Removal and recovery of toxic nanosized Cerium Oxide using eco-friendly Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

• Eco-friendly IONPs were synthesized through solvothermal method. • IONPs show very high removal efficiency for CeO₂ NPs i.e. 688 mg/g. • Removal was >90% in all synthetic and real water samples. • >80% recovery of CeO₂ NPs through sonication confirms reusability of IONPs. Increasing applications of metal oxide nanoparticles and their release in the natural environment is a serious concern due to their toxic nature. Therefore, it is essential to have eco-friendly solutions for the remediation of toxic metal oxides in an aqueous environment. In the present study, eco-friendly Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs) are synthesized using solvothermal technique and successfully characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM respectively) and powder X-Ray diffraction (PXRD). These IONPs were further utilized for the remediation of toxic metal oxide nanoparticle, i.e., CeO₂. Sorption experiments were also performed in complex aqueous solutions and real water samples to check its applicability in the natural environment. Reusability study was performed to show cost-effectiveness. Results show that these 200 nm-sized spherical IONPs, as revealed by SEM and TEM analysis, were magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and contained short-range crystallinity as confirmed from XRD spectra. Sorption experiments show that the composite follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Further R²>0.99 for Langmuir sorption isotherm suggests chemisorption as probable removal mechanism with monolayer sorption of CeO₂ NPs on IONP. More than 80% recovery of adsorbed CeO₂ NPs through ultrasonication and magnetic separation of reaction precipitate confirms reusability of IONPs. Obtained removal % of CeO₂ in various synthetic and real water samples was>90% signifying that IONPs are candidate adsorbent for the removal and recovery of toxic metal oxide nanoparticles from contaminated environmental water samples.     

Adsorption characteristics of ciprofloxacin onto g-MoS2 coated biochar nanocomposites

• The g-MoS₂ coated composites (g-MoS₂-BC) were synthesized. • The coated g-MoS₂ greatly increased the adsorption ability of biochar. • The synergistic effect was observed for CIP adsorption on g-MoS₂-RC700. • The adsorption mechanisms of CIP on g-MoS₂-BC were proposed. The g-MoS₂ coated biochar (g-MoS₂-BC) composites were synthesized by coating original biochar with g-MoS₂ nanosheets at 300°C(BC300)/700°C (BC700). The adsorption properties of the g-MoS₂-BC composites for ciprofloxacin (CIP) were investigated with an aim to exploit its high efficiency toward soil amendment. The specific surface area and the pore structures of biochar coated g-MoS₂ nanosheets were significantly increased. The g-MoS₂-BC composites provided more π electrons, which was favorable in enhancing the π-π electron donor-acceptor (EDA) interactions between CIP and biochar. As a result, the g-MoS₂-BC composites showed faster adsorption rate and greater adsorption capacity for CIP than the original biochar. The coated g-MoS₂ nanosheets contributed more to CIP adsorption on the g-MoS₂-BC composites due to their greater CIP adsorption capacity than the original biochar. Moreover, the synergistic effect was observed for CIP adsorption on g-MoS₂-BC700, and suppression effect on g-MoS₂-BC300. In addition, the adsorption of CIP onto g-MoS₂-BC composites also exhibited strong dependence on the solution pH, since it can affect both the adsorbent surface charge and the speciation of contaminants. It was reasonably suggested that the mechanisms of CIP adsorption on g-MoS₂-BC composites involved pore-filling effects, π-π EDA interaction, electrostatic interaction, and ion exchange interaction. These results are useful for the modification of biochar in exploiting the novel amendment for contaminated soils.     

Soil biological characteristic,nutrient contents and stoichiometry as affected by different types of remediation in a smelter-impacted soil

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate the ecological risk reductions of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) and the change of nutrient contents and stoichiometry in a smelter-impacted farmland in Guixi, Jiangxi Province, China, with ～ 800?mg Cu kg^?1 soil and 0.8?mg Cd kg^?1 soil, an three years in situ experiment was conducted. The field trial consisted of 4 ×?5?m plots in a completely randomised block design. Hydroxyapatite was added at 10?g kg^?1 soil and Sedum plumbizincicola, Elsholtzia splendens, and Pennisetum sp. were planted. Post-treatment soil and plant samples were collected annually and analysed for Cu and Cd bioaccessibility, soil carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus (C:N:P), and the stoichiometries of soil β-glucosidase (BG), N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), and acid phosphatase (AP) activity levels. The results indicated that the hydroxyapatite treatments significantly reduced Cu and Cd bioaccessibility as well as the ratio of C:P and N:P. Moreover, BG, NAG, and AP activity levels all increased relative to those in untreated soil. Plants may also influence soil BG, NAG, and AP activity. This study demonstrated that in situ Cu and Cd stabilisation by hydroxyapatite and phytoextraction is ecologically safe and can alter soil mineral nutrient ecological stoichiometry and enzyme activity.     

