Dynamic extreme values modeling and monitoring by means of sea shores water quality biomarkers and valvometry

Water quality can be evaluated using biomarkers such as tissular enzymatic activities of endemic species. Measurement of molluscs bivalves activity at high frequency (e.g., valvometry) during a long time period is another way to record the animal behavior and to evaluate perturbations of the water quality in real time. As the pollution affects the activity of oysters, we consider the valves opening and closing velocities to monitor the water quality assessment. We propose to model the huge volume of velocity data collected in the framework of valvometry using a new nonparametric extreme values statistical model. The objective is to estimate the tail probabilities and the extreme quantiles of the distribution of valve closing velocity. The tail of the distribution function of valve closing velocity is modeled by a Pareto distribution with parameter ??_t,τ, beyond a threshold τ according to the time t of the experiment. Our modeling approach reveals the dependence between the specific activity of two enzymatic biomarkers (Glutathione-S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase) and the continuous recording of oyster valve velocity, proving the suitability of this tool for water quality assessment. Thus, valvometry allows in real-time in situ analysis of the bivalves behavior and appears as an effective early warning tool in ecological risk assessment and marine environment monitoring.     

Monitoring the effects of chelating agents and electrical fields on active forms of Pb and Zn in contaminated soil

The application of electrical fields and chelating agents is an innovative hybrid technology used for the decontamination of soil polluted by heavy metals. The effects of four center-oriented electrical fields and chelating agents on active fractions of lead and zinc were investigated in this pot experiment. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a synthetic chelator and cow manure extract (CME) and poultry manure extract (PME) as natural chelators were applied to the pots (2 g kg^?1) 30 days after the first irrigation. Two weeks later, four center-oriented electrical fields were applied in each pot (in three levels of 0, 10, and 30 V) for 1 h each day for 14 days. The soil near the cathode and anodes was collected and analyzed as cathodic and anodic soil, respectively. Results indicated that the soluble–exchangeable fraction of lead and zinc were decreased in the cathodic soil, while the carbonate-bound fractions were increased. In the anodic soil, however, the opposite result was observed. EDTA enhanced the soluble–exchangeable form of the metals in both anodic and cathodic soils. Furthermore, the amounts of carbonate-bound heavy metals were increased by the application of CME in both soils. The organic-bound fraction of the metals was increased by the application of natural chelators, while electrical fields had no significant impacts on this fraction.     

Monitoring of growth and physiological activities of biofilm during succession on polystyrene from activated sludge under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

The present research work monitored the successive biofilm development and its catabolic role in the degradation of polystyrene (PS). PS material was artificially colonized with biofilm by incubating it with activated sludge under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Biofilm formation was monitored by gravimetric weight analysis, spectrophotometric absorbance technique, heterotrophic plate count, and scanning electron microscopy under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The wet weight (1.59 and 1.17 g) and dry weight (0.41 and 0.08 g) of a biofilm showed a significant constant increase under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively, from first till 9 weeks of incubation. Plate count of the selected bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) considerably declined (90–99 %) in the biofilm after seventh and fifth weeks of incubation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively, indicating a positive shift from pathogenic to beneficial microbial community. While most probable number index of fecal coliforms and E. coli in the sludge showed more reduction (98 and 99 %) under aerobic as compare to anaerobic conditions (86 and 91 %) after 9 weeks of biofilm formation on PS cubes. Correspondingly, the decreasing levels of chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand (up to 73 %) showed signs of sludge digestion. Scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope revealed nature of PS media containing high carbon content. However, biofilm development proved to be involved in the biochemical transformation of the PS medium as indicated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.     

黄土丘陵区林草退耕年限对土壤团聚体特征的影响

随着国家退耕还林还草战略的实施、植被覆盖的变化,林、草地植被恢复进程中土壤团聚体特征的变化受到广泛关注.本研究以黄土丘陵区西部的官山林场退耕后栽植的刺槐林地、撂荒草地为对象,选取退耕年限为10、25 a的林、草地,采用湿筛法测定各样地0~30 cm土壤的水稳性团聚体组成,比较退耕还林、还草和退耕年限(10、25 a)对土壤水稳性团聚体平均质量直径(MWD)和分形维数(D)的影响.结果表明:退耕10 a的林地0~30 cm土层水稳性大团聚体含量(R0.25)、MWD和D分别为57.60%、1.91 mm和2.73;退耕25 a的林地分别为60.17%、1.88 mm和2.74;退耕10 a的草地分别为59.89%、1.82 mm和2.74;退耕25 a的草地分别为72.69%、2.71 mm和2.61.进一步分析证明,随着退耕年限的增加,土壤团聚性增强;但林草地的变化存在差异:恢复10 a阶段,土壤团聚性林地尚优于草地,25 a后草地优于林地.各样地土壤的SOC含量与R0.25呈显著正相关关系(p0.01),与D呈显著负相关关系(p0.05).退耕类型和退耕年限对土壤团聚性有显著影响.     

