Media surface properties and the development of nitrifying biofilms in mixed cultures for wastewater treatment

Plastic was tested to select biofilm support media that would enhance nitrification in the presence of heterotrophs. Eight different types (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride and tufnol) were immersed in an aerobic fed-batch reactor receiving domestic settled wastewater. Nitrification rates did not correlate with biomass concentrations, nor surface roughness of the plastics as measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The maximum nitrification rate of 1.5 g/m² d^?1 was obtained from biofilms growing on PTFE which had the lowest surface adhesion force (8 nN). Nitrification rates for the biofilms were inversely correlated with the attraction forces as measured by AFM.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations for mitigating NaAlH4 reactivity risks during postulated accident scenarios involving exposure to air or water

Experimental and theoretical studies were conducted to investigate the pyrophoricity and water-reactivity risks associated with employing sodium alanate (NaAlH₄) complex metal hydride in on-board vehicular hydrogen (H₂) storage systems. The ignition and explosivity of NaAlH₄ upon exposure to oxidizers in air or water were attributed to the spontaneous formation of stable hydroperoxyl intermediates on the NaAlH₄ surface and/or H₂ production, as well as the large driving force for NaAlH₄ conversion to favorable hydroxide products predicted by atomic and thermodynamic modeling. The major products from NaAlH₄ exposure to air: NaAl(OH)₄, gibbsite and bayerite Al(OH)₃, and Na₂CO₃ observed by XRD, were identified to be formed by surface-controlled reactions. The reactivity risks were significantly minimized, without compromising de-/re-hydrogenation cyclability, by compacting NaAlH₄ powder into wafers to reduce the available surface area. These core findings are of significance to risk mitigation and H₂ safety code and standard development for the safe use of NaAlH₄ for on-board H₂ storage in light-duty vehicles.     

Workaholism and daily recovery: A day reconstruction study of leisure activities

This study among 85 individuals used a day reconstruction approach to examine whether workaholism moderates the relationship between daily activities during non‐work time and daily well‐being in the evening (evening happiness, momentary vigor before bedtime, and momentary recovery before bedtime). Specifically, it was hypothesized that daily work‐related activities during the evening have a stronger negative relationship with daily well‐being for employees high (versus low) in workaholism and that daily physical and social activities have a stronger positive relationship with well‐being for employees high (versus low) in workaholism. The results of multilevel analyses largely supported the hypotheses for daily physical and work‐related activities but not for social activities during non‐work time. These findings imply that organizations should not encourage their employees and particularly those who score high on workaholism to work during non‐work time and instead promote physical exercise. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

重庆市建设工程从业人员现状调查与对比分析

对重庆市106家工程建设单位的从业人员的现状的调查情况进行了分析,发现其在年龄结构、学历结构、职称结构等方面存在的问题,并针对出现的问题提出了改进的建议.     

煤基腐殖酸对外源砷胁迫下玉米生长及生理性状的影响简

为了筛选用于砷污染土壤治理的煤基腐殖酸,采用盆栽实验研究了施用不同种类和浓度的煤基腐殖酸及EDTA对外源砷胁迫下玉米株高、株鲜重、株干重、根干重、砷积累量、叶片抗氧化酶（POD,SOD和CAT）活性和脯氨酸含量的影响。结果表明,11种供试煤基腐殖酸均促进了玉米生长,提高了叶片POD、SOD和CAT活性。其中6和10号腐殖酸可降低土壤砷活性和显著抑制玉米吸收和积累砷,而8和9号腐殖酸增加了土壤活性砷和显著促进了玉米对砷的吸收和累积,且不同程度地强于EDTA。除8和9号外,其余腐殖酸均可明显降低玉米叶片脯氨酸的含量。EDTA可显著促进玉米吸收和积累砷,且加剧了砷对玉米的危害。因此,8和9号供试煤基腐殖酸可以替代EDTA活化土壤砷,与植物配合以提高砷污染土壤的植物修复速度和效果,而6和10号供试煤基腐殖酸则可用于土壤砷钝化剂,以保证作物产品的安全。     

Bipolar charged aerosol agglomeration and collection by a two-zone agglomerator

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混合重金属对硝化颗粒污泥毒性作用的析因实验研究

分别测定了Cu2 、Zn2 和Cd2 对硝化颗粒污泥的单一毒性,采用析因实验研究了二元和三元重金属混合体系对硝化颗粒污泥的联合毒性.结果表明,Cu2 、Zn2 和Cd2 的2 h半抑制浓度EC50分别为95.23、62.11和12.48 mg/L,由析因实验所得的响应曲面模型具有较好的优度(其R2＞0.95),能够对混合体系的联合毒性很好地进行预测,析因实验可以用于环境领域混合体系联合毒性的研究.     

Seasonal variation and size distribution of biogenic secondary organic aerosols at urban and continental background sites of China

Size-resolved biogenic secondary organic aerosols(BSOA) derived from isoprene and monoterpene photooxidation in Qinghai Lake, Tibetan Plateau(a continental background site) and five cities of China were measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MS). Concentrations of the determined BSOA are higher in the cities than in the background and are also higher in summer than in winter. Moreover, strong positive correlations(R2= 0.44–0.90) between BSOA and sulfate were found at the six sites,suggesting that anthropogenic pollution(i.e., sulfate) could enhance SOA formation,because sulfate provides a surface favorable for acid-catalyzed formation of BSOA. Size distribution measurements showed that most of the determined SOA tracers are enriched in the fine mode( 3.3 μm) except for cis-pinic and cis-pinonic acids, both presented a comparable mass in the fine and coarse( 3.3 μm) modes, respectively. Mass ratio of oxidation products derived from isoprene to those from monoterpene in the five urban regions during summer are much less than those in Qinghai Lake region. In addition, in the five urban regions relative abundances of monoterpene oxidation products to SOA are much higher than those of isoprene. Such phenomena suggest that BSOA derived from monoterpenes are more abundant than those from isoprene in Chinese urban areas.     

Preparation and coagulation efficiency of polyaluminium ferric silicate chloride composite coagulant from wastewater of high-purity graphite production

The aim of the present work was to produce a polyaluminium ferric silicate chloride (PAFSiC) coagulant from acidic and alkaline wastewater of purifying graphite by roasting, and subsequently to evaluate coagulation efficiency of the reagent by treating surface water from the Yellow River as well as municipal wastewater in comparison with the conventional coagulant polyaluminium chloride (PAC). The PAFSiC coagulant was prepared by co-polymerization. The effects of (Al+Fe)/Si molar ratio, OH/(Al+Fe) molar ratio (i.e., value), coagulant dosage and pH value of test suspension on the coagulation behavior of FAFSiC and the stability of the PAFSiC were also examined. Results showed that PAFSiC performed more efficiently than PAC in removing turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total phosphate (TP). The PAFSiC with a value of 2.0 and (Al+Fe)/Si ratio of 5 (PAFSiC 2.0/5) showed excellent coagulation effect for both turbidity and COD, while PAFSiC 1.0/5 was the best for TP. The optimum coagulation pH range of PAFSiC 2.0/5 was 5.0–9.0, slightly wider than that of PAC (6.0–8.0). The process can be easily incorporated into high-purity graphite production plants, thereby reducing wastewater pollution and producing a valuable coagulant.