Quantitative evaluation of environmental risks of flotation tailings from hydrothermal sulfidation–flotation process

Floatation tailings (FT) are the main by-products of the hydrothermal sulfidation–flotation process. FT (FT₁ and FT₂) were obtained by treating two different neutralization sludges (NS) (NS₁ and NS₂). This paper quantitatively evaluated the environmental risks of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, and As) in FT versus NS. The total concentration and leaching rates (R ₂) of heavy metals in FT were much lower than those in NS, demonstrating that the hydrothermal sulfidation–flotation process was able to effectively suppress the mobility and leachability of heavy metals. The BCR-three sequence leaching procedure of FT confirmed that all metals were transformed into more stable forms (residue and oxidizable forms) than were found that in NS. The potential ecological risk index indicated that the overall risks caused by heavy metals decreased significantly from 6627.59 and 7229.67 (very serious risk) in NS₁ and NS₂, respectively, to 80.26 and 76.27 (low risk) in FT₁ and FT₂, respectively. According to the risk assessment code, none of the heavy metals in FT posed significant risk to the natural environment except Zn (with low risk). In general, the risk of heavy metals in FT had been well controlled.     

Presence of bacteria in aqueous solution influences virus adsorption on nanoparticles

Virus contamination in wastewater is usually accompanied by the existence of various bacteria. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been shown to efficiently remove virus. In this study, bacterial cells, supernatants, and cultures were harvested separately from three strains at the culture ages of 6 and 24 h, corresponding to the log and stationary phases, respectively. The aim is to investigate how their presence affects virus adsorption on the three Fe and Al oxide NPs (α-Fe₂O₃, γ-Fe₂O₃-B, and Al₂O₃) and how these effects change with bacterial growth phase. Bacteriophage phiX174 was used as a virus model. Results showed that bacterial cells, supernatants, and cultures harvested at 6 h generally reduced virus adsorption by an average of 0.75?±?0.84, 7.7?±?9.0, and 10.3?±?8.6 %, respectively, while those harvested at 24 h reduced virus adsorption by an average of 2.1?±?0.93, 21.5?±?6.6, and 24.6?±?6.9 %, respectively. Among the NPs, α-Fe₂O₃ showed more sensitivity to bacteria than the other two, probably because of its relatively higher value of point of zero charge. It was found that cell-induced and supernatant-induced reductions were combined to achieve added results, in which the supernatants contributed much more than the cells, implying that the bacterial exudates might be more crucial in the reduced virus adsorption than the bacterial cells. These results strongly demonstrated that the bacteria-induced reduction in virus adsorption became more significant with culture age. It is suggested that studies conducted in the absence of bacteria may not accurately evaluate the potential of virus removal efficiency of the NPs in bacteria-containing environments.     

Arsenic stabilization by zero-valent iron,bauxite residue,and zeolite at a contaminated site planting Panax notoginseng

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, a rare traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is a widely used phytomedicine used all over the world. In recent years, the arsenic contamination of the herb and its relative products becomes a serious problem due to elevated soil As concentration. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different types and dosages of amendments on As stabilization in soil and its uptake by P. notoginseng. Results showed that comparing to control treatment, the As concentrations of P. notoginseng declined by 49–63%, 43–61% and 52–66% in 0.25% zero-valent iron (Fe(0)), 0.5% bauxite residue, and 1% zeolite treatment, respectively; whereas the biomasses were elevated by 62–116%, 45–152% and 114–265%, respectively. The As(III) proportions of P. notoginseng increased by 8%, 9%, and 8%, and the transfer factors of As from root to shoot increased by 37%, 42% and 84% in the optimal treatments of Fe(0), bauxite residue, and zeolite. For soil As, all the three amendments could transform the non-specifically adsorbed As fraction to hydrous oxides Fe/Al fractions (by Fe(0) and red mud) or specifically adsorbed As fraction (by zeolite), therefore reduced the bioavailability of soil As. With a comprehensive consideration of stabilization efficiency, plant growth, environmental influence, and cost, Fe(0) appeared to be the best amendment, and zeolite could also be a good choice. In conclusion, this study was of significance in developing As contamination control in P. notoginseng planting areas, and even other areas for medicinal herb growing.     

