Contents and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in vegetable soils of Guangzhou, China

We investigated contents, distribution and possible sources of PAHs and organochlorine pesticides (Ops) in 43 surface and subsurface soils around the urban Guangzhou where variable kinds of vegetables are grown. The results indicate that the contents of PAHs (16 US EPA priority PAHs) range from 42 to 3077 microg/kg and the pollution extent is classified as a moderate level in comparison with other investigations and soil quality standards. The ratios of methylphenanthrenes to phenanthrene(MP/P), anthracene to anthracene plus phenanthrene (An/178), benz[a]anthracene to benz[a]anthracene plus chrysene (BaA/228), indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene to indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene plus benzo[ghi]perylene (In/In+BP) suggest that the sources of PAHs in the soil samples are mixed with a dominant contribution from petroleum and combustion of fossil fuel. The correlation analysis shows that the PAHs contents are significantly related to total organic carbon contents (TOC) (R2=0.75) and black carbon contents (BC) (R2=0.62) in the soil samples. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and metabolites (DDTs) and hexachlorocyclohexanes and metabolites (HCHs) account largely for the contaminants of OPs. The concentrations of DDTs range from 3.58 to 831 microg/kg and the ratios for DDT/(DDD+DDE) are higher than 2 in some soil samples, suggesting that DDT contamination still exists and may be caused by its persistence in soils and/or impurity in the pesticide dicofol. The concentrations of HCHs are 0.19-42.3 microg/kg.     

Influence of metal oxides on PCDD/Fs formation from pentachlorophenol

Chlorophenols (ClPhs) are considered as important precursors for PCDD/Fs formation. The influences of series of metal oxides including MgO, Al2O3, CaO, BaO, TiO2, V2O5, MnO2, Fe2O3, Co3O4, CuO, Ag2O, ZnO, HgO, SnO, PbO, La2O3, CeO2, and Eu2O3 on PCDD/Fs formation from pentachlorophenol (PCP) were investigated in a laboratory-scale reactor. The results indicated that most of the above metal oxides have obvious suppressing effects on the total amount of PCDD/Fs formation from precursor PCP except for CuO, ZnO, MnO2, TiO2 and Co3O4 with promotion effects at 280 degrees C for 2 h. Although MgO, Al2O3, Fe2O3, PbO, La2O3 and Eu2O3 could reduce the amount of octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD), they promote the formation of more toxic 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD at the same time. The total suppressing efficiencies of several metal oxides including CaO, BaO, PbO, Ag2O, HgO and SnO which have lower Z/r (charge to radius ratio) <2 are all over 90%. The theories of generalized acid-base and atomic parameter (Z/r) were used to speculate the effecting mechanisms. The factors including time and temperature on suppressing efficiencies of CaO, BaO and PbO have also been studied in the present paper. The results showed that the total suppressing efficiencies of CaO, BaO and PbO increase with the increase of heated time and temperature.     

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.     

Characteristics of roadside air pollution in Korean metropolitan city (Daegu) over last 5 to 6 years: temporal variations, standard exceedances, and dependence on meteorological conditions

The present study performed a roadside data analysis to provide baseline data for exploring associations between environmental exposure to four gaseous pollutants and health effects on residents living near roadways. The yearly roadside concentrations of CO and SO₂ showed a well-defined decreasing trend, whereas those of NO₂ and O₃ exhibited the reverse trend. In most cases, the diurnal trends of the roadside concentrations were well-defined for all seasons, plus the daytime concentrations were higher than the nighttime concentrations. In contrast to the other target pollutants, the daytime O₃ concentrations observed at the roadside sites were lower than those observed at the residential site, likely due to high-levels of fresh NO from traffic emissions that rapidly react with O₃, thereby reducing the O₃ roadside level. The Sunday roadside concentrations of CO, NO₂, and SO₂ were similar to or somewhat lower than the weekday concentrations. Conversely, for O_3, the Sunday roadside concentrations were similar to or somewhat higher than the weekday concentrations. The higher O₃ concentrations on Sunday may be due to the reduced titration from a decrease in NO_x emissions under VOC-limited conditions (low VOC/NO_x conditions). The monthly averages of O₃ concentrations exhibited the reverse seasonal variation to the other target compounds, with peak O₃ concentrations between April and June, and the second peak between August and October. It is also suggested that for O₃, the 8-h standard is more stringent than the 1-h standard, while for NO₂ and SO₂, the 1-h standard is more stringent than the 24-h standard. The multiple regression equations obtained from the relationship between the concentrations and five meteorological parameters indicated that the number and type of meteorological variables in the equations varied according to the pollutant, monitoring station, or season.     

