Robustness testing of a free-fall triboelectric separation process for plastic waste recovery

Among the separation techniques used in industries, the triboelectric separation of insulating particles using a rotary tube is an effective way employed in the waste recovery of plastic and mineral products. This process, also called free-fall triboelectric separation, is widely used for the sorting of granular mixtures resulting from industrial plastic wastes. Given that the robustness of such a separation process is an important issue, a standard procedure is used for determining the set point and for minimising the process sensitivity of sorting mixed particles of different polymers to changes in the values of some critical factors. The aim of this paper was to analyse the efficiency of the triboelectric separation process of polymers with respect to any slight variation in the values of the most significant factors. Experiments with a sample of high-density polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride plastic granules were carried out on a laboratory experimental bench. Several one-factor-at-a-time experiments, followed by two factorial designs (one composite and the other fractional), were performed based on the following experimental procedure: (1) determination of the variation limits of the input variables; (2) identification of the set point and (3) robustness testing of the process, i.e. testing whether the performance of the system remains high even when the factors vary slightly around the set point.     

Leaching of copper and zinc from spent antifouling paint particles

Leaching of Cu and Zn from a composite of spent antifouling paint particles, containing about 300 mg g⁻¹ and 110 mg g⁻¹ of the respective metals, was studied in batch experiments. For a given set of simulated environmental conditions, release of Cu was independent of paint particle concentration due to attainment of pseudo-saturation, but Zn was less constrained by solubility effects and release increased with increasing particle concentration. Leaching of Cu increased but Zn decreased with increasing salinity, consistent with mechanisms governing the dissolution of Cu₂O in the presence of chloride and Zn acrylates in the presence of seawater cations. Because of complex reaction kinetics and the presence of calcium carbonate in the paint matrix, metal leaching appeared to be greater at 4 °C than 19 °C under many conditions. These findings have important environmental and biological implications regarding the deliberate or inadvertent disposal of antifouling paint residues.     

Bacterial toxicity comparison between nano- and micro-scaled oxide particles

Toxicity of nano-scaled aluminum, silicon, titanium and zinc oxides to bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens) was examined and compared to that of their respective bulk (micro-scaled) counterparts. All nanoparticles but titanium oxide showed higher toxicity (at 20 mg/L) than their bulk counterparts. Toxicity of released metal ions was differentiated from that of the oxide particles. ZnO was the most toxic among the three nanoparticles, causing 100% mortality to the three tested bacteria. Al₂O₃ nanoparticles had a mortality rate of 57% to B. subtilis, 36% to E. coli, and 70% to P. fuorescens. SiO₂ nanoparticles killed 40% of B. subtilis, 58% of E. coli, and 70% of P. fluorescens. TEM images showed attachment of nanoparticles to the bacteria, suggesting that the toxicity was affected by bacterial attachment. Bacterial responses to nanoparticles were different from their bulk counterparts; hence nanoparticle toxicity mechanisms need to be studied thoroughly.     

Which compounds contribute most to elevated airborne exposure and corresponding health risks in the Western Balkans?

A majority of ongoing monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is currently focused on chemicals emphasized in the Stockholm Convention. Quantitative detection of other substances (especially those with numerous anthropogenic sources such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) is, however, also needed since their concentrations are usually several orders of magnitude higher. A goal of this study was to determine how various groups of compounds contribute to total human health risks at the variety of sampling sites in the region of Western Balkan. Distribution of the risks between the gas and particulate phases was also addressed. Results showed that inhalation exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) does not represent a significant risk to humans, while polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) re-volatilized to the atmosphere from contaminated soils and buildings can pose a problem. PCB evaporation from primary sources (currently used PCB-filled transformers or non-adequate storage facilities) generally resulted in much higher atmospheric concentrations than evaporation from the secondary sources (soils at the sites of war destructions). A majority of the human health risks at the urban sites were associated with PAHs. Between 83 and 94% of the cumulative risk at such sites was assigned to chemicals sorbed to particles, and out of it, PAHs were responsible for 99%.     