SO2 inhalation causes synaptic injury in rat hippocampus via its derivatives in vivo

SO₂ remains a common air pollutant, almost half of the world’s population uses coal and biomass fuels for domestic energy. Limited evidence suggests that exposure to SO₂ may be associated with neurotoxicity and increased risk of hospitalization and mortality of many brain disorders. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which SO₂ causes harmful insults on neurons remains elusive. To explore the molecular mechanism of SO₂-induced neurotoxic effects in hippocampal neurons, we evaluated the synaptic plasticity in rat hippocampus after exposure to SO₂ at various concentrations (3.5 and 7 mg m⁻³, 6 h d⁻¹, for 90 d) in vivo, and in primary cultured hippocampal neurons (DIV7 and DIV14) after the treatment of SO₂ derivatives in vitro. The results showed that SYP, PSD-95, NR-2B, p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB were consistently inhibited by SO₂/SO₂ derivatives in more mature hippocampal neurons in vivo and in vitro, while the effects were opposite in young hippocampal neurons. Our results indicated that in young neurons, SO₂ exposure produced neuronal insult is similar to ischemic injury; while in more mature neurons, SO₂ exposure induced synaptic dysfunctions might participate in cognitive impairment. The results implied that SO₂ inhalation could cause different neuronal injury during brain development, and suggested that the molecular mechanisms might be involved in the changes of synaptic plasticity.     

Effect of chlorination and ultraviolet disinfection on tetA-mediated tetracycline resistance of Escherichia coli

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are an emerging threat to public health during drinking water consumption and reclaimed water reuse. Several studies have shown that the proportions of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in waters may increase when exposed to low doses of UV light or chlorine. In this study, inactivation of tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli and antibiotic-sensitive E. coli by UV disinfection and chlorination was compared to determine the tolerance of tetracycline-resistant E. coli to UV light and chlorine, and tetracycline resistance of a tetracycline-resistant E. coli population was studied under different doses of the disinfectants. Our results showed that relative to antibiotic-sensitive E. coli, tetracycline-resistant E. coli had the same tolerance to UV light and a potentially higher tolerance to chlorination. The mortality frequency distributions of tetracycline-resistant E. coli exposed to tetracycline were shifted by both chlorination and UV disinfection. When compared to the hemi-inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of tetracycline-resistant E. coli with no exposure to UV or chlorination, the IC₅₀ of tetracycline-resistant E. coli treated with tetracycline was 40% lower when inactivation by UV light or chlorination reached 3-log but was 1.18 times greater when inactivation by chlorination reached 4.3-log. Chlorination applied to drinking water or reclaimed water treatment may increase the risk of selection for highly tetracycline-resistant E. coli.     

冲击负荷对厌氧序批式反应器的影响及其恢复重建过程

研究了在厌氧条件下以葡萄糖为基质的厌氧序批式反应器(ASBR)中冲击负荷对基质吸收和储存的影响及其恢复重建过程.结果表明,正常状态下,反应器在进水COD为5 000.0 mg/L,出水COD为188.6 mg/L,当进水负荷提高至正常状态2倍后,反应器中COD大量累积,其中51.13％为挥发性有机酸(VFA),48.87％则被转化为糖原储存在细胞体内,出水COD最高为2 368.9 mg/L,污泥糖原储存量最高为273.55 mg/g(以挥发性固体计),是正常状态的4.2倍.在冲击负荷条件下,反应器的产甲烷能力恢复较快,胞内糖原储存恢复较慢,出水COD和胞内糖原分别经过20、41 d后恢复冲击负荷前水平.     

