Enhancement of chlorophenol sorption on soil by geophagous earthworms (Metaphire guillelmi)

Earthworms are the dominant soil biomass of many terrestrial ecosystems and markedly influence the physico-chemical and biological properties of soil; however, little is known about the effects of earthworm activities on the environmental behavior of micropollutants in soil. We studied the sorption and desorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol on geophagous earthworm (anecic Metaphire guillelmi) casts of various aging times and on the parent soil. The casts were characteristic of lower pH and higher content of fine particles (silt and clay) than the parent soil. The sorption of the chlorophenols on the soil and casts were well fitted to linear isotherms, with sorption capacity in the order of pentachlorophenol > 2,4-dichlorophenol > 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. The sorption on the cast with different aging time was quite similar and was higher than on the parent soil. The sorption on the soil did not change between pH 7.07 of the soil and pH 6.76 of the casts. The desorption hysteresis of the chlorophenols on the soil and casts was compound specific and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol showed the highest hysteresis. The higher sorption capacity of the casts was not owing to the lowered pH of the casts, but mainly to the higher fine particles in the casts and the possible changes of nature of the soil organic matter through the earthworm gut passage. Our results indicate that geophagous earthworms may change sorption behavior and thus the bioavailability and transport of chlorophenols in soil. Earthworm effects should be considered when evaluating the environmental behavior and risk of organic pollutants in the ecosystems where earthworms are abundant.     

On airborne nano/micro-sized wear particles released from low-metallic automotive brakes

The paper addresses the wear particles released from commercially available “low-metallic” automotive brake pads subjected to brake dynamometer tests. Particle size distribution was measured in situ and the generated particles were collected. The collected fractions and the original bulk material were analyzed using several chemical and microscopic techniques. The experiments demonstrated that airborne wear particles with sizes between 10 nm and 20 μm were released into the air. The numbers of nanoparticles (<100 nm) were by three orders of magnitude larger when compared to the microparticles. A significant release of nanoparticles was measured when the average temperature of the rotor reached 300 °C, the combustion initiation temperature of organics present in brakes. In contrast to particle size distribution data, the microscopic analysis revealed the presence of nanoparticles, mostly in the form of agglomerates, in all captured fractions. The majority of elements present in the bulk material were also detected in the ultra-fine fraction of the wear particles.     

Indoor and outdoor sources of size-resolved mass concentration of particulate matter in a school gym—implications for exposure of exercising children

Introduction  

It has been noticed many times that schools are buildings with high levels of particulate matter concentrations. Several authors documented that concentrations of particulate matter in indoor school microenvironments exceed limits recommended by WHO namely when school buildings are situated near major roads with high traffic densities. In addition, exercise under conditions of high particulate concentrations may increase the adverse health effects, as the total particle deposition increases in proportion to minute ventilation, and the deposition fraction nearly doubles from rest to intense exercise.     

皂素提取头道液的典型有机物组成研究

利用紫外、红外拉曼光谱和GC/MS对传统皂素生产工艺、S-F工艺和E-S工艺头道液废水的有机物组成进行了分析。结果表明,传统工艺、S-F和E-S工艺头道液废水的有机物主要是醛类,此外,传统工艺头道液中检测到的22种有机物中,还有大量生物难降解的杂环类（12.24%）;而S-F和E-S工艺头道液中检测到的25种和31种有...     

1971-2010年河南省夏季高温日数的变化趋势分析

基于河南省109个气象站1971-2010年夏季(6-8月)逐日最高气温和平均气温资料,采用气候统计学分析方法,分析了近40年河南省夏季≥35℃、≥38℃和≥40℃高温日数的时空特征及可能的变化趋势.结果表明:1971-2010年河南省夏季3个等级高温日数在空间上呈现出豫西北高海拔和豫东南低海拔地区较多,其它地区较少的分布特征,高值中心位于豫西地区的偃师附近,在时间上无显著的线性变化趋势,但是在年代间呈现出“多-少-多”的变化特征,最近10年夏季高温日数最多;从各台站趋势变化的空间分布看,豫西北海拔较高地区台站呈增加趋势的较多,豫东和豫西南台站呈减少趋势的较多.夏季平均气温和≥35 ℃(r =0.58,n=4360)、≥38℃(r=0.39,n=4360)以及≥40℃(r=0.27,n=4360)高温日数均呈显著正相关.在全球气候变暖背景下,未来河南省高温日数将可能进一步增加,特别是≥35℃的高温日数.     

