Toxicity and biodegradability of sulfonamides and products of their photocatalytic degradation in aqueous solutions

The photocatalytic degradation of sulfacetamide, sulfathiazole, sulfamethoxazole and sulfadiazine in water solutions during their illumination of UV radiation (lambda(max) 366 nm) with TiO2 catalyst was examined. The growth-inhibition effect of sulfonamides and intermediate products theirs photodegradation was investigated in aqueous solution with the green alga Chlorella vulgaris. The biodegradability of the investigated compounds was determined in the illuminated solutions and is expressed as Biochemical Oxygen Demand. It was found that all of the investigated sulfonamides in the initial solutions were resistant to biodegradation and were toxic relative to C. vulgaris. The toxicity (EC50 values) relative to C. vulgaris increased in the following order sulfacetamide, sulfathiazole, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine. All of the investigated sulfonamides undergo photocatalytic degradation. The toxicity of intermediate products of the sulfonamides degradation was significantly lower than the toxicity of sulfonamides in the initial solutions and was dependent on illumination time and degradation rate. The intermediate products of photocatalysis in contrast to the initial sulfonamides, might be mineralized using biological methods.     

Effect of the C:N:P ratio on the denitrifying dephosphatation in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR)

A series of investigations were conducted using sequencing batch biofilm reactor(SBBR) to explore the influence of C:N:P ratio on biological dephosphatation including the denitrifying dephosphatation and the denitrification process.Biomass in the reactor occurred mainly in the form of a biofilm attached to completely submerged disks.Acetic acid was used as the source of organic carbon.C:N:P ratios have had a significant effect on the profiles of phosphate release and phosphate uptake and nitrogen removal.The highest rates of phosphate release and phosphate uptake were recorded at the C:N:P ratio of 140:70:7.The C:N ratio of 2.5:1 ensured complete denitrification.The highest rate of denitrification was achieved at the C:N:P ratio of 140:35:7.The increase of nitrogen load caused an increase in phosphates removal until a ratio C:N:P of 140:140:7.Bacteria of the biofilm exposed to alternate conditions of mixing and aeration exhibited enhanced intracellular accumulation of polyphosphates.Also,the structure of the biofilm encouraged anaerobic–aerobic as well as anoxic–anaerobic and absolutely anaerobic conditions in a SBBR.These heterogeneous conditions in the presence of nitrates may be a significant factor determining the promotion of denitrifying polyphosphate accumulating organism(DNPAO) development.     

Potential toxicity of leachate from the municipal landfill in view of the possibility of their migration to the environment through infiltration into groundwater

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Leachate from landfills is a product of complex biological and physicochemical processes occurring during waste storage. In the present study, the toxicity...     

Cash and voucher assistance along humanitarian supply chains: a literature review and directions for future research

This study reviews research on cash and voucher assistance (CVA) by applying a humanitarian supply chain management perspective. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify, analyse, and synthesise past academic research. The content, context, and process framework was used to structure the content analysis. The findings reveal that the outcomes of CVA programmes are dependent on critical context-specific variables that influence feasibility and operability. Humanitarian actors must consider factors that are external (the nature of disaster, politics, economy, and infrastructure) and internal (local market availability and accessibility, supplier/donor interest, supplier/vendor selection and contracting, and beneficiary preference) to the supply chain. The delivery process is influenced by them, impacting on programme responsiveness and cost-efficiency. The results provide insights that humanitarian practitioners can utilise to reconsider their supply chain strategies when deciding on the selection and implementation of CVA programmes. Potential literature gaps are identified, and recommendations for further research are provided.     

Analysis of selected fungi variation and its dependence on season and mountain range in southern Poland—key factors in drawing up trial guidelines for aeromycological monitoring

The aim of the study was to identify fungal spores, in particular plant pathogenic fungi, occurring in the air in selected mountain ranges. The results revealed not only the array of fungal species migrating with air currents from the Czech Republic and Slovakia but also how the season of the year affects the distribution of spores. Such studies may lay a foundation for future aeromycological monitoring, in accordance with the requirements for integrated plant protection. Aeromycological research was carried out between 2013 and 2016 at 3-month intervals in mountainous areas along the southern borders of Poland: the Bieszczady, the Pieniny, the Giant Mountains (Karkonosze) and the Babia Góra Massif. The research relied on impact method employing Air Ideal 3P sampler, which, by drawing in atmospheric air, also collects fungal spores. Regardless of altitudinal zonation, the changing weather conditions appeared to be the main reason for the variations in the number of the fungal spores under study in those years.     

