Improving the indoor air quality of respiratory type of medical facility by zeolite filtering

This study investigated the indoor air quality (IAQ) conditions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), and bio-aerosols (bacteria and fungi) in a respiratory type of medical facility in Chia-Yi County in southern Taiwan. Among those IAQ conditions, the concentrations of CO, O₃, and HCHO exceeded the regulation values of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) mostly in the morning. The concentrations of bacteria and fungi did not exceed the regulation values but still posed potential health and environment problems for workers, patients, and visitors. Therefore, self-made silver-coated zeolite (AgZ) was used as a filter material in air cleaners to remove bio-aerosols in the respiratory care ward (RCW), and the removals were still effective after 120 hr. The cumulative bio-aerosol removals for bacteria and fungi were 900 and 1,088 colony-forming units (CFU) g^?1 after 24 hr and were above 3,100 and 2,700 CFU g^?1 after 120 hr. From the research results, it is suggested that AgZ filtering could be used as a feasible engineering measure for hospitals to control their bacteria and fungi parameters in IAQ management. Hospitals should maintain their environmental management and monitoring programs and use different engineering measures to improve different IAQ parameters.

Implications: This study investigated the IAQ conditions in the field at a hospital in Chia-Yi County in southern Taiwan. Although concentrations of most parameters were still within the regulation values, the concentrations of CO, O₃, and HCHO were partially exceeded. We propose a method using an air cleaner with silver-coated zeolite (AgZ) as a possible engineering measure, and there were effective reductions of bacteria and fungi to lower levels with antibacterial effects after 120 hr. Furthermore, this study implies that hospitals should continuously maintain environmental monitoring programs and adopt optimal engineering measures for different needs.     

六氯苯对水体微型生物群落的影响及其吸附行为

研究了六氯苯(HCB)对微型水生生物群落的影响及其吸附、传递过程.测定了群落的耗氧量和不同粒经颗粒物的生物量及HCB变化.试验结果显示,在6μg/L HCB影响下,群落的呼吸作用受到抑制,生物量减少.试验第1天,30.0%(质量分数,下同)的HCB以溶解态存在,26.3%吸附在0.22～2 μm的颗粒物(以细菌为主)上,22.1%吸附在2～8 μm的颗粒物(以鞭毛虫和藻类为主)上,21.6%吸附在大于8 μm的颗粒物(以藻类和大型原生动物为主)上.48 h后,溶解态的HCB逐渐减少,并由食物链低营养级向高营养级传递.最后74.9%的HCB都吸附在微型生物群落等颗粒物上,只有25.1%的HCB以溶解态存在.     

Radiation degradation of Congo Red in aqueous solution

Radiation-induced degradation of Congo Red (an azo dye) in aqueous solution was studied both with steady-state radiolysis and time-resolve techniques of pulse radiolysis and laser flash photolysis. Decomposition and mineralization of Congo Red by gamma-rays was investigated with the changes of absorption spectra, degradation efficiency, TOC removal and pH changes of the solutions in different irradiation systems. The main radiolytic products resulting from steady-state radiolysis of Congo Red were examined by HPLC and LC-MS. Complete degradation of Congo Red was observed at different absorbed doses under diverse irradiation condition. The TOC removal of the solutions saturated with O2 or N2O reached 76% and 86% at the absorbed dose of 11.9 kGy, respectively. Pulse radiolysis and laser flash photolysis experiments were carried out to study the reaction of Congo Red with e(aq)- and ()OH. The reaction rate constants were determined.     

耦合回流污泥预浓缩系统的新型氧化沟工艺强化除磷

针对传统的"厌氧+氧化沟"运行模式对低碳源污水除磷能力不佳的问题,采用耦合回流污泥预浓缩系统的新型氧化沟工艺对其强化除磷进行了中试实验研究。通过采用回流污泥预浓缩系统,调试回流污泥浓缩比,提高系统的除磷能力。研究结果表明,在控制最佳回流污泥浓缩比为55%的情况下,出水TP浓度和去除率分别为0.92 mg/L和67.5%,相比于浓缩比为100%、70%、50%和30%的工况,其去除率分别增加了24.3%、27.3%、8.2%和28.6%,强化了系统的除磷效果。另外,ORP可以预示预缺氧池内无效释磷和反硝化程度,以此作为自动调整最佳回流污泥浓缩比的控制参数。     

Evaluation of methane oxidation activity in waste biocover soil during landfill stabilization

The results of a nationwide survey of uranium in Swiss drinking water are reported. Elevated concentrations of uranium in groundwater are found mainly in the alpine regions and can be traced back to the geology of the bedrock. Water sources were systematically surveyed and analysed for the presence of Li, B, Si, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Tl, Pb and U and the results were analysed to determine if any correlation with uranium concentration was apparent. No correlation was found. The results are interpreted in relation to the current WHO guideline and those of other countries with a view to determining which areas would be affected if a maximum value were to be adopted and which areas require further investigation. Uranium content varied considerably, from below the limit of detection to almost 100 μg L⁻¹. Of the 5548 data samples, 98% are below the 2004 WHO provisional guideline value of 15 μg L⁻¹ and 99.7% below the revised (2011) value of 30 μg L⁻¹.     

Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants using TiO2 film electrodes: an overview

Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) technology involved applying an electrical bias to a TiO₂ film electrode, has been widely applied to the degradation of refractory organic pollutants, owing to its high degradation efficiency. This paper reviews recent developments in the PEC degradation of recalcitrant organic contaminants using a TiO₂ film electrode. The preparation and application of various TiO₂ film electrodes have been investigated, as well as the parameters that influence PEC activity such as the crystal structure, the film thickness and substrate material, the applied electrical bias, the solution pH and conductivity. The improvement of PEC activity by doping the TiO₂ film electrode with metal and non-metal ions has been discussed. The mechanism and kinetics for the PEC degradation of organic pollutants have also been highlighted.     

适宜处理分散性生活污水的人工湿地除磷填料的筛选及改性

为提高人工湿地除磷效能,从沸石、陶粒、萤石、膨胀蛭石、石灰石、麦饭石、火山岩、牡蛎壳、钢渣和废砖块这10种具有较高磷素饱和吸附量的填料中,筛选出钢渣、沸石和石灰石3种适宜处理分散性生活污水的人工湿地填料,并分别使用不同浓度梯度的酸(碱)、盐对3种填料进行改性,以增强其除磷能力。研究结果表明,钢渣、沸石和石灰石分别经2 mol/L AlCl3、2 mol/L NaOH及2 mol/L AlCl3、0.5 mol/L AlCl3溶液改性后,磷素吸附量达到最高值(0.272、0.0801和0.351 mg/g),而双常数方程能更好地描述优选填料对生活污水中磷的吸附动力学过程,综合考虑填料的吸附效果、成本及来源,改性石灰石是人工湿地处理分散性生活污水时较为理想的除磷填料;此外,填料经铝改后,氮磷吸附效果普遍优于其他改性条件,且Al-P有利于植物直接吸收利用,含铝废水来源广泛,故利用铝改液处理人工湿地填料具有较高的应用推广价值。     

抗侵蚀型生态沟渠构建及其稻田应用效果

根据沟渠水力学和工程力学特征,通过引进三维植物网护坡技术,构建了一种抗侵蚀型稻田生态沟渠,横断面0.9 m2,沟壁和沟底水生植物覆盖度分别为62.8%和35.3%,沟壁抗坡面侵蚀强度较土质沟渠可提高2倍以上,在优化污染物拦截去除功能的同时,大大延长了其使用寿命。稻田应用实验表明,径流排水停留时间超过48 h后,SS、TN和TP去除率分别达59.5%、57.8%和45.3%,配置比例按照1 hm2水稻田配300 m该型生态沟渠实施,则超过80%以上的稻田径流排水能够得到有效处理。该型生态沟渠工程造价约245元/m,接近传统混凝土排水渠单价,经近2年的运行观测,沟渠系统结构稳定,净化植物长势良好。     

Phytostabilization potential of evening primrose (Oenothera glazioviana) for copper-contaminated sites

A field investigation, field experiment, and hydroponic experiment were conducted to evaluate feasibility of using Oenothera glazioviana for phytostabilization of copper-contaminated soil. In semiarid mine tailings in Tongling, Anhui, China, O. glazioviana, a copper excluder, was a dominant species in the community, with a low bioaccumulation factor, the lowest copper translocation factor, and the lowest copper content in seed (8 mg kg^?1). When O. glazioviana was planted in copper-polluted farmland soil in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, its growth and development improved and the level of γ-linolenic acid in seeds reached 17.1 %, compared with 8.73 % in mine tailings. A hydroponic study showed that O. glazioviana had high tolerance to copper, low upward transportation capacity of copper, and a high γ-linolenic acid content. Therefore, it has great potential for the phytostabilization of copper-contaminated soils and a high commercial value without risk to human health.     

Determination of picogram quantities of chlortoluron in soil samples by luminol–chitosan chemiluminescence system

Based on the enhancing effect of chitosan (CS) on luminol-dissolved oxygen chemiluminescence (CL) reaction, a flow injection (FI) luminol–CS CL system was established. It was found that the increase of CL intensity was proportional to the concentrations of CS ranging from 0.7 to 10.0 μmol l^?1. In the presence of chlortoluron (CTU), the CL intensity of luminol–CS system could be obviously inhibited and the decrements of CL intensity were linearly proportional to the logarithm of CTU concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 70.0 ng ml^?1, giving the limit of detection 3.0 pg ml^?1 (3σ). At a flow rate of 2.0 ml min^?1, the whole process including sampling and washing could be accomplished within 36 s, offering a sample throughput of 100 h^?1. The proposed FI–CL method was successfully applied to the determination of CTU in soil samples with recoveries ranging from 95.0 % to 105.3 % and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 4.0 %.