柴油机SCR催化器载体结构参数优化

提出一种柴油机选择催化还原（SCR）催化器载体结构参数优化的设计方法,根据车用柴油机排量,将SCR催化器载体分为4类,选取载体体积、长度、目数、壁厚和涂层厚5个结构参数为设计变量,以高NO。转化率及低压力损失为优化目标,利用拉丁超立方实验设计选择样本点进行数值模拟,在构建的Kriging近似模型基础上,对载体结构参数采用改进的非支配排序遗传算法NSGA—II（non—dominatedsortinggeneticalgorithm—II）进行优化设计。结果表明：Kriging近似模型的拟合精度较高,结合NSGA—II算法对SCR催化器载体结构参数进行优化是可行的、有效的,不同排量下的优化结果均能够较好地满足设计要求。     

中国商品有机肥重金属分析

测定了来自10个地区不同生产原料的118个商品有机肥样品的重金属含量.结果表明:(1)商品有机肥样品中的Cd、Hg、Pb、Cr、As、Zn、Cu、Ni的平均值分别为0.600、0.120、7.34、84.30、9.45、202.91、91.06、11.01 mg/kg.(2)河南、湖北、上海的商品有机肥中8种重金属平均值均较高;内蒙古的商品有机肥中Cr平均值为20.32 mg/kg,广西的商品有机肥中Zn平均值为51.36mg/kg,远低于所有样品中Cr和Zn平均值.(3)以猪粪为主要生产原料的商品有机肥中重金属平均值最高.(4)Cr超过中国商品有机肥重金属限量标准、欧盟生态标志法的重金属限量标准、加拿大堆肥重金属限量标准(A级)和加拿大堆肥重金属限量标准(B级);As、Cd超过中国商品有机肥重金属限量标准、欧盟生态标志法的重金属限量标准和加拿大堆肥重金属限量标准(A级);Cu、Zn超过欧盟生态标志法的重金属限量标准和加拿大堆肥重金属限量标准(A级);Hg超过加拿大堆肥重金属限量标准(A级);Pb超过中国商品有机肥重金属限量标准;Ni均未超标.     

Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by a multi-layer rotating disk reactor

Introduction

Solar wastewater treatment based on photocatalytic reactions is a green process that utilizes renewable energy resources and minimizes secondary pollution. Reactor design plays an important role in promoting treatment efficiency and throughput density (based on unit volume of the reactor).

Experimental

A rotating disk reactor that significantly increases the process efficiency has been designed and evaluated for application to photocatalytic decomposition of dye pollutants in aqueous solutions. In this process, a novel multi-layer rotating disk reactor (MLRDR) was presented. Photocatalyst (TiO₂) particles are immobilized on the surfaces of disks. Within each layer of the reactor, methyl orange aqueous solution is allowed to flow from the center of the disk in a radial direction along the surface of the disk, which is rotating at high speed and is irradiated with UV lamps. The effluent is then directed to the center of another layer that lies underneath. Up to four stacked layers have been tested in this study, and the effects due to the number of the layers and volumetric flow rate on reaction conversion are investigated.

Results and discussion

The efficiency of this photocatalytic reactor exhibits complex dependence on these parameters. With selected operating conditions, conversions greater than 95% can be achieved within seconds of residence time. Design equations of the reactor have been derived based on fluid dynamics and kinetic models, and the simulation results show promising scale-up potential of the reactor.     

Biosorption of lead(II) in aqueous solution by spent mushroom Tricholoma lobayense

The biosorption of lead(II) ions in both simulated and real wastewater by spent mushroom Tricholoma lobayense, was studied in this work. The results show a biomass with a high potential for removing lead ions from wastewater. The optimum pH for the adsorption is 4, and the adsorption process is fast. The best sorbent mass of the biomaterial is 5 g/L with an initial lead(II) concentration of 1 mmol/L. The process follows the Langmuir isotherm model, and the biosorption capacity of lead ions reaches to 210 mg/g, which is higher than many biosorbents previously studied. The mechanism of biosorption may be mainly attributed to ion exchange. The FT-IR study identifies the functional groups responsible for this process. A scanning electron microscope showed a significant change of the sorbent surface after the biosorption process. The energy dispersive elemental analysis also confirmed the adsorption of lead(II) ions.     

Comparison of the cytotoxic responses of Escherichia coli (E. coli) AMC 198 to different fullerene suspensions (nC60)

Fullerenes are set to be produced on an industrial scale in anticipation of their wide applications. This calls for research on their environmental and health impacts. This study investigates and compares the cell toxicity of different aqueous fullerene aggregates. Popular C₆₀ dispersal methods were used to prepare four types of nC₆₀ aggregates. These aggregates were tested against the indicator species Escherichia coli (E. coli) AMC 198. With aggregates of around 150 nm in diameter, the THF/nC₆₀ suspension was very toxic and gave rise to a half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of 0.54 mg L⁻¹ in E. coli. By contrast, the Tol/nC₆₀ suspension exhibited a cytoprotective role while the Aqu-N₂/nC₆₀ and Aqu-O₂/nC₆₀ suspensions enhanced the metabolism of E. coli. Although some toxicants, such as THF and THF-peroxide, were introduced into the THF/nC₆₀ suspension during the dispersion, the toxicity of nC₆₀ itself cannot be neglected.