诱导结晶工艺中诱品载体的选择与改性

以含铜废水为处理对象,重点考察了诱晶载体的表面性质及表面负荷对诱导结晶过程的影响。结果表明,在工艺启动初期,白云石以及碱式碳酸铜为诱晶载体时,铜的去除率在90％以上,石英砂对铜的去除率较低,但石英砂经表面改性后对铜的去除效率亦可达90％以上。在运行稳定后,几类诱导载体对铜的去除率皆能稳定在95％,说明诱晶载体的表面性质对诱导结晶工艺的影响主要在于反应启动初期,选择与目标结晶产物结构、成分相同或相似的诱晶载体有利于诱导结晶过程的进行。此外,研究结果还表明,诱晶载体表面负荷对结晶过程影响较大,诱导结晶除铜工艺中载体表面负荷不宜高于0．054gCu／（m2·d）。     

有机污染胁迫对人工湿地中浮萍抗氧化系统的影响

湿地植物在处理高负荷有机废水时会受到不同程度的氧化胁迫。本研究基于对浮萍的有机污染胁迫模拟系统,通过对浮萍脂质过氧化和抗氧化防御系统的监测与分析,研究了浮萍对有机污染胁迫的耐受能力及胁迫去除后浮萍的恢复规律。结果表明,浮萍对有机污染胁迫具有较高的耐受性,在胁迫去除后,具有一定的恢复能力。在COD小于400mg/L时,浮萍并未受到氧化胁迫;当COD达到800 mg/L时,浮萍体内ROS含量上升,细胞膜脂过氧化加剧,但抗氧化酶活性升高,抗氧化物质含量增加,浮萍可保持生长,胁迫去除后,抗氧化防御系统可恢复到对照水平;当COD过高（≥1 000mg/L）,ROS急剧上升,抗氧化防御系统遭受破坏,造成不可逆伤害,胁迫去除后不能恢复正常生长。     

Ti（Ⅳ）催化臭氧／过氧化氢预处理酸性难降解废水

在Ti（Ⅳ）和过氧化氢存在条件下,考察了臭氧化酸性苯乙酮溶液、硝基苯溶液和垃圾渗滤液（浙江衢州某垃圾填埋场）的预处理效能。结果表明,在pH2．86条件下,单独臭氧化处理对苯乙酮、硝基苯和垃圾渗滤液的COD去除率分别为10．1％、44％和28．6％。BOD,／COD值分别从原来的0．039、0．060和0．085提高到了0．130、0．158和0．174,仍属生化难降解废水。当体系加入Ti（Ⅳ）后,臭氧化苯乙酮和硝基苯的COD去除率分别达到了75．5％和65％,BOD;／COD则提高到了0．679和0．314,可生化性提升明显。对于垃圾渗滤液,只有当体系加入Ti（Ⅳ）和H22后,臭氧化COD的去除率达到66．6％,BOD、／COD提高至0．425。上述结果对酸性难降解废水的处理实际意义非常突出。     

沿面放电氧化液相亚硫酸铵

为了解决湿式氨法烟气脱硫生成不稳定亚硫酸铵（（NH4）2SO3）副产物的问题,设计了以不锈钢弹簧和溶液分别作为高压和低压电极的沿面放电系统,对液相（NH4）2SO3的氧化进行了研究。空气从反应器上方进入后经放电区域形成活性物质,再由底部的曝气头鼓入溶液并与（NH4）2SO3发生反应。比较了沿面放电处理与传统曝气处理的氧化效率,考察了放电电压、载气气量和初始浓度等因素对（NH4）2SO3氧化的影响。结果表明,沿面放电对（NH4）2SO3有显著的氧化效果;优化条件下的（NH4）2SO3氧化率接近100%;溶液中（NH4）2SO4与（NH4）2SO3的浓度比小于1时有利于（NH4）2SO3的氧化。