Microbial communities biostimulated by ethanol during uranium (VI) bioremediation in contaminated sediment as shown by stable isotope probing

Stable isotope probing (SIP) was used to identify microbes stimulated by ethanol addition in microcosms containing two sediments collected from the bioremediation test zone at the US Department of Energy Oak Ridge site, TN, USA. One sample was highly bioreduced with ethanol while another was less reduced. Microcosms with the respective sediments were amended with ¹³C labeled ethanol and incubated for 7 days for SIP. Ethanol was rapidly converted to acetate within 24 h accompanied with the reduction of nitrate and sulfate. The accumulation of acetate persisted beyond the 7 d period. Aqueous U did not decline in the microcosm with the reduced sediment due to desorption of U but continuously declined in the less reduced sample. Microbial growth and concomitant ¹³C-DNA production was detected when ethanol was exhausted and abundant acetate had accumulated in both microcosms. This coincided with U(VI) reduction in the less reduced sample. ¹³C originating from ethanol was ultimately utilized for growth, either directly or indirectly, by the dominant microbial community members within 7 days of incubation. The microbial community was comprised predominantly of known denitrifiers, sulfate-reducing bacteria and iron (III) reducing bacteria including Desulfovibrio, Sphingomonas, Ferribacterium, Rhodanobacter, Geothrix, Thiobacillus and others, including the known U(VI)-reducing bacteria Acidovorax, Anaeromyxobacter, Desulfovibrio, Geobacter and Desulfosporosinus. The findings suggest that ethanol biostimulates the U(VI)-reducing microbial community by first serving as an electron donor for nitrate, sulfate, iron (III) and U(VI) reduction, and acetate which then functions as electron donor for U(VI) reduction and carbon source for microbial growth.     

Optimizing synthesis conditions of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) through aqueous reactivity assessment

Nanoscale iron particles (nZVI) is one of the most important engineered nanomaterials applied to environmental pollution control and abatement. Although a multitude of synthesis approaches have been proposed, a facile method to screen the reactivity of candidate nZVI materials produced using different methods or under varying synthesis conditions has yet been established. In this study, four reaction parameters were adjusted in the preparation of borohydride-reduced nZVI. The reductive properties of the resultant nanoparticles were assayed independently using two model aqueous contaminants, Cu(II) and nitrate. The results confirm that the reductive reactivity of nZVI is most sensitive to the initial concentration of iron precursor, borohydride feed rate, and the loading ratio of borohydride to ferric ion during particle synthesis. Solution mixing speed, in contrast, carries a relative small weight on the reactivity of nZVI. The two probing reactions (i.e., Cu(II) and nitrate reduction) are able to generate consistent and quantitative inference about the mass-normalized surface activity of nZVI. However, the nitrate assay is valid in dilute aqueous solutions only (50 mg·L⁻¹ or lower) due to accelerated deactivation of iron surface at elevated nitrate concentrations. Additional insights including the structural and chemical makeup of nZVI can be garnered from Cu(II) reduction assessments. The reactivity assays investigated in this study can facilitate screening of candidate materials or optimization of nZVI production parameters, which complement some of the more sophisticated but less chemically specific material characterization methods used in the nZVI research.     

不对称还原丙酮酸乙酯菌株的筛选及鉴定

以丙酮酸乙酯为底物,从成都某化工厂污水池及其附近土壤中分离到36株可将丙酮酸乙酯不对称还原成(S)-乳酸乙酯的菌株.经过多次复筛,最终获得了一株具有较高催化活性的酵母菌BTY18-6.在以该菌株静息细胞为催化剂,催化不对称还原丙酮酸乙酯合成(S)-乳酸乙酯的反应中,底物浓度为60 mmol/L时,底物转化率为86.9%,产物(S)-乳酸乙酯的ee值为88.7%.通过对其形态学、生理生化特征及其26S rDNA Dl/D2区域的分析表明,BTY18-6为胶红酵母.     

Reduction of hexavalent chromium with scrap iron in a fixed bed reactor

The reduction of hexavalent chromium by scrap iron was investigated in continuous long-term fixed bed system. The effects of pH, empty bed contact time (EBCT), and initial Cr(VI) concentration on Cr(VI) reduction were studied. The results showed that the pH, EBCT, and initial Cr(VI) concentration significantly affected the reduction capacity of scrap iron. The reduction capacity of scrap iron were 4.56, 1.51, and 0.57 mg Cr(VI)·g^-1 Fe⁰ at pH 3, 5, and 7 (initial Cr(VI) concentration 4 mg·L^-1, EBCT 2 min, and temperature 25°C), 0.51, 1.51, and 2.85 mg Cr(VI)·g^-1 Fe⁰ at EBCTs of 0.5, 2.0, and 6.0 min (initial Cr(VI) concentration 4 mg·L^-1, pH 5, and temperature 25°C), and 2.99, 1.51, and 1.01 mg Cr(VI)·g^-1 Fe⁰ at influent concentrations of 1, 4, and 8 mg·L^-1 (EBCT 2 min, pH 5, and temperature 25°C), respectively. Fe(total) concentration in the column effluent continuously decreased in time, due to a decrease in time of the iron corrosion rate. The fixed bed reactor can be readily used for the treatment of drinking water containing low amounts of Cr(VI) ions, although the hardness and humic acid in water may shorten the lifetime of the reactor, the reduction capacity of scrap iron still achieved 1.98 mg Cr⁶⁺·g^-1 Fe. Scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersion spectrometer and X-ray diffraction were conducted to examine the surface species of the scrap iron before and after its use. In addition to iron oxides and hydroxide species, iron-chromium complex was also observed on the reacted scrap iron.     

