Synthesis, characterization and application of Lagerstroemia speciosa embedded magnetic nanoparticle for Cr(VI) adsorption from aqueous solution

Lagerstroemia speciosa bark (LB) embedded magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ salt solution with ammonia and LB for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution. The native LB, magnetic nanoparticle (MNP), L. speciosa embedded magnetic nanoparticle (MNPLB) and Cr(VI) adsorbed MNPLB particles were characterized by SEM–EDX, TEM, BET-surface area, FT-IR, XRD and TGA methods. TEM analysis confirmed nearly spherical shape of MNP with an average diameter of 8.76 nm and the surface modification did not result in the phase change of MNP as established by XRD analysis, while led to the formation of secondary particles of MNPLB with diameter of 18.54 nm. Characterization results revealed covalent binding between the hydroxyl group of MNP and carboxyl group of LB particles and further confirmed its physico-chemical nature favorable for Cr(VI) adsorption. The Cr(VI) adsorption on to MNPLB particle as an adsorbent was tested under different contact time, initial Cr(VI) concentration, adsorbent dose, initial pH, temperature and agitation speed. The results of the equilibrium and kinetics of adsorption were well described by Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order model, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters suggest spontaneous and endothermic nature of Cr(VI) adsorption onto MNPLB. The maximum adsorption capacity for MNPLB was calculated to be 434.78 mg/g and these particles even after Cr(VI) adsorption were collected effortlessly from the aqueous solution by a magnet. The desorption of Cr(VI)-adsorbed MNPLB was found to be more than 93.72% with spent MNPLB depicting eleven successive adsorption–desorption cycles.     

Enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency by in situ fabrication of BiOBr/BiVO4 surface junctions

Surface junctions between Bi OBr and BiVO_4 were synthesized. The BiOBr/BiVO_4 with 1 wt.%of Bi OBr exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity in the degradation of Rh B under visible-light irradiation. It was found that the highly efficient adsorption of Rh B molecules via the electrostatic attraction between Br-and cationic \N(Et)_2 group played a key role for the high photocatalytic activities of BiOBr/BiVO_4. This efficient adsorption promoted the N-deethylation of Rh B and thus accelerated the photocatalytic degradation of Rh B.Moreover, the metal-to-metal charge transfer(MMCT) mechanism was proposed, which revealed the concrete path paved with Bi–O–Bi chains for the carrier migration in BiOBr/BiVO_4. The interaction between photoexcited Rh B* and the Bi~(3+) in BiVO_4 provided the driving force for the migration of photo-generated carriers along the Bi–O–Bi chains. This work has not only demonstrated the important role of efficient adsorption in the photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants, but also developed a facile strategy to improve the efficiency of photocatalysts.     

Synthesis of a novel illite@carbon nanocomposite adsorbent for removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater

A novel illite@carbon (I@C) nanocomposite adsorbent has been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal carbonization process (HTC) using glucose as carbonaceous source and illite as the carrier. The morphology, microstructure and surface properties of the prepared nanocomposite adsorbent were analyzed by FESEM, TGA, XRD, FT-IR and Zeta potential measurements. Batch experiments were carried out on the adsorption of Cr(VI) to determine the adsorption properties of the composite. The adsorption of Cr(VI) onto the I@C nanocomposite was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. Compared with the illite and carbon material (SC) separately, the prepared I@C nanocomposite adsorbent exhibited enhanced adsorption performance for Cr(VI) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 149.25 mg/g, which was higher than that of most reported adsorbents. In addition, the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic based on the adsorption thermodynamics study. The adsorption of Cr(VI) by I@C was highly pH-dependent and the optimum adsorption occurred at pH 2.0. The Zeta potential analysis results indicated that the electrostatic interactions between anionic Cr(VI) and the positively charged surface of the adsorbent might be critical to the adsorption mechanism. This study demonstrated that the I@C nanocomposite should be a promising candidate for a low-cost, environmental friendly and highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of toxic Cr(VI) from wastewater.     

