Ag/ZnO hollow sphere composites: reusable photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol

Characterizations of Ag/ZnO hollow sphere by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and UV–vis absorption spectra have been made after its synthesis. The results showed that the composite was hollow structure with diameters of about 1–4 μm. The samples synthesized were tested and identified as silver doped ZnO, which have extended and boosted the spectral absorption. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/ZnO hollow spheres was assessed using 17α-ethinylestradiol aqueous solution under UV irradiation. It has been observed that the 17α-ethinylestradiol absorption efficiency and degradation rate is higher for Ag/ZnO hollow spheres. As reusable photocatalysts, Ag/ZnO hollow spheres which could be easily separated from a suspension will facilitate their application in wastewater treatment with enhanced photostability.     

Enhanced degradation of ortho-nitrochlorobenzene by the combined system of zero-valent iron reduction and persulfate oxidation in soils

ortho-Nitrochlorobenzene (o-NCB) in soil poses significant health risks to human because of its persistence and high toxicity. The removal of o-NCB by both zero-valent iron (ZVI) and chemical oxidation (persulfate) was investigated by batch experiments. The o-NCB removal rate increases significantly from 15.1 to 97.3 % with an increase of iron dosage from 0.1 to 1.0 mmol g^?1. The o-NCB removal rate increases with the decrease of the initial solution pH, and a removal efficiency of 90.3 % is obtained at an initial pH value of 6.8 in this combined system. It is found that temperature and soil moisture could also increase the o-NCB removal rate. The o-NCB degradation rate increases from 83.9 to 96.2 % and from 41.5 to 82.4 % with an increase of temperature (15 to 35 °C) and soil moisture (0.25 to 1.50 mL g^?1), respectively. Compared to the persulfate oxidation system and ZVI system, the persulfate–iron system shows high o-NCB removal capacity. o-NCB removal rates of 41.5 and 62.4 % are obtained in both the persulfate oxidation system and the ZVI system, while the removal rate of o-NCB is 90.3 % in the persulfate–iron system.     

Quantifying interactions between propranolol and dissolved organic matter (DOM) from different sources using fluorescence spectroscopy

Beta blockers are widely used pharmaceuticals that have been detected in the environment. Interactions between beta blockers and dissolved organic matter (DOM) may mutually alter their environmental behaviors. To assess this potential, propranolol (PRO) was used as a model beta blocker to quantify the complexation with DOM from different sources using the fluorescence quenching titration method. The sources of studied DOM samples were identified by excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) combined with fluorescence regional integration analysis. The results show that PRO intrinsic fluorescence was statically quenched by DOM addition. The resulting binding constants (log K _oc) ranged from 3.90 to 5.20, with the surface-water-filtered DOM samples claiming the lower log K _oc and HA having the highest log K _oc. Log K _oc is negatively correlated with the fluorescence index, biological index, and the percent fluorescence response (P _i,n) of protein-like region (P _I,n) and the P _i,n of microbial byproduct-like region (P _II,n) of DOM EEMs, while it is correlated positively with humification index and the P _i,n of UVC humic-like region (P _III,n). These results indicate that DOM samples from allochthonous materials rich in aromatic and humic-like components would strongly bind PRO in aquatic systems, and autochthonous DOM containing high protein-like components would bind PRO more weakly.     

A robust simulation–optimization modeling system for effluent trading—a case study of nonpoint source pollution control

In this study, a robust simulation–optimization modeling system (RSOMS) is developed for supporting agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) effluent trading planning. The RSOMS can enhance effluent trading through incorporation of a distributed simulation model and an optimization model within its framework. The modeling system not only can handle uncertainties expressed as probability density functions and interval values but also deal with the variability of the second-stage costs that are above the expected level as well as capture the notion of risk under high-variability situations. A case study is conducted for mitigating agricultural NPS pollution with an effluent trading program in Xiangxi watershed. Compared with non-trading policy, trading scheme can successfully mitigate agricultural NPS pollution with an increased system benefit. Through trading scheme, [213.7, 288.8]?×?10³ kg of TN and [11.8, 30.2]?×?10³ kg of TP emissions from cropped area can be cut down during the planning horizon. The results can help identify desired effluent trading schemes for water quality management with the tradeoff between the system benefit and reliability being balanced and risk aversion being considered.     

Effect of temperature and particle size on the thermal desorption of PCBs from contaminated soil

Thermal desorption is widely used for remediation of soil contaminated with volatiles, such as solvents and distillates. In this study, a soil contaminated with semivolatile polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was sampled at an interim storage point for waste PCB transformers and heated to temperatures from 300 to 600 °C in a flow of nitrogen to investigate the effect of temperature and particle size on thermal desorption. Two size fractions were tested: coarse soil of 420–841 μm and fine soil with particles <250 μm. A PCB removal efficiency of 98.0 % was attained after 1 h of thermal treatment at 600 °C. The residual amount of PCBs in this soil decreased with rising thermal treatment temperature while the amount transferred to the gas phase increased up to 550 °C; at 600 °C, destruction of PCBs became more obvious. At low temperature, the thermally treated soil still had a similar PCB homologue distribution as raw soil, indicating thermal desorption as a main mechanism in removal. Dechlorination and decomposition increasingly occurred at high temperature, since shifts in average chlorination level were observed, from 3.34 in the raw soil to 2.75 in soil treated at 600 °C. Fine soil particles showed higher removal efficiency and destruction efficiency than coarse particles, suggesting that desorption from coarse particles is influenced by mass transfer.     

