TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of PCBs in soil-water systems containing fluoro surfactant

Titanium dioxide-mediated photodegradation of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil/aqueous systems with added fluorinated surfactant was investigated. PCBs can bind tightly to organic matter in the soil, especially in aged, contaminated soil. Experiments showed an effective PCB photocatalytic degradation in mixed systems of soil/clay with anionic fluorinated surfactant FC-143 and TiO2. The FC-143 surfactant is stable in this photochemical process. PCB degradation rates in samples followed the order: spiked clay > spiked soil > Hudson River bank soil. The results suggest that anionic fluorinated surfactant may form semimicelles and/or admicelles on the surface of positively charged TiO2. The hydrophobic surface of TiO2 can provide a nonpolar phase that acts as a partioning medium for hydrophobic PCBs. Therefore, PCBs in soil can be released to the semimicelle and/or admicelle on the TiO2 surface and are effectively photodegraded in a dispersion containing anionic fluorinated surfactant. The combination of surfactant extraction and photooxidation forms the basis for a novel two-stage process for the removal and destruction of PCBs from soil.     

Replacement of H2O2 by O2 in Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions

The consumption of oxygen during the degradation of aniline by Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions is studied. The effect that parameters like aniline, Fe(II) and H2O2 initial concentration, pH, temperature and O2 flow rate have on the ratio O2 consumed/H2O2 consumed is examined. The determination of those combinations of experimental conditions for which an effective partial replacement of H2O2 by O2 as electron acceptor takes place is investigated. The results show that this replacement takes place in a variable extent, but the presence of H2O2 is necessary along the reaction, and the maximum consumption of O2 only takes place when the ratio amount of aniline mineralized vs. initial aniline concentration is minimal.     

Microbial degradation of phthalic acid esters under anaerobic digestion of sludge

The microbial degradation by anaerobic sludge of three phthalates, priority pollutants, listed by both China National Environmental Monitoring Center and the U.S.EPA, namely, dimethyl (DMP), di-n-butyl (DBP) and di-n-octyl (DOP) phthalates was investigated. The experimental results indicated that the biodegradation rate and the biodegradability of three phthalates under anaerobic conditions appeared to be related to the length of the alkyl-side chains. More than 90% of DMP and DBP with the short alkyl-side chain phthalates can be degraded, whereas the DOP degradation appeared to be relatively slow under the same experimental conditions. The quantity of methane produced was measured and the results showed that both the ester groups and the phthalate ring were mineralized at a significant rate. The kinetics study demonstrated that the biodegradation of three phthalates conformed to the first-order model with respect to their concentrations.     

Evidence for the contribution of methane in the formation of aromatics and soot in fuel-rich pre-mixed combustion

Experimental results from an isothermal laminar flow reactor at atmospheric pressure are presented on the chemical composition in the post-oxidative region of two sooting fuel-rich pre-mixed mixtures diluted in nitrogen. A base case composed of n-heptane and O2 in N2 at 1425 K with a C/O of 2.85 was perturbed by substituting 10% of the carbon in n-heptane with carbon as CH4. While these changes would intuitively reduce aromatics and soot formation by increasing H2 and decreasing C2H2 concentrations, we observe the opposite. The concentrations of individual aromatic species are observed to actually increase by up to 50% and the soot yield increases by 80%.     

Plastic waste as a valuable resource: strategy to remove heavy metals from wastewater in bench scale application

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Single-use plastic waste is gradually considered a potential material for circular economy. Ion exchange resin obtained from polystyrene waste by...     

印染废水生物强化处理技术研究进展

印染废水是国内外公认的难处理的工业废水之一 ,活性污泥法是目前最常用的处理方法 ,但还存在诸多问题。在分析中 ,主要从生物强化技术、固定化微生物技术和微生物活性增加技术等方面 ,总结了废水生物处理技术强化研究进展 ,并讨论了今后的研究方向。     

城市生活污水厌氧生物处理发展现状

回顾了国内外污水厌氧生物处理工艺的发展情况,着重分析了中国城市污水的特点以及厌氧生物处理工艺在城市生活污水处理中的应用情况。     

我国生态环境保护重大工程项目管理制度现状及存在的问题

生态环境重大工程项目是中国生态环境保护规划实施的重要抓手,工程实施与管理的科学性和可行性是提高资金使用效率和确保项目发挥环境效益的关键,因此,系统构建生态环境保护重大工程项目管理制度具有必要性和现实意义。结合国家现行政策,在实际调研的基础上,梳理了现有生态环境保护重大工程项目管理制度,分析了地方重大工程项目管理现状,识别了目前生态环境保护重大工程项目管理的存在问题,据此提出了完善生态环境保护重大工程项目制度的建议框架,以期为实现新时代生态环境保护目标提供支撑。     

基于三角随机模拟和ArcGIS的河流水环境健康风险评价模型

基于河流水环境系统中随机性、模糊性等多种不确定性共存或交叉存在的特性,将三角模糊数与随机模拟方法相耦合,构建了三角随机模拟模型,并将其应用到湘江(长沙段)的健康风险评价中。通过将各参数浓度进行三角模糊化和随机模拟,结果表明,各断面污染物造成的健康风险的变化趋势,总体沿湘江上游至下游逐步降低,表现为昭山 > 猴子石 > 五一桥 > 橘子洲 > 乔口 > 三汊矶,且昭山、三汊矶断面和乔口断面均有恶化趋势。相对于常规的确定性方法,本模型能够得出评价区域健康风险的可能值区间及其相应的概率水平等定量信息,更加客观、全面地表征评价区域的风险状态及其空间分布差异,为决策者提供更多有用的信息。