Chemical and process mineralogical characterizations of spent lithium-ion batteries: An approach by multi-analytical techniques

Mineral processing operation is a critical step in any recycling process to realize liberation, separation and concentration of the target parts. Developing effective recycling methods to recover all the valuable parts from spent lithium-ion batteries is in great necessity. The aim of this study is to carefully undertake chemical and process mineralogical characterizations of spent lithium-ion batteries by coupling several analytical techniques to provide basic information for the researches on effective mechanical crushing and separation methods in recycling process. The results show that the grade of Co, Cu and Al is fairly high in spent lithium ion batteries and up to 17.62 wt.%, 7.17 wt.% and 21.60 wt.%. Spent lithium-ion batteries have good selective crushing property, the crushed products could be divided into three parts, they are Al-enriched fraction (+2 mm), Cu and Al-enriched fraction (?2 + 0.25 mm) and Co and graphite-enriched fraction (?0.25 mm). The mineral phase and chemical state analysis reveal the electrode materials recovered from ?0.25 mm size fraction keep the original crystal forms and chemical states in lithium-ion batteries, but the surface of the powders has been coated by a certain kind of hydrocarbon. Based on these results a flowsheet to recycle spent LiBs is proposed.     

Pyrolysis technologies for municipal solid waste: A review

Pyrolysis has been examined as an attractive alternative to incineration for municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal that allows energy and resource recovery; however, it has seldom been applied independently with the output of pyrolysis products as end products. This review addresses the state-of-the-art of MSW pyrolysis in regards to its technologies and reactors, products and environmental impacts. In this review, first, the influence of important operating parameters such as final temperature, heating rate (HR) and residence time in the reaction zone on the pyrolysis behaviours and products is reviewed; then the pyrolysis technologies and reactors adopted in literatures and scale-up plants are evaluated. Third, the yields and main properties of the pyrolytic products from individual MSW components, refuse-derived fuel (RDF) made from MSW, and MSW are summarised. In the fourth section, in addition to emissions from pyrolysis processes, such as HCl, SO₂ and NH₃, contaminants in the products, including PCDD/F and heavy metals, are also reviewed, and available measures for improving the environmental impacts of pyrolysis are surveyed. It can be concluded that the single pyrolysis process is an effective waste-to-energy convertor but is not a guaranteed clean solution for MSW disposal. Based on this information, the prospects of applying pyrolysis technologies to dealing with MSW are evaluated and suggested.     

Nitrogen removal from landfill leachate via ex situ nitrification and sequential in situ denitrification

Ex situ nitrification and sequential in situ denitrification represents a novel approach to nitrogen management at landfills. Simultaneous ammonia and organics removal was achieved in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The results showed that the maximum nitrogen loading rate (NLR) and the maximum organic loading rate (OLR) was 0.65 g N l^?1 d^?1 and 3.84 g COD l^?1 d^?1, respectively. The ammonia and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was over 99% and 57%, respectively. In the run of the CSTR, free ammonia (FA) inhibition and low dissolved oxygen (DO) were found to be key factors affecting nitrite accumulation. In situ denitrification was studied in a municipal solid waste (MSW) column by recalculating nitrified leachate from CSTR. The decomposition of MSW was accelerated by the recirculation of nitrified leachate. Complete reduction of total oxidized nitrogen (TON) was obtained with maximum TON loading of 28.6 g N t^?1 TS d^?1 and denitrification was the main reaction responsible. Additionally, methanogenesis inhibition was observed while TON loading was over 11.4 g N t^?1 TS d^?1 and the inhibition was enhanced with the increase of TON loading.     