Probing the distribution and contamination levels of 10 trace metal/metalloids in soils near a Pb/Zn smelter in Middle China

The horizontal and vertical distribution patterns and contamination status of ten trace metal/metalloids (Ag, Bi, Co, Cr, Ge, In, Ni, Sb, Sn, Tl) in soils around one of the largest Chinese Pb–Zn smelter in Zhuzhou City, Central China, were revealed. Different soil samples were collected from 11 areas, including ten agricultural areas and one city park area, with a total of 83 surface soil samples and six soil cores obtained. Trace metal/metalloids were determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry after digestion by an acid mixture of HF and HNO₃. The results showed that Ag, Bi, In, Sb, Sn, and Tl contents decreased both with the distance to the Pb–Zn smelter as well as the soil depth, hinting that these elements were mainly originated from the Pb–Zn smelting operations and were introduced into soils through atmospheric deposition. Soil Ge was influenced by the smelter at a less extent, while the distributions of Co, Cr, and Ni were roughly even among most sampling sites and soil depths, suggesting that they were primarily derived from natural sources. The contamination status, as revealed by the geo-accumulation index (I _geo), indicated that In and Ag were the most enriched elements, followed by Sb, Bi, and Sn. In general, Cr, Tl, Co, Ni, and Ge were of an uncontaminated status.     

As(V)在金红石TiO_2颗粒表面吸附特性及机理

通过静态动力学和热力学吸附实验,研究了温度、共存离子以及溶质的初始浓度对As(V)在金红石TiO2颗粒表面吸附的影响,探讨了As(V)在金红石TiO2颗粒表面吸附特性及机理。结果表明,在As(V)初始浓度为10 mg/L,pH为7的条件下,25℃时的吸附量0.41 mg/g高于30℃时的吸附量0.31 mg/g,As(V)在金红石TiO2上的吸附为放热过程。CaCl2和MgCl2的添加对As(V)在金红石TiO2表面吸附起到明显的促进作用。T=25℃,Ca2+或Mg2+浓度为10 mmol/L时,As(V)吸附量分别为0.64和0.56 mg/g,Ca2+比Mg2+对As(V)吸附促进作用强。As(V)在金红石TiO2的吸附等温线符合Frendlich方程,Lagergren二级动力学方程能较好地描述As(V)在金红石TiO2颗粒表面吸附的动力学过程。     

新型硅镁胶(MgO·2SiO_2)对模拟放射性废水中Co~(2+)的吸附性能

以泡花碱和氯化镁为原料合成出了一种新型硅镁胶(MgO·2SiO2)吸附材料,用傅里叶红外光谱仪对其进行了表征,并对模拟放射性废水中的Co2+进行吸附实验。结果表明,控制合成pH在10.50~11.00,可以得到目标硅镁胶(MgO·2SiO2),在460 cm-1处出现了较强的吸收峰,这是由Mg—O伸缩振动和Si—Mg—O弯曲振动引起。在500℃焙烧4h后,可以得到吸附性能良好的硅镁胶,随着溶液pH的升高,去除率增大,在pH为4~8时达到最大。25℃时,最大吸附量可达135.5 mg/g,吸附过程符合Langmuir等温吸附方程和准二级动力学方程。重复使用4次,对Co2+的吸附量仍然达到130 mg/g,说明硅镁胶是一种可重复利用的吸附剂。     

宝钢焦化废水处理脱氮研究与实践

针对上海提高新排放标准中总氮(TN)≤35 mg/L的要求,对焦化废水进行了脱氮研究。选取现场缺氧-好氧-好氧(A-O-O)工艺中前两段的A-O生化沉淀池1出水,在SBR内进行反硝化脱氮实验,考察葡萄糖、葡萄糖+乙酸钠、甲醇和甲醇+乙酸钠单一或复合碳源及投加反硝化菌种对脱氮的影响,确定最佳碳源为甲醇+乙酸钠,最佳反硝化水力停留时间为16 h。当反硝化菌液投加浓度为1 mg/L时,SBR出水TN满足达标排放要求。结合实验结果对宝钢焦化废水原有AO-O工艺改造升级为A-O-A-O二段脱氮工艺,并对生化出水实施进一步的物化混凝处理。改造后,工艺长期运行稳定,最终出水完全达到上海市污水综合排放标准(DB 31/199-2009)TN≤35 mg/L的要求,并满足氰化物、氟化物以及COD的排放要求。     

Some technical issues in managing PCBs

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were important industrial chemicals featuring high thermal and chemical stability and low flammability. They were widely used as dielectric and thermal fluid in closed electro-technical applications (transformers, capacitors…) and also in numerous dispersive uses, ranking from auto-copying paper to sealant or coatings. During the 1960s, severe environmental consequences started becoming apparent. The stability of PCBs contributed to their persistence in the environment, their lipophilic character to bio-magnification. Fish-eating species seemed threatened in their existence. In Japan and in Taiwan, thousands of people consumed PCB-contaminated oil. The production of PCBs stopped completely during the 1980s. Usage could continue in closed applications only. In this paper, particular attention is given to two issues: the cleaning of PCB electric transformers and the potential impact of PCB-containing building materials. Other contributions will cover the management and treatment of PCB-contaminated soil, sludge or fly ash. The complete survey is being prepared by request of the Knowledge Center for Engineers and Professionals.