Dye house wastewater treatment through advanced oxidation process using Cu-exchanged Y zeolite: a heterogeneous catalytic approach

Catalytic wet hydrogen peroxide oxidation of an anionic dye has been explored in this study. Copper(II) complex of NN'-ethylene bis(salicylidene-aminato) (salenH2) has been encapsulated in super cages of zeolite-Y by flexible ligand method. The catalyst has been characterized by Fourier transforms infra red spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffractograms, Thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analysis and nitrogen adsorption studies. The effects of various parameters such as pH, catalyst and hydrogen peroxide concentration on the oxidation of dye were studied. The results indicate that complete removal of color has been obtained after a period of less than 1h at 60 degrees C, 0.175M H2O2 and 0.3g l(-1) catalyst. More than 95% dye removal has been achieved using this catalyst for commercial effluent. These studies indicate that copper salen complex encapsulated in zeolite framework is a potential heterogeneous catalyst for removal of color from wastewaters.     

Distribution of pesticides, PAHs and heavy metals in prawn ponds near Kolleru lake wetland, India

This paper discussed the distribution of pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in water, sediment and prawn from intensive prawn ponds (n=8) near the Kolleru lake wetland, India and assessed the quality of prawn for human consumption and also discussed the possible effects of these pollutants on pond environment and aquatic environment. The chemicals and other products used in prawn ponds near the Kolleru lake wetland were documented. The sediment, prawn and water samples were collected six times from selected prawn ponds during the production period of 3 months. Water samples were analyzed for selected physico-chemical parameters. The levels of pesticides, PAHs and heavy metals were found to decrease in the order sediment followed by prawn and water. The maximum concentrations of pesticides in sediment, prawn and water were alpha-BHC (174.2 microg g(-)(1)), gamma-BHC (234 microg g(-)(1)), malathion (256 microg g(-)(1)), chloripyrifos (198.5 microg g(-)(1)), endosulfan (238 microg g(-)(1)), dieldrin (19.6 microg g(-)(1)) and p,p'-DDT (128.6 microg g(-)(1)). Isodrin was found below detectable limit. The maximum concentrations of PAHs in sediment, prawn and water are anthracene (0.901 microg kg(-)(1)), fluranthene (0.601 microg kg(-)(1)), pyrene (0.786 microg kg(-)(1)), chrysene (0.192 microg kg(-)(1)), benzo(a)pyrene (0.181 microg kg(-)(1)) and benzo(ghi)perylene (227 microg kg(-)(1)). Benzo(e)pyrene, perylene, isomers of dibenzoanthracene and coronene were found below detectable limits. The maximum concentrations of heavy metals in sediment, prawn and water and also in prawn feed are Cu (791 microg g(-)(1)), Pb (270 microg g(-)(1)), Cd (1.07 microg g(-)(1)), Mn (4417 microg g(-)(1)), Ni (8.1 microg g(-)(1)), Co (5.8 microg g(-)(1)), Zn (1076 microg g(-)(1)), Cr (36.4 microg g(-)(1)), As (2.9 microg g(-)(1)), Se (6.3 microg g(-)(1)), Th (2.1 microg g(-)(1)) and Mo (0.762 microg g(-)(1)).     

岩溶流域土地利用变化对地下水水质的影响——以云南小江流域为例

利用1982、2003年土地利用现状图、地下水水质资料和监测数据,在GIS支持下,研究云南小江岩溶流域20年来的土地利用变化及其水文环境效应。结果表明:20年来,流域610.12km₂的土地利用面积发生变化;土地利用变化的主要过程是由未利用地向耕地和林地以及林地向耕地的转化;土地利用的空间格局发生很大变化,空间格局指数有不同程度的增加或减少;地下水水质的变化与土地利用变化表现出动态一致性,林地和未利用地转变为耕地后,地下水的总硬度、总碱度、pH值、SO42-、NO3-、Ca2+等离子值明显升高,并形成明显的高值区;1982年流域地下水以I、II、III级水质为主,而2003年流域却以IV、V级水质为主,地下水水质呈明显恶化趋势;流域地下水水质的变化与流域森林质量下降以及耕地扩张带来的化肥污染息息相关。     

