The influence of reducing conditions on the dissolution of a Mn-rich slag from pyrometallurgical recycling of alkaline batteries

The redox potential (Eh) is a key parameter for controlling the release of elements from solid materials. Nevertheless, this parameter is seldom taken into account during risk assessment studies within any regulatory framework. We studied the incidence of redox changes to the solid materials using two batch procedures: i) a gradient of redox conditions obtained using sodium ascorbate solutions at various concentrations; ii) N₂ bubbling in water. These experiments were performed on two Mn-rich slag samples coming from a pyrometallurgical plant that recycles alkaline batteries. Both samples differed slightly in their chemical composition and solid characterization (i.e. presence of Mn oxide) and presented different behaviours. The present study focused on the release of the main slag elements (i.e. Mn and Si) chosen as indicators of the dissolution of primary silicate phases. Solid phase analyses (SEM-EDS and XRD) were coupled with the monitoring of elements in leachates in order to understand their behaviour and the mechanisms involved. The results indicated that the solid composition plays an important role in the release mechanisms. The presence of Mn oxide enhanced the mobilization of Mn in the greatest reducing conditions (−320 ± 5 mV/SHE), to the extent that 42% of the total Mn was leached. This demonstrated the significance in studying the solid phases (using SEM-EDS and XRD) before and after any leaching experiment. From a laboratory practice point of view, it was easier to use sodium ascorbate and allowed, in our case, greater reducing conditions to be reached.     

Estimating monthly total nitrogen concentration in streams by using artificial neural network

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is a flexible and popular tool for predicting the non-linear behavior in the environmental system. Here, the feed-forward ANN model was used to investigate the relationship among the land use, fertilizer, and hydrometerological conditions in 59 river basins over Japan and then applied to estimate the monthly river total nitrogen concentration (TNC). It was shown by the sensitivity analysis, that precipitation, temperature, river discharge, forest area and urban area have high relationships with TNC. The ANN structure having eight inputs and one hidden layer with seven nodes gives the best estimate of TNC. The 1:1 scatter plots of predicted versus measured TNC were closely aligned and provided coefficients of errors of 0.98 and 0.93 for ANNs calibration and validation, respectively. From the results obtained, the ANN model gave satisfactory predictions of stream TNC and appears to be a useful tool for prediction of TNC in Japanese streams. It indicates that the ANN model was able to provide accurate estimates of nitrogen concentration in streams. Its application to such environmental data will encourage further studies on prediction of stream TNC in ungauged rivers and provide a useful tool for water resource and environment managers to obtain a quick preliminary assessment of TNC variations.     

Passive monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in urban air: a case study of Durban metropolis, South Africa

To devise and implement strategies to manage the quality of urban air, a metropolis needs air pollution data on which an air quality management plan can be formulated. Although air pollutants can come from several sources, many reports suggest that nitrogen dioxide from motor vehicle emissions is the major contributor to air pollution in cities. Since vehicles stop or move slowly through traffic intersections, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) are expected to be relatively high at these sites. Inexpensive Ogawa passive samplers were placed at selected traffic intersections in the Durban Metropolis to trap the NO(2) which was then analysed by a sensitive laboratory-based method. The data obtained by this method was compared with data from sophisticated system comprising an active sampler cum on-line chemiluminescence detector. The sampling was done over a twelve month period to cover all seasons. Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was no significant difference between the means for the two methods. This study has established that an Ogawa passive sampler may be used as an economical and reliable collector for NO(2) in ambient air under varying climatic conditions. Further, the analysis method using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer was sensitive enough to detect NO(2) at the 10-20 ppb level. The cost of the method should be well within the budgets of most municipalities and it would motivate them to develop policies to alleviate traffic congestion.     

处理BPA模拟废水的SBR工况参数对污泥有机毒性的影响研究

在处理双酚A(BPA)模拟废水的序批式活性污泥系统(SBR)反应器中,保持进水COD含量均为300 mg·L-1左右,通过改变水力停留时间HRT从12~8 h,污泥龄SRT从20~10 d,考察污泥有机毒性和其他水质指标的变化.试验分析了空白组和40 mg·L-1初始浓度BPA对照组在不同工况条件下周期末出水COD值、污泥有机毒性分布规律以及稳定期单周期内COD值和污泥有机毒性的变化趋势.结果表明,缩短水力停留时间和污泥龄有利于活性污泥降解BPA,并消减稳定期污泥的有机毒性;出水COD稳定在50 mg·L-1左右,且水相和泥相均无BPA残留.在应用PCR-DGGE技术分析SBR系统内微生物菌群多样性和不同样品间的相似性过程中,得出污泥总毒性抑制率与微生物多样性呈负相关性关系,进水成分的不同和运行参数改变是导致污泥总毒性差异的主要原因.     

Diffuse pollution: A hidden threat to the water environment of the developing world

This Special Section collects eight articles from the 16th IWA International Conference on Diffuse Pollution and Eutrophication （16th DIPCON）, which was held in Beijing on 18 to 23 August, 2013. These articles focus on the diffuse pollution problems encountered in the development process.     