The effect of mycorrhiza on the growth and elemental composition of Ni-hyperaccumulating plant Berkheya coddii Roessler

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth and element uptake by Ni-hyperaccumulating plant, Berkheya coddii, was studied. Plants were grown under laboratory conditions on ultramafic soil without or with the AM fungi of different origin. The AM colonization, especially with the indigenous strain, significantly enhanced plants growth and their survival. AMF affected also the elemental concentrations that were studied with Particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). AMF (i) increased K and Fe in shoots, Zn and Mn in roots, P and Ca both, in roots and shoots; (ii) decreased Mn in shoots, Co and Ni both, in shoots and roots. Due to higher biomass of mycorrhizal plants, total Ni content was up to 20 times higher in mycorrhizal plants compared to the non-mycorrhizal ones. The AMF enhancement of Ni uptake may therefore provide an improvement of a presently used technique of nickel phytomining.     

Hydrodechlorination of dichlorobenzenes and their derivatives over Ni-Mo/C catalyst: kinetic analysis and effect of molecular structure of reactant

The kinetics of the catalytic hydrodechlorination (HDC) process of selected dichlorobenzenes (DCBs), dichlorotoluenes (DCTs) and dichlorodiphenyls (DCDs) was studied in the presence of a sulphided carbon-supported Ni-Mo catalyst. The HDC runs were performed in a magnetic stirred batch reactor in the range of 210-230 °C under the hydrogen pressure of 3 MPa. The kinetic constants were evaluated and the reaction network was proposed assuming the pseudo-first order kinetics of dechlorination process. The HDC of aromatic dichloroderivatives proceeded via a network of sequential-parallel reactions. At 210 °C DCBs, DCTs and DCDs followed mainly the pathway of direct transformation to respective aromatic hydrocarbon. At 230 °C, the contribution of sequential dechlorination to monochloroderivative became more predominant.     

Flue Gas Desulfurization: The State of the Art

ABSTRACT

Coal-fired electricity-generating plants may use SO₂ scrubbers to meet the requirements of Phase II of the Acid Rain SO₂ Reduction Program. Additionally, the use of scrubbers can result in reduction of Hg and other emissions from combustion sources. It is timely, therefore, to examine the current status of SO₂ scrubbing technologies. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the state of the art in flue gas desulfurization (FGD) technologies for coal-fired boilers.

Data on worldwide FGD applications reveal that wet FGD technologies, and specifically wet limestone FGD, have been predominantly selected over other FGD technologies. However, lime spray drying (LSD) is being used at the majority of the plants employing dry FGD technologies. Additional review of the U.S. FGD technology applications that began operation in 1991 through 1995 reveals that FGD processes of choice recently in the United States have been wet limestone FGD, magnesium-enhanced lime (MEL), and LSD. Further, of the wet limestone processes, limestone forced oxidation (LSFO) has been used most often in recent applications.

The SO₂ removal performance of scrubbers has been reviewed. Data reflect that most wet limestone and LSD installations appear to be capable of ~90% SO₂ removal. Advanced, state-of-the-art wet scrubbers can provide SO₂ removal in excess of 95%.

Costs associated with state-of-the-art applications of LSFO, MEL, and LSD technologies have been analyzed with appropriate cost models. Analyses indicate that the capital cost of an LSD system is lower than those of same capacity LSFO and MEL systems, reflective of the relatively less complex hardware used in LSD. Analyses also reflect that, based on total annualized cost and SO₂ removal requirements: (1) plants up to ~250 MW_e in size and firing low- to medium-sulfur coals (i.e., coals with a sulfur content of 2% or lower) may use LSD; and (2) plants larger than 250 MW_e and firing medium- to high-sulfur coals (i.e., coals with a sulfur content of 2% or higher) may use either LSFO or MEL.