Performance and mechanism for cadmium and lead adsorption from water and soil by corn straw biochar

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in water and soil could be adsorbed by biochar produced from corn straw. Biochar pyrolyzed under 400°C for 2 h could reach the ideal removal efficiencies (99.24%and 98.62% for Cd and Pb, respectively) from water with the biochar dosage of 20 g·L^–1 and initial concentration of 20 mg·L^–1. The pH value of 4–7 was the optimal range for adsorption reaction. The adsorption mechanism was discussed on the basis of a range of characterizations, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman analysis; it was concluded as surface complexation with active sorption sites (-OH, -COO-), coordination with π electrons (C = C, C = O) and precipitation with inorganic anions (OH^-, CO₃ ^2–, SO₄ ^2–) for both Cd and Pb. The sorption isotherms fit Langmuir model better than Freundlich model, and the saturated sorption capacities for Cd and Pb were 38.91 mg·g^-1 and 28.99 mg·g^–1, respectively. When mixed with soil, biochar could effectively increase alkalinity and reduce bioavailability of heavy metals. Thus, biochar derived from corn straw would be a green material for both removal of heavy metals and amelioration of soil.

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Co-contaminant effects on ofloxacin adsorption onto activated carbon,graphite, and humic acid

Given their voluminous application, significant amounts of fluoroquinolones are discharged into the environment through wastewater effluent. Adsorption has been shown to be a critical process controlling the environmental behaviors of fluoroquinolones. Competition between ofloxacin (OFL) and naphthalene (NAP)/bisphenol A (BPA) and their adsorption on activated carbon (AC), graphite (GP), and humic acid (HA) were investigated. The suppressed adsorption of OFL was observed on AC and GP, but not on HA, by NAP or BPA. Moreover, for AC, the competition by NAP was slightly stronger than that by BPA. However, for GP, the competition with BPA was higher than that with NAP. These observations indicate that competitive adsorption of OFL with respect to NAP/BPA depends on the degree of overlap of adsorption sites, as interpreted by the following: (i) AC can provide overlapping adsorption sites for OFL, BPA, and NAP, which include non-specific adsorption sites, such as hydrophobic sites, π-π interactions, and micropore filling; (ii) π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding might be responsible for the strong competitive adsorption between BPA and OFL on GP; and (iii) OFL adsorbs on HA through specific adsorption force—electrostatic attraction, with which NAP and BPA cannot compete.

     

TG-DSC and FTIR study on pyrolysis of irradiation cross-linked polyethylene

Irradiation cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) and irradiation cross-linked polyethylene with carbon black filler (CB-PEX) are two types of scraps, generated in electric cable production. Their pyrolysis is studied in this work using instrumental TG\DSC\FTIR techniques and kinetic analysis. The experiments are performed at a constant heating rate of 10 °C/min in nitrogen flow at atmospheric pressure. It is found that the main pyrolysis stage is in the temperature range of 395–503 °C for PEX, and in range of 408–515 °C for CB-PEX. In the main pyrolysis stage, CB-PEX requires more external heat than PEX does. Olefins are the major products of pyrolysis for both materials, but they are quite different in their composition and molecular weight distribution. PEX can be converted almost quantitatively into volatile compounds. CB-PEX has a stronger coking tendency, as well as a larger residue composed of carbon black.     

梨形筒式好氧堆肥反应器的开发与应用

针对现有堆肥反应器移动困难、难以使物料充分混合及堆肥效率不稳定等问题,开发了梨形筒式好氧堆肥反应器。从物料和热量平衡、通风量及搅拌方式优化等方面对反应器进行了研究。反应器主要包括梨形筒体、无轴螺旋导叶、通风系统、动力系统和控制系统等,具有易于移动、便于进/出料等优点。在通风量为2.0 L/min,初始物料投加量5.0kg（干重比∶粪便/锯末=1∶4）,含水率约60%时,利用反应器对人粪便进行序批式堆肥实验,结果表明,反应器搅拌5 min后混合均匀率可达90%以上,符合混合均匀度的要求;堆体温度从第2天开始升温至50℃以上并保持30 d;TOC和COD均呈持续下降趋势,降解率分别为72.61%和72.81%;种子发芽指数为92.18%,可完全达到腐熟标准。     

Decolorization of palm oil mill effluent using growing cultures of Curvularia clavata

Agricultural wastewater that produces color are of environmental and health concern as colored effluent can produce toxic and carcinogenic by-products. From this study, batch culture optimization using response surface methods indicated that the fungus isolated from the pineapple solid waste, Curvularia clavata was able to decolorize sterile palm oil mill effluent (POME) which is mainly associated with polyphenol and lignin. Results showed successful decolorization of POME up to 80 % (initial ADMI [American Dye Manufacturing Index] of 3,793) with 54 % contributed by biosorption and 46 % by biodegradation after 5 days of treatment. Analysis using HPLC and GC-MS showed the degradation of color causing compound such as 3-methoxyphenyl isothiocynate and the production of new metabolites. Ecotoxicity test indicated that the decolorized effluent is safe for discharge. To determine the longevity of the fungus for a prolonged decolorization period, sequential batch decolorization studies were carried out. The results showed that lignin peroxidase and laccase were the main ligninolytic enzymes involved in the degradation of color. Carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) and xylanase activities were also detected suggesting possible roles of the enzymes in promoting growth of the fungus which consequently contributed to improved decolorization of POME. In conclusion, the ability of C. clavata in treating color of POME indicated that C. clavata is of potential use for decolorization and degradation of agricultural wastewater containing polyphenolic compounds.     