Adsorption of anionic and nonionic surfactant mixtures from synthetic detergents on soils

Adsorption of anionic surfactant (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, SDBS) and nonionic surfactant (an alcohol ethoxylates with 12 carbons and 9 oxyethyl groups, A12E9) mixtures, widely used as the major constituents of synthetic detergents in China and become the most common pollutants in the environment, on soils was conducted to investigate the behavior of mixed surfactants in soils. The effects of addition order and mixing ratios of two surfactants, associated with pH and ion strength in solutions, on adsorptions were considered. The results show that saturated adsorption amount of SDBS and A12E9 on soils decreased respectively when A12E9 was added into soils firstly compared with that secondly, possibly resulting from the screening of A12E9 to part adsorption sites on soils and the hydrocarbon chain-chain interactions between SDBS and A12E9. The adsorption of SDBS and A12E9 on soils was enhanced each other at pre-plateau region of isotherms. At plateau region of isotherms, the adsorption of SDBS on soils decreased with the increase of molar fraction of A12E9 in mixed surfactant solutions, while that of A12E9 increased except the molar ratio of SDBS to A12E9 0.0:1.0. With the increase of pH in mixed surfactant solutions, adsorption amount of SDBS and A12E9 on soils decreased, respectively. The reduction of ion strength in soils resulted in the decrease of adsorption amount of SDBS and A12E9 on soils, respectively.     

Characteristics, evolution, and regional differences of biomass burning particles in the Sichuan Basin, China

The Sichuan Basin has experienced serious air pollution from fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in the past few years with biomass burning has been identified as a major source of PM_2.5 in this region. We used single particle aerosol mass spectrometer to investigate the characteristics of biomass burning particles in three interacting cities representing different types of urban environment in the Sichuan Basin. A total of 739,794, 279,610, and 380,636 biomass burning particles were detected at Ya'an, Guang'an, and Chengdu, which represented 42%, 69%, and 61%, respectively, of the total number of particles. We analyzed the chemical composition, transportation, and evolution of biomass burning particles. The contribution of K-elemental carbon and K-secondary inorganic particles was highest in Ya'an (36%) and Guang'an (47%), respectively, reflecting the important role of fresh biomass burning particles and long-distance transport in these two cities. Air masses originating from different directions corresponded to different levels of PM_2.5 and the contributions of polluted clusters increased significantly on polluted days. Fresh and secondary inorganic biomass burning particles increased pollution at Ya'an and Guang'an, respectively, but dominated different stages of pollution in Chengdu. K-nitrate particles were formed by photochemical reactions, whereas K-sulfate particles were formed by both photochemical and liquid-phase reactions. Investigation of the degree of particle aging showed that there were more fresh particles at Ya'an and more aged particles at Guang'an. These results are useful in helping our understanding of the characteristics of biomass burning particles and evaluating their role in PM_2.5 pollution in the Sichuan Basin.     

A Novel Biodegradable Green Poly(l-Aspartic Acid-Citric Acid) Copolymer for Antimicrobial Applications

Poly (l-aspartic acid-citric acid) green copolymers were developed using thermal polymerization of aspartic acid (ASP) and citric acid (CA) followed by direct bulk melt condensation technique. Antibacterial properties of copolymer of aspartic acid based were investigated as a function of citric acid content. This study is focused on the microorganism inhibition performance of aspartic acid based copolymers. Results showed that inhibition properties increase with increasing citric acid content. Characterization of obtained copolymers was carried out with the help of infrared absorption spectra (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The antibacterial activity of copolymers against bacteria like E-coli, Bacillus and pseudomonas was investigated. The copolymers showed excellent antimicrobial activities against three types of microorganisms. Overall studies indicated that the above copolymers possess a broad wound dressing activity against above three types of bacteria and may be useful as antibacterial agents.     

