Ultraviolet absorbance as a proxy for total dissolved mercury in streams

Stream water samples were collected over a range of hydrologic and seasonal conditions at three forested watersheds in the northeastern USA. Samples were analyzed for dissolved total mercury (THg_d), DOC concentration and DOC composition, and UV₂₅₄ absorbance across the three sites over different seasons and flow conditions. Pooling data from all sites, we found a strong positive correlation of THg_d to DOC (r² = 0.87), but progressively stronger correlations of THg_d with the hydrophobic acid fraction (HPOA) of DOC (r² = 0.91) and with UV₂₅₄ absorbance (r² = 0.92). The strength of the UV₂₅₄ absorbance-THg_d relationship suggests that optical properties associated with dissolved organic matter may be excellent proxies for THg_d concentration in these streams. Ease of sample collection and analysis, the potential application of in-situ optical sensors, and the possibility for intensive monitoring over the hydrograph make this an effective, inexpensive approach to estimate THg_d flux in drainage waters.     

三氯生在碳纳米管上的吸附

药品和个人护理用品(PPCPs)已成为一个引起广泛关注的新的环境问题。采用碳纳米管（CNTs）对水溶液中的三氯生进行吸附处理,考察了碳纳米管粒径及用量、温度、pH、振荡时间等因素对三氯生去除率的影响。研究结果表明,碳纳米管能快速吸附水中的三氯生,粒径较小的碳纳米管可获得较高的三氯生去除率;低温有利于吸附反应的进行;pH在6.5～7.0时,三氯生的去除率可达97%。三氯生在碳纳米管上的吸附可以很好地用Langmuir和Freundlich吸附等温方程进行描述。     

木棉基活性炭纤维吸附性能的研究

采用浸渍(NH₄)₂HPO₄化学活化法650℃时制备得到3种新型木棉基活性炭纤维,即只浸渍不预氧化方法处理的AK1(activated kapok),先浸渍后预氧化的AK-2和先预氧化后浸渍的AK-3。利用制备得到的活性炭纤维处理苯酚和亚甲基蓝的模拟废水,AK-2具有苯酚最大吸附量(137.00 mg/g),AK-1具有亚甲基蓝最大吸附量(274.11 mg/g)。吸附苯酚时,在静态平衡实验中,更符合Freundlich吸附等温线;在动力学实验中,更符合准一级反应。吸附亚甲基蓝时,在静态平衡实验中,AK-1更符合Langmuir模型,AK-2 、AK-3更符合Freundlich吸附等温线;在动力学实验中,更符合准二级反应。     

污泥活性炭强化SBR法处理垃圾渗滤液的实验研究

为了进一步处理垃圾渗滤液,试验采用污泥活性炭强化序批式间歇反应器（SBR）法进行处理,通过对比普通SBR法试验,得出投加污泥活性炭强化SBR法处理垃圾渗滤液的效果要远远高于普通SBR法。当污泥活性炭的投加量为1.2 g/L,容积负荷为0.5～1.5 kg BOD₅/(m³·d)时,进水1 h,曝气10 h,沉淀1.5 h,闲置1.5 h,处理效果最好,COD的去除率达到了85%,NH³-N的去除率达到了90%。     

固定化假单胞菌降解油烟废气的研究

将从受油烟废气污染严重的土壤中分离筛选的具有较强降解油烟能力的假单胞菌利用活性炭为填料吸附固定后制成填料床生物反应器。实验考察了进气浓度、气体流量、气体停留时间、容积负荷等对油烟去除率的影响,初步研究了生物反应器的抗冲击能力。结果表明,活性炭填料对菌体具有良好的吸附能力,当油烟进气浓度小于100 mg/L,气体流速小于8 L/h,停留时间大于30 s,容积负荷为2.6～18.9 g油烟废气/(m³·h),生物反应器的降解效率可达到95%以上,且活性炭填料床反应器具有较强的抗冲击能力。     

Batch sorption dynamics and equilibrium for the removal of lead ions from aqueous phase using activated carbon developed from coffee residue activated with zinc chloride

Lignocellulosic materials are good precursors for the production of activated carbon. In this work, coffee residue has been used as raw material in the preparation of powder activated carbon by the method of chemical activation with zinc chloride for the sorption of Pb(II) from dilute aqueous solutions.The influence of impregnation ratio (ZnCl₂/coffee residue) on the physical and chemical properties of the prepared carbons was studied in order to optimize this parameter. The optimum experimental condition for preparing predominantly microporous activated carbons with high pore surface area (890 m²/g) and micropore volume (0.772 cm³/g) is an impregnation ratio of 100%. The developed activated carbon shows substantial capability to sorb lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions and for relative impregnation ratios of 75 and 100%, the maximum uptake is practically the same. Thus, 75% represents the optimal impregnation ratio.Batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of the main parameters such as contact time, initial concentration of Pb(II), solution pH, ionic strength and temperature. The maximum uptake of lead(II) at 25 °C was about 63 mg/g of adsorbent at pH 5.8, initial Pb(II) concentration of 10 mg/L, agitation speed of 200 rpm and ionic strength of 0.005 M. The kinetic data were fitted to the models of pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order, and follow closely the pseudo-second order model. Equilibrium sorption isotherms of Pb(II) were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The Freundlich model gives a better fit than the others.Results from this study suggest that activated carbon produced from coffee residue is an effective adsorbent for the removal of lead from aqueous solutions and that ZnCl₂ is a suitable activating agent for the preparation of high-porosity carbons.     