超声波净化石油污染土壤实验研究

为研究超声波技术处理石油污染土壤的影响因素,选取了土壤含油量、土水比、土壤类型、超声处理时间和超声功率5个因素进行了具有交互作用的正交实验,并讨论了各因素对土壤中石油污染物清除率的影响。实验结果表明超声波对土壤中石油污染物的净化效果明显,总石油烃(TPH)的清除率在23.0%到77.3%之间,土壤类型对净化效果的影响最为显著,粘土中的TPH清除率显著低于砂土。由超声空化引起的解吸作用和真空抽滤是实验过程中土壤TPH减少的主要途径。研究结果表明超声波技术用于石油污染土壤修复是可行并且有效果的。     

竹丝生物膜反应器修复校园景观水体的实验研究

以竹丝作为填料而组建的接触氧化生物膜工艺对校园景观水体进行易位修复,通过设置5个不同工况以探明竹丝载体在修复轻度污染水体的特性,研究表明:当进水CODMn、氨氮和浊度分别为7.79~24.32 mg/L、1.36~11 mg/L和0.63~33.11 NTU的情况下,其去除率分别为10.57%~74.34%、-83.33%~57.55%和20.01%~100%,不同的运行工况对修复效果的影响不显著;系统在启动后的8 d内即可形成丰富成熟的生物相,而且竹丝上的细菌主要以短杆菌为主;竹丝生物膜反应器修复后的景观水体中的活细菌数量可减少1个数量级。竹丝上的亲水性基团和良好的生物亲和性以及从竹丝上脱落下来的零散竹丝纤维是竹丝填料生物膜快速形成的基础,宏观和微观"网捕"结构是该系统能在极短时间实现高效去除浊度、有机物和细菌等高分子物质的主要原因。     

重金属污染土壤修复技术综述

土壤重金属污染是当前重要的世界性环境问题之一。随着重金属污染土壤场地日渐增多,如何安全有效地修复并利用这些受污染的土壤已成为我国急需解决的环境和社会问题。本文介绍了重金属污染土壤常用修复技术的原理、优缺点,并重点介绍了土壤淋洗修复技术,对目前淋洗剂的应用情况、作用机制进行了评价。     

Valuing environmental damage remediation and liability using value estimates for ecosystem services

The European Environmental Liability Directive aims to ensure that damaged habitats are restored where possible, but allows for complementary remediation with replacement habitat where restoration is not possible within a reasonable time. It also allows for compensatory remediation of the resource based on an assessment of environmental values in cases where there are interim social losses. This paper concurs with the argument that physical remediation without consideration of social values can fail to be equivalent to the resource that has been lost. Using, as a case study, a river in Ireland, it demonstrates that estimating social value can be challenging in practice, noting also differences between the value of environmental gains and losses. The paper argues that estimates of final ecosystem service values, including wastewater treatment costs, can provide a measure of social value and makes a case for the systematic collection of these data to inform decision-making.     

乙酸钠修复铬污染土壤的机制研究

选择乙酸钠作为农家肥中羧酸类物质的代表,在确定其对铬污染土壤修复效果的基础上,通过化学分析和红外图谱研究,探索乙酸钠与土壤中Cr(Ⅵ)之间可能存在的5种作用方式,并对其有效作用方式的机制进行研究。结果表明:乙酸钠能显著降低铬污染土壤中的Cr(Ⅵ)含量,其有效作用方式是乙酸钠和土壤中有机组分的共同作用;乙酸钠的加入使土壤有机组分中的一些不溶于水的羧酸类物质进入液相,从而促进铬污染土壤的修复。     

EDTA and HCl leaching of calcareous and acidic soils polluted with potentially toxic metals: remediation efficiency and soil impact

The environmental risk of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in soil can be diminished by their removal. Among the available remediation techniques, soil leaching with various solutions is one of the most effective but data about the impact on soil chemical and biological properties are still scarce. We studied the effect of two common leaching agents, hydrochloric acid (HCl) and a chelating agent (EDTA) on Pb, Zn, Cd removal and accessibility and on physico-chemical and biological properties in one calcareous, pH neutral soil and one non-calcareous acidic soil. EDTA was a more efficient leachant compared to HCl: up to 133-times lower chelant concentration was needed for the same percentage (35%) of Pb removal. EDTA and HCl concentrations with similar PTM removal efficiency decreased PTM accessibility in both soils but had different impacts on soil properties. As expected, HCl significantly dissolved carbonates from calcareous soil, while EDTA leaching increased the pH of the acidic soil. Enzyme activity assays showed that leaching with HCl had a distinctly negative impact on soil microbial and enzyme activity, while leaching with EDTA had less impact. Our results emphasize the importance of considering the ecological impact of remediation processes on soil in addition to the capacity for PTM removal.     

中国污染场地分类管理程序与方法研究

借鉴发达国家对污染物场地的管理方法,探索了我国污染场地分类管理的程序:从疑似污染场地的申报建档、疑似污染场地的初步调查、场地的危害分级、污染场地的详细调查、污染场地风险评估,到污染场地的治理修复,以及贯穿场地管理始终的环境监测.在上述管理程序中还缺失危害分级的方法,其他步骤已有相关技术文件支持.本文进一步构建了其中场地危害分级的方法:即根据污染源是否存在,污染物的性质、赋存状态、迁移性、含量水平,周围是否有敏感目标及其类型,分成不同的危害级别和管理级别,并实施不同的管理措施.以江苏省八家氯丹、灭蚁灵生产企业场地为例,经初步调查和危害分级,将8个场地分为3类:B类场地(有1个场地)环境介质中无超标污染物检出,但场地上的有害废弃物需要处置;C类场地(包括3个场地)局部有超标污染物检出,但场地不具备详细调查采样和修复的条件,需要对污染区进行隔离处置,以降低人体健康风险;还有D类场地(包括4个场地)需要详细采样以确定污染范围并进行风险评估.根据最后一类4个场地进一步调查评估的结果,并考虑到场地实施修复的经费、技术可行性及场地相关利益方的意见,决定优先对其中1个场地实施修复治理.