Building Capacity for Protected Area Management in Lao PDR

Declining biodiversity in protected areas in Laos is attributed to unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. At a basic level, an important need is to develop capacity in academic and professional training institutions to provide relevant training to conservation professionals. The paper (a) describes the capacity building approach undertaken to achieve this goal, (b) evaluates the effectiveness of the approach in building capacity for implementing conservation and (c) reviews implementation outcomes. Strong linkages between organizations implementing field conservation, professional training institutions, and relevant Government agencies are central to enhancing effectiveness of capacity building initiatives aimed at improving the practice of conservation. Protected area management technical capacity needs will need to directly influence curriculum design to insure both relevance and effectiveness of training in improving protected area management. Sustainability of capacity building initiatives is largely dependent on the level of interest and commitment by host-country institutions within a supportive Government policy framework in addition to engagement of organizations implementing conservation.     

Enhanced solar-light-driven photocatalytic properties of novel Z-scheme binary BiPO4 nanorods anchored onto NiFe2O4 nanoplates: Efficient removal of toxic organic pollutants

Global environmental problems have been increasing with the growth of the world economy and have become a crucial issue. To replace fossil fuels, sustainable and eco-friendly catalysts are required for the removal of organic pollutants. In this study, nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) was prepared using a simple wet-chemical synthesis, followed by calcination; bismuth phosphate (BiPO₄) was also prepared using a hydrothermal method. Further, NiFe₂O₄/BiPO₄ nanocomposites were prepared using a hydrothermal technique. Numerous characterization studies, such as structural, morphology, surface area, optical, photoluminescence, and photoelectrochemical investigations, were used to analyze NiFe₂O₄/BiPO₄ nanocomposites. The morphology analysis indicated a successful decoration of BiPO₄ nanorods on the surface of NiFe₂O₄ nanoplate. Further, the bandgap of the NiFe₂O₄/BiPO₄ nanocomposites was modified owing to the formation of a heterostructure. The as-prepared NiFe₂O₄/BiPO₄ nanocomposite exhibited promising properties to be used as a novel heterostructure for tetracycline (TC) and Rhodamine B (RhB) removal. The NiFe₂O₄/BiPO₄ nanocomposite degrades TC (98%) and RhB (99%) pollutants upon solar-light irradiation within 100 and 60 min, respectively. Moreover, the trapping experiments confirmed the Z-scheme approach of the prepared nanocomposites. The efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs rendered by the heterostructure were confirmed by utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photocurrent experiments, and photoluminescence. Mott–Schottky measurements were used determine the positions of the conduction and valence bands of the samples, and the detailed mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of toxic pollutants was projected and discussed.     

Hunting for a Living: Wildlife Trade,Rural Livelihoods and Declining Wildlife in the Hkakaborazi National Park,North Myanmar

Hunting is a threat to wildlife within the Hkakaborazi National Park in north Myanmar. We used questionnaire surveys to obtain data on variables such as commonly targeted species, prices of traded wildlife, reasons for hunting and the relative importance of livelihood sources. We examine (a) the significance of hunting and trade for livelihoods and explore (b) the impacts of hunting on targeted species. Ninety per cent of trade records (n = 803) was constituted by seven species commonly targeted by hunters (serow, red goral, muntjac, bear, Assamese macaque, black musk deer and takin). Commercially valuable species previously targeted by hunters (tiger, otter, pangolin) appear to be completely absent from current harvest records and potentially in decline. Although farming is the predominant occupation, hunting (driven by trade) represents a significantly higher source of income than other livelihood activities. Management recommendations include increased investment in enforcement, education and outreach, small livestock development, improved crop productivity, demarcation of no-take areas for wildlife and biological monitoring of targeted species.