Preparation of a metal-phosphate/chromium oxide nanocomposite from Cr(III)-containing electroplating sludge and its optical properties as a nanopigment

A nanocomposite composed of metal-phosphates and chromium oxide was prepared from a Cr(III)-containing electroplating sludge (CES) by a facile three-step (extraction–precipitation–calcination) process. Optimal process parameters were determined, and the structure of the metal-phosphate/chromium oxide nanocomposite (MPCON) was investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that the optimal extraction pH is 2.0. The MPCON presents a polyhedral morphology with average particle size of around 100 nm. The components of MPCON vary from AlPO₄/Cr₂O₃ to Mg₃(PO₄)₂/AlPO₄/Cr₂O₃ at different solution pH during precipitation. Meanwhile, the optical performance of the nanocomposite as a pigment is discussed. The reflectance of MPCON-6.5 in the near-infrared range is around 56%, making it a strong prospect to be used as a functional pigment in energy-efficient buildings. This study proposes a novel recycling process for the conversion of CES into high-value products, which is beneficial for the treatment of waste.     

Allee Effect and the Uncertainty of Population Recovery

Recovery of depleted populations is fundamentally important for conservation biology and sustainable resource harvesting. At low abundance, population growth rate, a primary determinant of population recovery, is generally assumed to be relatively fast because competition is low (i.e., negative density dependence). But population growth can be limited in small populations by an Allee effect. This is particularly relevant for collapsed populations or species that have not recovered despite large reductions in, or elimination of, threats. We investigated how an Allee effect can influence the dynamics of recovery. We used Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) as the study organism and an empirically quantified Allee effect for the species to parameterize our simulations. We simulated recovery through an individual‐based mechanistic simulation model and then compared recovery among scenarios incorporating an Allee effect, negative density dependence, and an intermediate scenario. Although an Allee effect significantly slowed recovery, such that population increase could be negligible even after 100 years or more, it also made the time required for biomass rebuilding much less predictable. Our finding that an Allee effect greatly increased the uncertainty in recovery time frames provides an empirically based explanation for why the removal of threat does not always result in the recovery of depleted populations or species. El Efecto Allee y la Incertidumbre de la Recuperación de Poblaciones     

Characterization of Shredder Residues generated and deposited in Denmark

This study presents a detailed characterization of Shredder residues (SR) generated and deposited in Denmark from 1990 to 2010. It represents approximately 85% of total Danish SR. A comprehensive sampling, size fractionation and chemical analysis was carried out on entire samples as well as on each individual size fraction. All significant elemental contents except oxygen were analyzed. The unexplained “balance” was subsequently explained by oxygen content in metal oxides, carbonates, sulphates and in organics, mainly cellulose. Using mass and calorific balance approaches, it was possible to balance the composition and, thereby, estimate the degree of oxidation of elements including metals. This revealed that larger fractions (>10 mm, 10–4 mm, 4–1 mm) contain significant amount of valuable free metals for recovery. The fractionation revealed that the >10 mm coarse fraction was the largest amount of SR being 35–40% (w/w) with a metal content constituting about 4–9% of the total SR by weight and the <1 mm fine fraction constituted 27–37% (w/w) of the total weight. The lower heat value (LHV) of SR samples over different time periods (1990–2010) was between 7 and 17 MJ/kg, declining with decreasing particle size. The SR composition is greatly dependent on the applied shredding and post shredding processes at the shredding plants causing some variations. There are uncertainties related to sampling and preparation of samples for analyses due to its heterogeneous nature and uncertainties in the chemical analyses results (≈15–25%). This exhaustive characterization is believed to constitute hitherto the best data platform for assessing potential value and feasibility of further resource recovery from SR.     

Recycling in Brazil: Challenges and prospects

This article presents a comparative analysis of the performance in formal and informal areas that deal with solid waste in Brazil. The article demonstrates that there has been significant progress in areas related to recycling and that this progress has been based mainly on informality and on the precarious labour conditions for the pickers of recyclable materials. The article also focuses on the problems found in the model for waste recovery that is being implemented in Brazil and that is based on allocation of precarious waste recovery facilities; this model has mostly small operational capabilities even in large municipalities. These problems are discussed in contrast to the great challenges imposed by the new legal framework of the country. Finally, the article proposes a categorisation of the technological models of material recovery facilities (MRFs) based on their degree of automation and nominal capacities in a manner similar to that used worldwide for incineration plants.     