Selective reduction of NO by photo-SCR with ammonia in an annular fixed-film photoreactor

Gaseous NO was photocatalytically reduced at room temperature by photo-assisted selective catalytic reduction (photo-SCR) with ammonia over TiO₂ in this study. NO reduction efficiency and N₂ selectivity were determined from gases composition at the outlet stream of photoreactor. Effect of operating conditions, e.g. light intensity and inlet concentrations of ammonia and oxygen, on the NO reduction efficiency and N₂ selectivity were discussed to determine the feasible operating condition for photocatalytic reduction of NO. Experimental results showed that selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia over TiO₂ in the presence of oxygen was a spontaneous reaction in dark. The photoirradiation on the TiO₂ surface caused remarkable photocatalytic reduction of NO to form N₂, NO₂, and N₂O under 254 nm UV illuminations, while almost 90% of N₂ selectivity was achieved in this study. The ammonia and oxygen molecules played the roles of reductant and oxidant for NO reduction and active sites regeneration, respectively. The reduction of NO was found to be increased with the increase of inlet ammonia and oxygen concentrations until specific concentrations because of the limited active sites on the surface of TiO₂. The kinetic model proposed in this study can be used to reasonably describe the reaction mechanism of photo-SCR.     

Fe2+EDTA溶液络合-铁还原脱除烟气中NO

提出了“Fe2 螯合剂络合-铁粉还原-酸吸收”回收法脱除烟气中NO的新工艺,重点研究了模拟烟气中O2体积分数对NO络合量的影响,以及铁粉用量、铁粉粒径、搅拌速度对NO脱除效率的影响,确定了最佳的铁粉脱氮工艺条件,并对铁粉和铁屑的脱氮效果进行了比较。结果表明,烟气中O2的体积分数从0%增加到4.2%,NO络合量下降90.2%;NO脱除效率随铁粉用量和反应器搅拌速度的增加而增加,随铁粉粒径的增加而降低;过程的最佳工艺参数为,铁粉用量0.8g,铁粉粒径≤0.077mm,搅拌速度900r·min-1,在此条件下,对O2体积分数为5%的模拟烟气在搅拌反应器中可取得90%以上的NO脱除效率;用铁粉在1台搅拌反应器中取得的NO脱除效率和用铁屑在2个鼓泡反应器串联时所取得的效率相当。     

电催化同步降解水中硝酸盐氮和有机氯化物的研究

在利用电化学反应器单独脱硝脱卤的电催化实验基础上,对电化学催化方法同步脱硝脱卤进行研究.试验采用化学沉积法负载钯-铜合金(4∶ 1)的多孔钛板作为电解反应器阴极,电解硝酸盐氮(NO-3-N)和五氯酚(PCP)的混合溶液.结果表明: PCP的脱卤效果与单独脱卤时相似,但PCP的存在对NO-3-N的还原脱除有明显影响.PCP在钯原子上的竞争性吸附抑制了NO-3-N还原反应的中间产物NO-2-N继续还原,导致在反应初期出现NO-2-N的积累;随着PCP的充分还原,前期积累的副产物NO-2-N可以逐渐被降解.分批试验和推流试验结果表明,利用多孔钛板负载的钯-铜二元合金电极,选择合适的反应参数,可有效地脱除水中的硝酸盐氮和卤代有机物.     

液相络合-铁屑还原-酸吸收回收法脱除烟气中的NOx

用"Fe2 螯合剂吸收-铁屑还原-酸吸收"回收法脱除烟气中的NOx,研究了铁屑脱硝过程的影响因素,确定了脱硝过程的合适工艺条件,并对络合脱硝溶液的再生和循环利用进行了研究.结果表明:最佳工艺参数为:络合脱硝溶液中Fe2 EDTA浓度20mmol·l-1,pH值6.0,温度65℃;在此条件下,用两个反应器串联,对O2含量为10.5%的模拟烟气可取得90%以上的脱硝效率.     

Natural gas engine driven heat pump system – a case study of an office building

ABSTRACT

An eQUEST model was developed to conduct a simulation study of a natural gas engine-driven heat pump (GEHP) for an office building in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Prior to the installation of the GEHP, the heating and cooling demands of the office building were provided by rooftop units (RTUs), comprising of natural gas heater and electric air conditioner. Energy consumption for both GEHP and RTUs were monitored for operation in alternating months. These recorded energy consumptions along with weather data were used in the regression analysis. The developed eQUEST models were validated and calibrated with the regression analysis results with respect to the ASHRAE Guideline 14–2014. The eventual models were then applied to investigate the potential annual energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and energy cost savings achieved by using the GEHP in Woodstock, and other cities in Canada, particularly in Ontario.     

工业居民混合区降尘含量的灰色GM(1,1)预测

本文采有灰色理论中的预测方法,以９０—９４年度的降尘监测数据为基础,建立了邯郸市工业居民混合区降尘含量的ＧＭ（１,１）预测模型,其数学表达式为：＾Ｘ（１）（ｋ＋１）＝５６０２９ｅ００５６４１２ｋ－５３０８３,经三种方法对模型精度检验,由模式计算的预测值与历年的实测值的平均相对误差仅为－０００８％,关联度系数γ＝０９０５,后验差比值Ｃ＝００３,模型精度为一级,经与９５年度预测值与实测值对比验证,误差２７４％,说明本模型能真实地反映该区降尘的发展变化规律,预测数据可作为制定该区降尘防治规划的依据。