Synthesis of carbon-coated magnetic nanocomposite (Fe3O4@C) and its application for sulfonamide antibiotics removal from water

The occurrence of antibiotics in the environment has recently raised serious concerns regarding their potential threat to human health and aquatic ecosystem. A new magnetic nanocomposite, Fe304@C （Fe304 coated with carbon）, was synthesized, characterized, and then applied to remove five commonly-used sulfonamides （SAs） from water. Due to its combinational merits of the outer functionalized carbon shell and the inner magnetite core, Fe3O4@C exhibited a high adsorption affinity for selected SAs and a fast magnetic separability. The adsorption kinetics of SAs on Fe304 @ C could be expressed by the pseudo second-order model. The adsorption isotherms were fitted well with the Dual-mode model, revealing that the adsorption process consisted of an initial partitioning stage and a subsequent hole-filling stage. Solution pH exerted a strong impact on the adsorption process with the maximum removal efficiencies （74% to 96%） obtained at pH 4.8 for all selected SAs. Electrostatic force and hydrogen bonding were two major driving forces for adsorption, and electron-donor-acceptor interactions may also make a certain contribution. Because the synthesized Fe304@C showed comprehensive advantages of high adsorptivity, fast magnetic separability, and prominent reusability, it has potential applications in water treatment.     

含Br-废水高级氧化过程AOX生成特性研究

在焦化废水中投加Br^-模拟含Br^-难降解废水,研究UV/H₂O₂和UV/PDS两种高级氧化工艺在实现TOC优化去除条件下可吸附有机卤素（Adsorbable Organic Halogens,AOX）的生成特性.通过响应曲面法优化反应条件,实现废水中TOC高效去除,但Br^-浓度从50 mg·L^-1增至150mg·L^-1时,UV/H₂O₂和UV/PDS出水AOX浓度分别从0.56 mg·L^-1和0.65 mg·L^-1升高至1.44 mg·L^-1和1.63 mg·L^-1,远高于进水AOX浓度(0.08mg·L^-1);对活性卤代成分（RHS）稳态浓度的模拟结果表明UV/PDS中RHS浓度总体高于UV/H₂O₂,是造成二者出水AOX浓度区别的重要原...     

Comparison of a plant based natural surfactant with SDS for washing of As(Ⅴ) from Fe rich soil

This study explores the possible application of a biodegradable plant based surfactant, obtained from Sapindus mukorossi, for washing low levels of arsenic （As） from an iron （Fe） rich soil. Natural association of As（Ⅴ） with Fe（Ⅲ） makes the process difficult. Soapnut solution was compared to anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate （SDS） in down-flow and a newly introduced suction mode for soil column washing. It was observed that soapnut attained up to 86% efficiency with respect to SDS in removing As. Full factorial design of experiment revealed a very good fit of data. The suction mode generated up to 83 kPa pressure inside column whilst down-flow mode generated a much higher pressure of 214 kPa, thus making the suction mode more efficient. Micellar solubilisation was found to be responsible for As desorption from the soil and it followed 1st order kinetics. Desorption rate coefficient of suction mode was found to be in the range of 0.005 to 0.01, much higher than down-flow mode values. Analysis of the PT-IR data suggested that the soapnut solution did not interact chemically with As, offering an option for reusing the surfactant. Soapnut can be considered as a soil washing agent for removing As even from soil with high Fe content.     

Adsorption of Disperse Blue SBL dye by synthesized poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite

The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the adsorption in batch mode of a disperse dye (Disperse Blue SBL) by poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite synthesized by coprecipitation between Ca(NO_3)_2 and (NH_4)_2HPO4 reagents in aqueous solution at room temperature. The adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the factors that influence the dye uptake by the adsorbent, such as the contact time under agitation, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, solution temperature, and pH. The e...     

Enhancement of biomethane production from cattle manure with codigestion of dilute acid pretreated lignocellulosic biomass

It is well known that dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of the lignicellulosisc biomass is an effective approach used for the production of the ethanol. However, there are less studies on the biogas production from the pretreated lignocellulosics and hardly data available on the codigestion of cattle manure with the pretreated lignocellulosisc material. The aim of this study was to evaluate biomethane production potential of codigestion of cattle manure with dilute acid pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. Sugarcane bagasse and rice husk was pretreated with dilute sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid at 121°C for 20 minutes and subsequently subjected to anaerobic digestion alone or codigested with cattle manure.

The results showed that codigestion of 1% phosphoric acid pretreated rice husk with cattle manure led to the highest methane production of 115 Nmlg^?1VS while monodigestion of cattle manure and phosphoric acid pretreated rice husk produced 98 and 87 Nmlg^?1VS, respectively. An inhibition was observed in anaerobic digestion of sulfuric acid pretreated rice husk and sugarcane bagasse during monodigestion and codigestion with cattle manure.

The study concludes that dilute phosphoric acid pretreated lignocellulosics like sugarcane bagasse and rice husk can be used as a cosubstrate with cattle manure in anaerobic digestion for enhanced methane production. Dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment, which is effective method for the bioethanol production, causes inhibition during anaerobic digestion of the pretreated lignocellulosics.