Abatement of SO2–NOx binary gas mixtures using a ferruginous active absorbent: Part I. Synergistic effects and mechanism

A novel ferruginous active absorbent, prepared by fly ash, industrial lime and the additive Fe(VI), was introduced for synchronous abatement of binary mixtures of SO₂–NOx from simulated coal-fired flue gas. The synergistic action of various factors on the absorption of SO₂ and NOx was investigated. The results show that a strong synergistic effect exists between Fe(VI) dose and reaction temperature for the desulfurization. It was observed that in the denitration process, the synergy of Fe(VI) dose and Ca/(S + N) had the most significant impact on the removal of NO, followed by the synergy of Fe(VI) and reaction temperature, and then the synergy of reaction temperature and flue gas humidity. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an accessory X-ray energy spectrometer (EDS) were used to observe the surface characteristics of the raw and spent absorbent as well as fly ash. A reaction mechanism was proposed based on chemical analysis of sulfur and nitrogen species concentrations in the spent absorbent. The Gibbs free energy, equilibrium constants and partial pressures of the SO₂–NOx binary system were determined by thermodynamics.     

无机-有机柱撑蒙脱石吸附对硝基苯酚的热力学与动力学特征研究

研究了无机-有机柱撑蒙脱石吸附对硝基苯酚的热力学特征,Freundlich和Langmuir等温方程都能较好地描述吸附曲线,所以其吸附机理主要以表面吸附为主;在对硝基苯酚的平衡吸附过程中,焓变ΔH绝对值小于30KJ/mol,表明吸附过程中可能同时存在疏水键力、偶极间力、氢键力、范德华力的作用。比较研究了对硝基苯酚在无机-有机柱撑蒙脱石上吸附的四种动力学模型,在吸附进行前30min,一级动力学方程最为理想,根据其相关系数可以求得各实验温度下的表观吸附速率常数Kd和吸附活化能Ea。     

Adapting the adaptive cycle: Hypotheses on the development of ecosystem properties and services

Ecosystems are dynamic complexes. These dynamics can be described by different ecophysiological parameters and systems theoretical concepts like succession, thermodynamics, information/network theory, resilience, adaptability and the orientor concept. In this paper, different indicators and concepts are linked to Holling's adaptive cycle metaphor in order to derive hypotheses on potential system trajectories. The hypotheses focus on an exemplary temperate forest ecosystem experiencing the adaptive cycle's four phases of exploitation, conservation, collapse and reorganization after an initializing fire event. The different properties are correlated to the number of total system connections and show varying trajectories. Additionally, the provision of selected forest ecosystem services during the different phases is hypothesized and compared to three other land use types.     

Biosorption of Co(II) ions from aqueous solution using Chrysanthemum indicum: Kinetics,equilibrium and thermodynamics

The present study investigates the adsorption potential of Chrysanthemum indicum flower in its raw (CIF-R) and biochar (CIF-BC) form for the removal of cobalt ions from aqueous solution. The adsorbents were characterized for their surface area using BET analysis, surface morphology and elemental composition with SEM-EDAX and for the presence of functional groups by FTIR analysis. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of process parameters, viz. pH, adsorbent dosage, initial metal ion concentration, contact time, stirring speed, presence of interfering ions and temperature on the adsorption of Co(II) ion using both the adsorbents. The optimum conditions for maximum removal of Co(II) ion was ascertained to be pH 5 for both adsorbents, adsorbent dose of 4 g/L and 3 g/L, equilibrium time of 60 min and 45 min, respectively, for CIF-R and CIF-BC. The maximum adsorption capacity of CIF-R and CIF-BC was found to be 14.84 mg/g and 45.44 mg/g, respectively, for the removal of Co(II) ion. The mechanism of adsorption was studied using different models of adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics. It was inferred that Co(II) adsorption on both CIF-R and CIF-BC followed pseudo-second order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm model with the process being spontaneous and endothermic in nature.     