Complex interplay between formation routes and natural organic matter modification controls capabilities of C60 nanoparticles (nC60) to accumulate organic contaminants

Accumulation of organic contaminants on fullerene nanoparticles (nC₆₀) may significantly affect the risks of C₆₀ in the environment. The objective of this study was to further understand how the interplay of nC₆₀ formation routes and humic acid modification affects contaminant adsorption of nC₆₀. Specifically, adsorption of 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene (a model nonionic, hydrophobic organic contaminant) on nC₆₀ was greatly affected by nC₆₀ formation route – the formation route significantly affected the aggregation properties of nC₆₀, thus affecting the available surface area and the extent of adsorption via the pore-filling mechanism. Depending on whether nC₆₀ was formed via the “top-down” route (i.e., sonicating C₆₀ powder in aqueous solution) or “bottom-up” route (i.e., phase transfer from an organic solvent) and the type of solvent involved (toluene versus tetrahydrofuran), modification of nC₆₀ with Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA) could either enhance or inhibit the adsorption affinity of nC₆₀. The net effect depended on the specific way in which SRHA interacted with C₆₀ monomers and/or C₆₀ aggregates of different sizes and morphology, which determined the relative importance of enhanced adsorption from SRHA modification via preventing C₆₀ aggregation and inhibited adsorption through blocking available adsorption sites. The findings further demonstrate the complex mechanisms controlling interactions between nC₆₀ and organic contaminants, and may have significant implications for the life-cycle analysis and risk assessment of C₆₀.     

Fe3O4/CeO2复合材料催化降解橙黄G的效能及降解途径

为研究磁性纳米Fe₃O₄/CeO₂复合材料在高浓度难降解有机废水处理中的应用,利用共沉淀法制备Fe₃O₄/CeO₂复合材料,并将其作为非均相类Fenton催化剂降解橙黄G染料废水,利用单因素法优化出最佳降解工艺,同时利用TOF-MS/MS(飞行时间质谱)检测降解中间产物,推测出可能降解途径.结果表明,当Ce/Fe为1 :1(质量比)时制备的Fe₃O₄/CeO₂复合材料催化效果最佳.最佳降解工艺条件:初始pH为2.0,温度为30 ℃,H₂O₂投加量为30 mmol/L,Fe₃O₄/CeO₂复合材料的投加量为2.0 g/L,初始ρ(橙黄G)为50 mg/L.在最佳降解工艺条件下反应120 min后,橙黄G去除率为96.2%,TOC去除率为65.0%,Fe₃O₄/CeO₂复合材料至少可重复利用6次.研究显示,橙黄G降解主要有三条可能的降解途径,包括偶氮键断裂、偶氮键与苯环断开、脱磺酸基、羟基化以及开环等过程,共检测出八种可能的降解中间产物,主要有苯胺、苯酚、萘酚以及羧酸等.      

海洋厌氧氨氧化菌的富集培养及其脱氮特性

采用ASBR厌氧氨氧化反应器,通过接种胶州湾底泥,研究了海洋厌氧氨氧菌的富集培养及其脱氮特性.实验结果表明:海洋厌氧氨氧化菌的富集培养可分为4个阶段:菌体自溶期(1~15 d)、迟滞期(16~152 d)、活性提高期(153~183 d)与稳定运行期(184~192 d).与淡水厌氧氨氧化相比,其迟滞期(137 d)较长,活性提高期(30 d)较短,对基质浓度与HRT的变化更敏感,且由进出水导致的菌活性延迟时间为5 h,远长于淡水厌氧氨氧化菌,因此海洋厌氧氨氧化菌对新环境的适应能力更弱,更难富集培养.经过192 d运行,对NH_4~+-N与NO-2-N的去除率分别达到96.98%与95.66%,三氮转化比n(NH_4~+-N)∶n(NO-2-N)∶n(NO-3-N)为1∶(1.2±0.2)∶(0.22±0.06),接近理论比(1∶1.32∶0.26),NRRNH_4~+-N升至0.080 kg·(m~3·d)-1,海洋厌氧氨氧化菌活性显著提高,这标志着海洋厌氧氨氧化菌富集成功.反应器运行过程中,污泥逐渐由黑色泥状变为砖红色颗粒状,扫描电镜观察,该砖红色颗粒为表面光滑,排列紧密、有类似火山口形状的球状菌相互黏聚而成的菌团.     