湿法净化黑烟中添加剂对炭黑沉降性能的影响

湿法净化黑烟中炭黑颗粒物的关键在于降低吸收液的表面张力并以高性能絮凝剂使其从溶液中絮凝、沉降以利于分离。选用十六烷基三甲基溴化胺(CTAB)为主要表面活性剂,使之与十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)和月桂醇聚氧乙烯(9)醚(AEO-9)进行复配实验,研究了复配液的表面张力,再向最低表面张力的复配表面活性剂溶液中投加絮凝剂聚合氯化铝(PAC)和聚丙烯酰胺(PAM),探讨絮凝剂的添加对黑烟颗粒沉降和絮凝的影响.实验结果表明:同时添加表面活性剂CTAB,SDBS和PAC,并使之浓度分别为0.5 mmol/L,0.4 mmol/L和200 mg/L时,炭黑颗粒的沉降效果最好,沉降率高达94%,且絮凝体较大,沉降时间仅为2 min。     

Determination of 10 particle-associated multiclass polar and semi-polar pesticides from small streams using accelerated solvent extraction

A new analytical method using accelerated solvent extraction was developed for the determination of 10 particle-associated polar and semipolar pesticides. In addition, six deuterated analogues of the target compounds were evaluated as internal standards. The method yielded acceptable accuracy (73–103% recovery) and precision (<25% relative standard deviation) for eight compounds. Using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) as cleanup step resulted in higher recoveries compared to solid phase extraction (SPE) cleanup.

Deuterated standards with 10 or more deuterium atoms performed well as internal standards concerning similar recovery and correlation with the target analytes.

The method was employed to extract particle-associated pesticides from 16 streams located in an area with intense agriculture in France. Acetochlor, pirimicarb, tebuconazole, fenpropidin, -endosulfan and chlorfenvinphos were detected at concentrations up to 1 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight. A comparison with aquatic toxicity data indicated potential risk to the benthic fauna exposed to these concentrations of pirimicarb, -endosulfan and chlorfenvinphos.

We suggest that the method presented here be used for the extraction and quantitation of particle-associated polar pesticides.     

橡胶促进剂M盐废水生物处理技术研究

为探讨微生物技术在橡胶促进剂M盐废水处理中的应用,利用高效优势蘸强化A2O工艺对橡胶促进剂M盐废水进行处理,整个系统运行过程分为污泥的培养与驯化阶段及稳定运行阶段。在稳定运行阶段COD0平均去除率达90．71％,氨氮平均去除率达78．31％。以Mn^2＋、Fe^2＋、Mg^2＋、Ni^2＋为4个影响因子,通过正交实验分析无机离子对橡胶促进剂M盐废水中有机物降解的促进作用。由实验数据的摄差大小可知,各无机离子对优势复合菌降解橡胶有机废水的影响从大到小依次为：Mn^2＋、Fe^2＋、Ni^2＋和Mg^2＋。4种离子最佳质量浓度组合为：0．500mg／L的Mn^2＋、1．00mg／L的Fe^2＋、35．0mg／L的Mg^2＋和0．025mg／L的Ni^2＋。     

大气氟化物对橡胶树的伤害实验研究

通过熏气模拟试验研究氟化氢气体对橡胶盆栽幼苗的影响。结果表明 :熏气后 ,橡胶苗出现典型受害症状 ,熏气浓度越高 ,受害越严重 ,叶片氟的积累量也越高。幼叶总是先于老叶受害 ,老叶对于氟的累积量高于幼叶 ;随着熏气浓度升高 ,电导率明显增加 ;熏气后 ,气孔发生变形 ,而且熏气浓度越高 ,变形越厉害 ;随叶片受害程度加大 ,叶片失绿 ,叶绿素含量降低。     

高含盐水样中悬浮物的准确测定

通过理论分析和大量实验工作，找出了现行国家标准的悬浮物测定方法在测定高含盐污水时的不足之处，并且提出了准确的测定方法。新方法不仅能很好地反映水样的实际状况，而且可以推广应用于各种复杂水样的悬浮物的测定。     

胶布热空气连续硫化废气的焚烧处理

比较了胶布热空气连续硫化废气的几种处理方法，认为焚烧法是最有效的处理方法，并对应用该法处理废气的工艺原理、主要设备、余热回收是焚烧过程中诮注意的事项作了较详尽的阐述。