Anaerobic degradation of naphthalene in a fluvial aquifer: a radiotracer study

A radiotracer study was conducted in a creosote-contaminated aquifer beneath the Fraser River, British Columbia Canada to investigate the in situ degradation of naphthalene. The groundwater is anaerobic, with abundant methane, ferrous iron and carbon dioxide. This study followed earlier work at the site where the contaminant distribution could only be explained by invoking a mass loss through degradation, even though extensive field and laboratory microcosm studies closer to the source zone onshore could not confirm degradation. Accordingly, 14C-naphthalene was injected into the aquifer offshore, further from the source zone where modeling suggested degradation was occurring. During the 230-day monitoring period, 14CO2 was detected, confirming the degradation of the radio-labeled naphthalene tracer. A zero-order degradation rate of naphthalene of 5 microg/L-day was estimated based on the decrease in 14C-naphthalene concentration with time. While the degradation pathway could not be determined from the radiotracer study alone, the geochemistry of the site suggests that either iron reduction or methanogenesis is the terminal electron accepting processes responsible for naphthalene oxidation.     

Alkynyl carbon materials as novel and efficient sorbents for the adsorption of mercury(Ⅱ) from wastewater

For the first time, a series of alkynyl carbon materials(ACMs) were prepared via the mechanochemical reaction of CaC_2 with six polyhalogenated precursors, namely CCl_4,C_2Cl_6, C_2Cl_4, C_6Cl_6, C_6Br_6, and C_(14)H_4Br_(10)(ACM-1, ACM-2, ACM-3, ACM-4, ACM-5, and ACM-6,respectively) and used for the adsorptive removal of mercury from aqueous solutions.Based on preliminary investigations, the adsorption of mercury on ACM-5 was studied in depth. Specifically, the effect of p H on mercury adsorptivity, adsorption kinetics,thermodynamics, isotherms, and recyclability was studied. The adsorptivity of mercury on ACMs was found to be closely related to the hydrocarbon precursor, specific surface area of sorbent, and the alkynyl content. ACM-5 showed the best performance and is among the best raw carbonaceous sorbents reported so far, with a Langmuir saturated adsorption capacity of 191.9 mg g~(-1). The promising mercury adsorption performance mainly arises from the strong Lewis soft acid–soft base interactions between the alkynyl groups and mercury ions. The adsorption isotherms could be satisfactorily correlated with the Langmuir equation. The results show that the ACMs can be used as efficient sorbents for the removal of mercury and may also be useful for the adsorption of other heavy metals.     

Thermodynamics of irreversible processes and quantum field theory: An interplay for the understanding of ecosystem dynamics

Ecological modelling has not yet received from basic “hard” sciences, like conventional physics and chemistry, an adequate conceptual support. Mechanistic simulation techniques are very far from achieving a satisfactory understanding of ecosystem dynamics.     

Chlorine promotes antimony volatilization in municipal waste incineration

Antimony volatilization in municipal waste incineration was studied. Two municipal waste samples and antimony(III) oxide (Sb₄O₆) were heated to 500°C and 700°C in an air stream in a quartz furnace. The volatilization of Sb₄O₆ occurred more at 700°C that at 500°C. Conversely, antimony volatilization form municipal waste was stronger at 500°C than at 700°C. This implies that antimony from municipal waste is volatilized as chloride instead of oxide. The chlorine sources for antimony chlorination, a gas-phase reaction involving hydrochloric acid and a solid-phase reaction of inorganic chlorine, e.g., CaCl₂, were compared. Only the solid-phase reaction could offer enough active chlorine to induce chlorination of antimony oxide. Received: July 2, 1998 / Accepted: January 28, 1999     

磷酸盐生物还原研究进展与应用前景

磷酸盐生物还原的发现使人们对微生物磷循环的认识更加全面。在此,从热力学角度对磷酸盐生物还原反应进行了分析并对其机理进行了探讨,介绍了磷酸盐生物还原反应在废水生物除磷方面的应用前景。