活性炭在膜生物反应器中的应用研究进展

活性炭是一种非常优良的吸附剂,具有物理吸附和化学吸附的双重特性。本文介绍了近年来向膜生物反应器中投加活性炭的应用研究进展,表明投加活性炭可以提高膜生物反应器的处理效果,同时对改善膜污染有很好的效果。     

Ru/γ-Al_2O_3和Ru/AC催化剂的制备及其对氨氧化反应的催化性能

分别以γ-Al_2O_3和活性炭(AC)为载体,采用浸渍法制备了Ru质量分数均为2.0%的Ru/γ-Al_2O_3和Ru/AC催化剂,并用X射线衍射仪和透射电子显微镜等方法对催化剂结构进行了表征.实验结果表明:Ru/AC中Ru沉积在AC表面,分散度较低;而Ru/γ-Al_2O_3中Ru进入到γ-Al_2O_3内部,形成了一种高度分散体系.Ru/γ-Al_2O_3对氨的催化活性高于Ru/AC,氨在Ru/γ-Al_2O_3和Ru/AC上的起活温度分别为200 ℃和266 ℃,T_(90)(氨去除率达90%时的反应温度)分别为267℃和320 ℃.随混合气体空速增大,Ru/γ-Al_2O_3催化剂的T_(90)逐渐升高,气体空速分别为3 600,4 800,5 400 h~(-1)时,T_(90)分别为235,266,303 ℃.随反应前混合气体中氨质量分数增加,氨的去除率降低.     

A Note on the Use of Conservation Practices in U.S. Agriculture

This article measures the effect of an increase in productivityattributable to an increase in soil organic carbon associated with theincrease in the use of conservation practices in agriculture in theUnited States. Both the direct and indirect effects are calibrated. Theanalytical approach used consists of a dynamic computable generalequilibrium model composed of 14 producing sectors, 10 consumingsectors, seven household categories classified by income, and agovernment. The results suggest that the impact of a change inproductivity is an increase in output over a six year period starting in1998 in field crops. The most significant impact is felt in thelivestock sector. This is because field crops are a major input in theproduction of livestock. The food processing sector also exhibits arelatively large increase because of the increase in inputs of both fieldcrops and livestock. Manufacturing output increases primarily becauseoverall investment rises and most investment utilizes manufacturinggoods. The other producing sectors are generally unaffected by theincrease in agricultural production due to an increase in soil organiccarbon. Coincident with the increase in the production of field cropsis a relatively large decrease in the price of field crops. Othernoticeable price reductions occur in the livestock sector and the foodprocessing sector. For the consuming sectors, the consumption offood and alcohol and tobacco increase but consumption in all of theother sectors remains basically unchanged. Prices in the food andalcohol and tobacco sectors decline by about 1% while theprices in the other sectors remain static. Household welfare increasesin the aggregate by only 0.1% with this increase occurringuniformly across all household categories. Revenue received by thegovernment increases a modest 2% in response to an increase inoutput and, hence, an increase in taxes paid. The results indicate thatthere are significant production benefits for several sectors that can berealized by an increase in the use of conservation practices inagricultural production which, in turn, enhances soil organic carbon.There are a number of policy options available to promote the use ofconservation practices. These include education and technicalassistance, financial assistance, research and development, landretirement, and regulation and taxes.     

Soil and vegetation carbon stocks in Brazilian Western Amazonia: relationships and ecological implications for natural landscapes

The relationships between soils attributes, soil carbon stocks and vegetation carbon stocks are poorly know in Amazonia, even at regional scale. In this paper, we used the large and reliable soil database from Western Amazonia obtained from the RADAMBRASIL project and recent estimates of vegetation biomass to investigate some environmental relationships, quantifying C stocks of intact ecosystem in Western Amazonia. The results allowed separating the western Amazonia into 6 sectors, called pedo-zones: Roraima, Rio Negro Basin, Tertiary Plateaux of the Amazon, Javari-Juruá-Purus lowland, Acre Basin and Rondonia uplands. The highest C stock for the whole soil is observed in the Acre and in the Rio Negro sectors. In the former, this is due to the high nutrient status and high clay activity, whereas in the latter, it is attributed to a downward carbon movement attributed to widespread podzolization and arenization, forming spodic horizons. The youthful nature of shallow soils of the Javari-Juruá-Purus lowlands, associated with high Al, results in a high phytomass C/soil C ratio. A similar trend was observed for the shallow soils from the Roraima and Rondonia highlands. A consistent east–west decline in biomass carbon in the Rio Negro Basin sector is associated with increasing rainfall and higher sand amounts. It is related to lesser C protection and greater C loss of sandy soils, subjected to active chemical leaching and widespread podzolization. Also, these soils possess lower cation exchangeable capacity and lower water retention capacity. Zones where deeply weathered Latosols dominate have a overall pattern of high C sequestration, and greater than the shallower soils from the upper Amazon, west of Madeira and Negro rivers. This was attributed to deeper incorporation of carbon in these clayey and highly pedo-bioturbated soils. The results highlight the urgent need for refining soil data at an appropriate scale for C stocks calculations purposes in Amazonia. There is a risk of misinterpreting C stocks in Amazonia when such great pedological variability is not taken into account.