Anaerobic biodegradation of cellulosic material: Batch experiments and modelling based on isotopic data and focusing on aceticlastic and non-aceticlastic methanogenesis

Utilizing stable carbon isotope data to account for aceticlastic and non-aceticlastic pathways of methane generation, a model was created to describe laboratory batch anaerobic decomposition of cellulosic materials (office paper and cardboard). The total organic and inorganic carbon concentrations, methane production volume, and methane and CO₂ partial pressure values were used for the model calibration and validation. According to the fluorescent in situ hybridization observations, three groups of methanogens including strictly hydrogenotrophic methanogens, strictly aceticlastic methanogens (Methanosaeta sp.) and Methanosarcina sp., consuming both acetate and H₂/H₂CO₃ as well as acetate-oxidizing syntrophs, were considered. It was shown that temporary inhibition of aceticlastic methanogens by non-ionized volatile fatty acids or acidic pH was responsible for two-step methane production from office paper at 35 °C where during the first and second steps methane was generated mostly from H₂/H₂CO₃ and acetate, respectively. Water saturated and unsaturated cases were tested. According to the model, at the intermediate moisture (150%), much lower methane production occurred because of full-time inhibition of aceticlastic methanogens. At the lowest moisture, methane production was very low because most likely hydrolysis was seriously inhibited. Simulations showed that during cardboard and office paper biodegradation at 55 °C, non-aceticlastic syntrophic oxidation by acetate-oxidizing syntrophs and hydrogenotrophic methanogens were the dominant methanogenic pathways.     

Regulating the hydrolysis of organic wastes by micro-aeration and effluent recirculation

In this study, the effects of micro-aeration and liquid recirculation on the hydrolysis of vegetable and flower wastes during two-phase solid–liquid anaerobic digestion were assessed. To accomplish this, we evaluated the hydrolysis of five batches of waste that were treated under the following conditions: anaerobic, insufficient micro-aeration (aeration for 5 min every 24 h), and sufficient micro-aeration (aeration for 5 min every 12, 4 and 1 h). Hydrolysis was found to depend on the level of micro-aeration. Specifically, insufficient micro-aeration led to unstable and decreased performance. Conversely, sufficient micro-aeration promoted the hydrolysis of easily biodegradable carbohydrates and proteins, but the microbial activity was later impaired by liquid recirculation using methanogenic effluent. The hydrolysis efficiency under anaerobic conditions was comparable to the efficiency observed under sufficient micro-aeration, while the cumulative TOC of the anaerobic batch was 1.4–2.4 times higher than that of the micro-aerated batches. In addition, liquid recirculation did not have a negative effect on the development of microbial activity under anaerobic conditions, which resulted in the lignocelluloses having a higher hydrolysis efficiency.     

宁淮高速公路膨胀土边坡生态土壤稳定剂土质改性试验研究

介绍了STW型生态土壤稳定剂对宁淮高速公路边坡膨胀土的胀缩性、水稳性、强度、抗冲刷性等的改性试验研究,并结合现场试验,分析了STW型生态土壤稳定剂用于膨胀土边坡坡面防护的效果。试验结果表明:STW型生态土壤稳定剂改性膨胀土的胀缩性,随着稳定剂掺量的增大而减小;改性土的水稳性,随着稳定剂稀释浓度的增大而增强;同时,改性土的强度得到显著提高,抗冲刷性能得到明显增强,具有显著的防治水土流失、促进表层固化、提高坡面稳定的效果。     

Erratum to: Accumulation of Cr,Cd, Pb,Cu, and Zn by plants in tanning sludge storage sites: opportunities for contamination bioindication and phytoremediation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

Research status,challenges and future prospects of renewable synthetic fuel catalysts for CO2 photocatalytic reduction conversion

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In recent years, with global climate change, the utilization of carbon dioxide as a resource has become an important goal of human society to achieve...     

Treatment and desalination of domestic wastewater for water reuse in a four-chamber microbial desalination cell

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microbial desalination cells (MDCs) have been studied for contaminant removal from wastewater and salinity reduction in saline water. However, in an...     

Impacts of land use change on ecosystem service value in Lijiang River Basin,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - It is of great significance for the coordinated development of the environment and the economy to study the impact of the human driving factors of...