EDTA对剩余污泥磷释放及MAP法磷回收影响

探究乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）的添加对剩余污泥厌氧过程中磷释放及后续鸟粪石（MAP）法磷回收的影响.根据EDTA添加量对污泥上清液中总磷（TP）、蛋白质、多糖、DNA和SCOD的影响确定了最优释磷条件,采用响应曲面法（RSM）构建MAP磷回收的二次多项式模型并验证了模型的有效性.结果表明：EDTA添加量为5mmol/L,厌氧5d时预处理效果最佳.污泥SCOD破解度（DD）和TP、DNA、蛋白质及多糖均有显著相关,其中TP相关性最强,皮尔逊相关系数为0.866.MAP磷回收的最佳工艺参数是：pH=9.5,n（Mg）：n（P）=1.6,搅拌时间22min,此时磷回收率可达95.68%,形成晶体的主要成分为磷酸铵镁（MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O）,纯度为79.19%.     

Mg2+、Ca2+对厌氧消化系统中CO2的捕获和营养盐的回收

为探究矿物碳酸化与污泥厌氧消化耦合过程中实现CO₂捕获和N/P营养盐协同回收的可行性,在污泥水解液为底物的厌氧消化系统中,研究不同比例Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺离子添加对厌氧消化系统中CO₂捕获和营养盐的协同回收效果的影响.结果表明,添加Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺离子为（20mmol/L）/（0mmol/L）、（10mmol/L）/（10mmol/L）和（0mmol/L）/（20mmol/L）均可促进有机质降解,使沼气产量分别提升16.97%、21.56%和23.99%,并使CO₂含量由27.27%分别下降至24.81%,22.06%和21.98%.不同比例Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺离子添加可使磷酸根浓度下降63.46%~66.47%,但仅Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺离子以（20mmol/L）/（0mmol/L）和（10mmol/L）/（10mmol/L）添加的实验组中氨氮浓度得到下降.XRD分析揭示,Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺离子以（20mmol/L）/（0mmol/L）、（10mmol/L）/（10mmol/L）和（0mmol/L）/（20mmol/L）添加时分别使厌氧消化系统中形成鸟粪石和碳酸镁、鸟粪石和方解石、方解石和三斜磷钙石.Mg²⁺、Ca²⁺离子等摩尔量联合添加可实现最优的CO₂捕获和营养盐协同回收效果.     

两性离子在聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)膜表面接枝改性的研究

为增强膜的亲水性,提高抗污染能力,采用原子转移自由基反应(ATRP),将甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯(HEMA)接枝到聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)膜表面;再以硝酸铈铵(CAN)为引发剂,N,N’-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(MBAA)为交联剂,通过自由基聚合反应将两性离子单体3-(甲基丙烯酰胺基)丙基-二甲基(3-硫代丙基)氢氧化铵内盐(MPDSAH)成功接枝到膜表面.采用全反射红外光谱仪(ATR-FTIR)、X射线光电子能谱仪(XPS)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)以及接触角测定仪分析了改性前后膜表面性质及结构形态变化.随接枝时间的增加,接枝密度(GD)逐渐升高,膜孔径变小,孔隙率降低,但同时膜表面亲水性明显增强.通过牛血清蛋白(BSA)吸附及过滤实验,检验PVDF膜改性前后的抗污染性能.随着GD的增加,在高浓度BSA溶液中膜表面吸附量明显减少.当GD为288.340μg·cm-2时,膜表面接触角(CA)降低最多,由原膜的77.2°降至41.7°,且在5 s内降为0,通量恢复率高达94.961%.因此,最佳接枝时间为2 h,此时接枝密度288.340μg·cm-2则是最佳接枝密度.     

铅污染事故生态环境损失评估——以台州铅蓄电池企业为例

国内铅污染事故频繁发生,造成了严重的生态环境污染和人体健康损害。通过采用市场价值法、人力资本法和恢复费用法,对铅污染的生态环境损失进行了全面评估。以台州典型的铅蓄电池企业为例进行研究,铅污染总损失为121．83万元,其中土壤修复及监测费用占77.1％;人体健康损失占18．9％;农作物种植损失占4．0％。     

低温有冰条件下吸油绳收油效率试验研究＊

总结国外试验经验的基础上,用亲油性绳式收油机中的吸油绳对-35#柴油和原油模拟在有冰的水域进行测试,试验表明了吸油绳不同长度与油和冰相对位置对收油效率的影响。该试验结果对寻求如何在冰区回收溢油有积极作用,也是溢油应急清理时选择技术方法的科学指导。