett-Burman(P-B)和响应面中心复合实验设计(RSM-CCD)对影响污泥炭吸附性能的7个操作条件进行筛选和优化.P-B实验结果与统计学分析表明,掺杂比、炭化温度和炭化时间是影响吸附性能的3个关键因素.以碘吸附值为响应目标,对3个主要因素进行响应面法优化分析确定碘吸附模型,并得到最优操作条件为:掺杂比10%、炭化温度350℃和炭化时间20 min,此条件下制备的改性污泥炭的碘吸附值和比表面积分别达到530.1 mg·g~(-1)和429.5 m2·g~(-1);Zeta电位和阳离子交换容量分别为~(-1)5.50 m V、30.9×10-2mmol·g~(-1),更适合吸附重金属离子.