太原市汾河景区浮游藻类细胞密度对氮磷的影响

为了研究太原汾河景区的水质状况并为其水质保护和水华暴发预警及防治提供依据,2012年6月至10月,对该区域8个采样点的浮游藻类细胞密度、氨氮、总氮和总磷及它们之间的关系进行了调查分析。结果表明,多数样点总氮超标,总磷相对稳定,均不超标,氮磷比变化较明显,多数采样点以7月份的细胞密度较高,下游端较上游端浮游藻类生长旺盛,污染情况也较为严重。多数采样点浮游藻类细胞密度与总氮和氮磷比呈负相关,与总磷呈正相关。     

污水生物脱氮过程中N_2O的释放途径和影响因素

为了更好地理解和掌握污水处理过程中N 2O的释放规律,结合近年来已经发表的研究结果,就传统的污水生物脱氮过程(全程硝化反硝化过程)和新型污水生物脱氮过程(同步硝化反硝化、短程硝化反硝化和厌氧氨氧化)中N2O的释放途径以及影响因素进行了综述。通过综述发现,硝化和反硝化过程均有可能导致N2O的释放,且硝化过程更易产生N2O;与传统的脱氮过程相比,同步硝化反硝化等新型脱氮过程产生N2O的概率更大;影响N2O释放的因素主要有DO浓度、NO-2浓度、进水氨氮负荷、SRT和COD/N等运行工况和细菌种类及其活性。最后,展望了该领域的研究方向。     

碳酸钙与生物炭对酸化菜地土壤持氮能力的影响

针对太湖地区稻田改种菜地后带来的土壤酸化现象,以碳酸钙与生物炭作为酸化改良剂,开展室内培养及多次淋洗模拟试验,比较两种改良剂对酸化菜地土壤持氮能力及酸化修复效果的影响.结果表明,基于碱缓冲曲线法,本试验用酸化菜地土壤每提高1个p H单位需向土壤中添加碳酸钙3.92×10-2mol·kg~(-1)或生物炭27.73 g·kg~(-1).无外源氮条件下碳酸钙添加使土壤氮矿化速率显著提高了37%,对土壤铵态氮、硝态氮含量影响不显著;生物炭添加使土壤氮矿化速率显著提高了35%~44%,且显著增加了土壤硝态氮含量42%~58%.模拟淋洗下,生物炭添加显著消减渗漏液体积24%,渗漏液氮浓度45%,显著减少氮淋失量42%~57%,而碳酸钙添加对渗漏液体积没有影响,增加了渗漏液中氮浓度,氮淋失量增加了12%~76%.淋洗后,各处理土壤p H值发生不同程度的降低,无外源氮条件下添加碳酸钙处理土壤p H值降幅最低,外源氮添加条件下生物炭添加处理降幅最低.由此可见,碳酸钙对酸化土壤修复效率较高,但在外源氮添加条件下降低了土壤持氮能力,更适用于酸化严重且需要休耕改良的菜地土壤;生物炭在维持土壤p H值的同时可以有效提高土壤矿质氮留存量,降低氮淋失,更适用于仍在高强度种植的菜地土壤.     

水力停留时间对活性炭生物转盘处理污染河水的影响

将生物转盘与活性炭网状填料相结合,进行活性炭吸附实验并采用河水直接挂膜,探究在盘片最佳转速下,不同水力停留时间对活性炭生物转盘去除NH_4~+-N、TP、高锰酸盐指数以及生物膜特性的影响.结果表明,Freundlich等温线显示活性炭对水中NH_4~+-N、TP、高锰酸盐指数有较好的吸附性能.盘片转速为3 r·min-1时,NH_4~+-N、TP、高锰酸盐指数去除率分别为86.05%、81.28%、77.09%,去除性能最佳.水力停留时间对去除NH_4~+-N、TP存在显著线性相关(R20.9)且去除率存在显著差异(P0.05),而对高锰酸盐指数不存在显著线性相关且去除率差异不显著(P0.05).HRT对生物膜活性、蛋白多糖以及S-EPS、LB-EPS、TB-EPS三维荧光峰均有影响.     

Coupled effects of methane monooxygenase and nitrogen source on growth and poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

The coupled effects of nitrogen source and methane monooxygenase(MMO) on the growth and poly-β-hydroxybutyrate(PHB) accumulation capacity of methanotrophs were explored.The ammonia-supplied methanotrophs expressing soluble MMO(s MMO) grew at the highest rate, while N_2-fixing bacteria expressing particulate MMO(p MMO) grew at the lowest rate. Further study showed that more hydroxylamine and nitrite was formed by ammonia-supplied bacteria containing p MMO, which might cause their slightly lower growth rate. The highest PHB content(51.0%) was obtained under nitrogen-limiting conditions with the inoculation of nitrate-supplied bacteria containing p MMO. Ammoniasupplied bacteria also accumulated a higher content of PHB(45.2%) with the expression of p MMO, while N_2-fixing bacteria containing p MMO only showed low PHB production capacity(32.1%). The maximal PHB contents of bacteria expressing s MMO were low, with no significant change under different nitrogen source conditions. The low MMO activity,low cell growth rate and low PHB production capacity of methanotrophs continuously cultivated with N_2 with the expression of p MMO were greatly improved in the cyclic NO_3-N_2 cultivation regime, indicating that long-term deficiency of nitrogen sources was detrimental to the activity of methanotrophs expressing p MMO.