页岩气开发中应关注的环境问题

我国页岩气开发处于探索阶段,具有资源赋存情况不清楚、水平井及分段压裂等关键技术有待突破、页岩气富集区地形条件复杂、地面建设条件较差、资源管理机制不完善等特点。对于页岩气开发这一新兴产业,在开发过程中需要关注生态影响、水资源消耗及环境风险等环境问题,并应尽快开展相关工作的研究,制定评价标准、导则、污染防治技术政策等相关文件,以规范页岩气开发的环保工作。     

Exposure of insects and insectivorous birds to metals and other elements from abandoned mine tailings in three Summit County drainages, Colorado

Concentrations of 31 metals, metalloids, and other elements were measured in insects and insectivorous bird tissues from three drainages with different geochemistry and mining histories in Summit Co., Colorado, in 2003, 2004, and 2005. In insect samples, all 25 elements that were analyzed in all years increased in both Snake and Deer Creeks in the mining impacted areas compared to areas above and below the mining impacted areas. This distribution of elements was predicted from known or expected sediment contamination resulting from abandoned mine tailings in those drainages. Element concentrations in avian liver tissues were in concordance with levels in insects, that is with concentrations higher in mid-drainage areas where mine tailings were present compared to both upstream and downstream locations; these differences were not always statistically different, however. The lack of statistically significant differences in liver tissues, except for a few elements, was due to relatively small sample sizes and because many of these elements are essential and therefore well regulated by the bird's homeostatic processes. Most elements were at background concentrations in avian liver tissue except for Pb which was elevated at mid-drainage sites to levels where delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity was inhibited at other mining sites in Colorado. Lead exposure, however, was not at toxic levels. Fecal samples were not a good indication of what elements birds ingested and were potentially exposed to.     

浅谈美国环境监测质量保证与质量控制

介绍了美国环境监测质量保证(QA)/质量控制(QC)体系及其基本程序,着重对其监测项目QA/QC规划做了详细介绍。目的使其对我国环境监测QA/QC体系的完善起到一定的借鉴和指导作用。     

Evaluation of maturity parameters and heavy metal contents in composts made from animal manure

The objective of this study was to evaluate a variety of maturity indices and heavy metal concentrations in the composting process. A full-scale study was performed on animal manures (dairy:beef:swine = 50%:30%:20%, w/w) mixed with sawdust using a self-screwed turner over a time period of 63 days. Several chemical compost characteristics and germination indices were monitored on samples collected weekly at a prototype composting facility. NH(4)-N concentrations decreased during the composting time, on the contrary NO(3)-N concentrations increased sharply after 30 days. As composting proceeded, the humic acids content increased from 1.45% to 2.70% of the organic carbon content, whereas the fulvic acids content decreased gradually. Temperature in the compost pile and concentration of NH(3) averaged 32.4 degrees C and 12.9 ppm at the initial composting phase and 69.5 degrees C and 47.3 ppm at the active bio-oxidation composting phase, respectively. Seed germination and germination index (GI) increased during the composting process, and the compost samples at the end of composting phase had GI values greater than 120. Among the composting processes, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in concentration of Zn, Cu and Pb in the compost. In conclusion, the suggested maturity parameter values and metal concentrations of composted animal manures can provide better understanding of maturation process of animal manure compost.     

Study of the PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> concentration variations along two intra-urban roads within a compact city

Eighty-five measurement campaigns were performed repeatedly to compare the concentration variation profiles along two intra-urban roads—one with open configuration and the other with street canyon effect. Fixed-effects panel data analysis was applied for formulating a model to express the PM₁₀ concentrations along intra-urban roads in terms of parameters like nearby central monitoring data, traffic counts and meteorological conditions with an objective to analyze the PM₁₀ concentration variation patterns along the two roads. Our findings reveal that traffic intensity and metrological conditions exert influence on concentration variation for both types of road configurations while wind velocity only affect the pollutants removal effectiveness of open road configuration. Further analysis unveils that the PM₁₀ concentration distribution profiles within a compact city environment are not always uniform and are dependent on the road configuration. Considerable PM₁₀ concentration differences were observed along the street canyon, and 70% of their variations are attributed to variations in their road aspect ratios. By contrast, no significant concentration difference is observed at open road configurations.