Iron and organo-bentonite for the reduction and sorption of trichloroethylene

Hybrid barriers using dechlorination and immobilization were studied to remove trichloroethylene (TCE) in this study. Hybrid barriers of iron filings and organo (hexadecyltrimethylammonium, HDTMA)-bentonite were simulated in columns to assess the performance of the hybrid barriers. TCE reduction rate for the mixture of zero valent iron (ZVI) and HDTMA-bentonite was approximately seven times higher than that for ZVI, suggesting the reduction of TCE was accelerated when HDTMA-bentonite was mixed with ZVI. For the column of two separate layers of iron and HDTMA-bentonite, TCE reduction rate was nearly similar to that for ZVI alone, but the partition coefficient (Kd) was 4.5 times higher than that for ZVI only. TCE was immobilized in the first layer with HDTMA-bentonite due to sorption, and then dechlorinated in the second layer with iron filings due to reduction. The HDTMA-bentonite and minimally-desorbed HDTMA from the organo-bentonite are believed to contribute the increase in TCE concentration on iron surface so that more TCE could be available for reduction. Therefore, the incorporation of HDTMA-bentonite into ZVI not only can effectively retard the transport of chlorinated organic contaminants from landfill leachate or oil shock in subsurface environment, also can expedite the reduction rate of TCE.     

Reliable evidences that the removal mechanism of hexavalent chromium by natural biomaterials is adsorption-coupled reduction

For the last few decades, over 200 papers have been published in the Cr(VI) biosorption research field. Most early studies have claimed that Cr(VI) was removed from aqueous phase through an anionic adsorption, but this approach has been lost old original position. It has been newly explained that these findings were misinterpreted due to errors in measuring the concentrations of different chromium species in the aqueous phase, insufficient contact time required for equilibrium and the lack of information about the oxidation state of the chromium bound to biomaterials. Although 'adsorption-coupled reduction' is now widely accepted as the mechanism of Cr(VI) biosorption by natural biomaterials, a number of researchers still believe that Cr(VI) is removed by anionic adsorption onto the biomaterials. Therefore, the objective of this study was to show reliable evidences that the removal mechanism of Cr(VI) by natural biomaterials is 'adsorption-coupled reduction'. Sixteen natural biomaterials were used to study the Cr(VI) biosorption. Not only Cr(VI) but also total Cr in the aqueous phase were analyzed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscope was also used to verify the oxidation state of the chromium bound to the biomaterials. Finally, the removal behavior of Cr(VI) by each biomaterial was described by a kinetic model based on a redox reaction.     

液体旋流分离器分离效率的研究

液体旋流分离器是水环境污染治理的主要设备之一.分离效率是衡量液体旋流分离器分离过程进行完善程度的最重要的技术指标,它能从质与量两方面反映出设备性能的优劣.当前液体旋流分离器设计过程还缺少具体量化的理论依据,为了给液体旋流分离器的设计提供理论依据,通过液体旋流分离器从水中分离固体粒子的性能实验,得出了液体旋流分离器各部结构尺寸、形状、相对比例对分离效率的不同影响程度,提出了结构参数的最佳取值范围.按照本研究提出的设计原则和方法,可以制造出性能优良的液体旋流分离器.     

压力式接触氧化法同步硝化反硝化脱氮性能研究

研究了压力式接触氧化法的脱氮性能,分析了容积负荷、溶解氧和停留时间等因素对反应器脱氮效果的影响.研究表明,压力式接触氧化法具有明显的同步硝化反硝化现象,当HRT=1.8 h时,DO高达5.4 mg/L,可获得90%以上的反硝化率.当HRT=1.8 h,溶解氧4～5 mg/L,容积负荷为10～12 kg COD/(m3·d)时,氨氮去除率80%左右,总氮去除率达70%～80%.     

应用陶粒过滤-陶瓷膜组合对止咳糖浆制药废水深度处理的试验研究

止咳精浆制药废水经生物接触氧化一体化废水处理装置处理后,其出水中COD、BOD和氨氮等主要污染物质均不能达标排放.在实验室中采用陶粒过滤-陶瓷膜组合对经一体化处理装置处理后的制药废水进行深度处理,在陶粒柱反应器选用粒径为1～2 mm的陶粒滤料,陶瓷膜反应器选用孔径为2～3/μm陶瓷膜的条件下对水样进行测试.废水经陶粒过滤-陶瓷膜组合处理后,其BOD、COD、SS和氨氮指标均可稳定达标排放.     

计算机模拟研究UO2+2在人体细胞液的形态分布

建立了由多种金属离子和小分子配体组成的多相细胞液热力学平衡模型.模拟研究了UO2 2在组织液和细胞液的形态分布及CO2-3、氨三乙酸（NTA）和乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）浓度对细胞液中UO2 2形态分布的影响.在组织液中,正常生理pH下,当各形态UO2 2总摩尔浓度 [U]= 1.0×10-6 mol/L 或[U]=1.0×10-3 mol/L时,UO2 2均主要以[UO2(CO3)3]4-和[UO2(CO3)2]2-形态存在.在细胞液中,当[U]=1.0×10-6 mol/L时,UO2 2主要以[UO2(CO3)3]4-和[UO2(CO3)2]2-存在;当[U]=1.0×10-3 mol/L,pH为6.0～6.8时,细胞液中存在大量的固相(UO2)3(PO4)2·4H2O,当pH为6.8～7.4时,UO2 2主要以[UO2(CO3)3]4-、[UO2(CO3)2]2-和[(UO2)2CO3(OH)3]-存在.细胞液中(UO2)3(PO4)2·4H2O含量随[U]升高而增加.通过调节细胞液pH和增加细胞液CO2-3浓度均能降低其固相UO2 2配合物含量.在细胞液中增加NTA会增加(UO2)3(PO4)2·4H2O含量,当添加EDTA时会显著降低(UO2)3(PO4)2·4H2O含量.