活性污泥胞外聚合物的组成与结构特点及环境行为

在活性污泥处理系统中,微生物大多以污泥絮体的形式悬浮在水中。胞外聚合物(EPS)作为污泥絮体的重要组成部分,以其独特的聚合结构和化学组成,在污水生物处理系统中起到重要作用。为了更好的描述EPS的环境行为,文章综合了近年来国内外相关的研究成果,首先分析了EPS的来源、化学组成及结构分布,得出EPS中包含蛋白质、多糖、腐殖酸、核酸、糖醛酸及脂类大分子等化学物质,其中蛋白质和多糖之和占总有机物含量的70%~80%;在结构上,EPS分为SB-EPS、LB-EPS和TB-EPS,三者与细胞结合的紧密程度递增,其中所含化学成分比例的不同将使其具有不同的理化特性。其次,文章对EPS的理化特征对污水处理系统的影响,如对系统中微生物降解特性的影响、磷和重金属的吸附等进行了讨论,并总结了EPS中相关的官能团对上述环境行为的贡献。同时,文章还论述了EPS中官能团的亲疏水特性及化学成分对污泥絮体的脱水性、絮凝沉降性能的影响。     

基于DEA方法的浙江省市级环境效率评估研究

采用数据包络分析(DEA)方法对浙江省11个地市2005年-2011年的环境效率进行实证分析,同时使用tobit模型进行了环境效率与各类影响因子的回归分析.结果表明,2005年-2011年浙江省11个地市的环境效率在0.3~1范围内波动,波动幅度较大,环境效率优良的地市数量较少,且呈现总体数量下降趋势.浙中、浙南环境效率明显好于浙东北、浙西.随着环保投入产出效益的增加,浙东北、浙西环境效率一定程度提高.     

基于观测的臭氧污染研究方法

总结了国内外研究中常用的基于外场观测的臭氧污染成因分析方法。区域传输和本地生成的相对贡献以及臭氧与前体物的非线性关系是研究臭氧污染和制定控制对策的两个关键科学问题。基于对观测数据的分析,常见的量化区域传输和本地生成贡献的方法包括背景点测量法、TCEQ区域背景臭氧估算法和主成分分析区域背景臭氧估算法;用于诊断臭氧光化学生成机制的方法包括光化学指示剂比值法和基于观测的化学模型。本文对上述方法的原理和应用情况进行了总结,并对其优缺点和适用条件进行了评述,以期为环境监测资料的深入科学分析提供参考和借鉴。     

亚硝酸盐型厌氧甲烷氧化过程强化新视角:排泥及其微生物机制研究

亚硝酸盐型厌氧甲烷氧化(Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation, n-DAMO)是微生物在厌氧条件下利用甲烷还原亚硝酸盐的过程.本研究通过排泥的策略对n-DAMO过程进行强化,并比较分析了反应器中微生物的群落结构及功能微生物数量.结果发现,与对照组相比,排泥后实验组反应器的脱氮速率从17.00 mg·L~(-1)·d~(-1)提高到73.10 mg·L~(-1)·d~(-1).排泥后反应器中n-DAMO细菌的相对丰度从38.3%上升到67.7%,功能微生物的基因拷贝数由1.404×10~8 copies·g~(-1)增长到4.854×10~8 copies·g~(-1),污泥比活性提高了2.95倍.与之相反,初始反应器中其余优势微生物Unclassified_GCA004、Unclassified_Rhodocyclaceae、Unclassified_Fimbriimonadaceae与Methylosinu相对丰度分别下降为原来的27.66%、32.65%、4.35%、20.27%.结果表明,排泥可以有效地强化n-DAMO过程,同时促进功能微生物的生长,主要原因在于排泥排出了非目标微生物,使得目标微生物大量生长.本研究为强化n-DAMO过程及加快n-DAMO微生物的富集提供了一条新思路,并为进一步推动n-DAMO过程的工程应用提供了理论基础.