Succinate-bonded pullulan: An efficient and reusable super-sorbent for cadmium-uptake from spiked high-hardness groundwater

Chemically modified pullulan was evaluated for its sorption efficiency and selectivity to remove cadmium(Cd) from spiked high-hardness groundwater(GW). Pullulan esterified with succinic anhydride using dimethylaminopyridine showed a fairly high degree of substitution value as confirmed by1 H NMR spectroscopy. Pullulan succinate(Pull-Suc) was converted into the sodium salt(Pull-Suc-Na). The effect of contact time(5–200 min) and p H(2–8) on Cd-uptake by the sorbent(Pull-Suc-Na) was investigated. The sorbent showed more than 90% Cd-removal in first 15 min from distilled water(DW) and GW solution,respectively. Comparison of Pull-Suc-Na with other polysaccharidal sorbents suggested its high efficiency(DW 476.2 mg/g and GW 454.5 mg/g) and selectivity for the removal of Cd by an ion exchange mechanism, which is further supported by the negative Gibbs free energy values calculated from Langmuir isotherms. A Langmuir isotherm kinetic model provided the best fit for the sorption of Cd using Pull-Suc-Na. The sorbent showed a negligible decrease in Cd-uptake over three regeneration cycles. The thermal stability testing of the sorbents indicated that Pull-Suc-Na(sorbent) is more stable than Pull-Suc.     

中空玻璃受热破裂行为规律研究

研究了单层玻璃厚度为6mm,两块玻璃间距为6mm的中空玻璃的受热响应规律,分析了向火面和背火面玻璃板的表面温度、玻璃板向火面中心点处的热通量、两块玻璃的破裂时间、裂纹形态以及玻璃脱落情况等。定义玻璃边长区域范围为[-0.5L,0.5L],则玻璃首次起裂点均位于被遮蔽边上,且在[-0.25L,0.25L]的范围内。进一步研究了遮蔽方式对中空玻璃破裂行为的影响,在本实验条件下,四边遮蔽的向火面玻璃最易破裂,且左右垂直遮蔽比上下水平遮蔽情况下脱落程度严重。     

Kinetic and equilibrium characterization of uranium(VI) adsorption onto carboxylate-functionalized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-grafted lignocellulosics

This study investigated the feasibility of using a new adsorbent prepared from coconut coir pith, CP (a coir industry-based lignocellulosic residue), for the removal of uranium [U(VI)] from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent (PGCP-COOH) having a carboxylate functional group at the chain end was synthesized by grafting poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) onto CP using potassium peroxydisulphate-sodium thiosulphite as a redox initiator and in the presence of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent. IR spectroscopy results confirm the graft copolymer formation and carboxylate functionalization. XRD studies confirm the decrease of crystallinity in PGCP-COOH compared to CP, and it favors the protrusion of the functional group into the aqueous medium. The thermal stability of the samples was studied using thermogravimetry (TG). Surface charge density of the samples as a function of pH was determined using potentiometric titration. The ability of PGCP-COOH to remove U(VI) from aqueous solutions was assessed using a batch adsorption technique. The maximum adsorption capacity was observed at the pH range 4.0-6.0. Maximum removal of 99.2% was observed for an initial concentration of 25mg/L at pH 6.0 and an adsorbent dose of 2g/L. Equilibrium was achieved in approximately 3h. The experimental kinetic data were analyzed using a first-order kinetic model. The temperature dependence indicates an endothermic process. U(VI) adsorption was found to decrease with an increase in ionic strength due to the formation of outer-sphere surface complexes on PGCP-COOH. Equilibrium data were best modeled by the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters such as DeltaG(0), DeltaH(0) and DeltaS(0) were derived to predict the nature of adsorption. Adsorption experiments were also conducted using a commercial cation exchanger, Ceralite IRC-50, with carboxylate functionality for comparison. Utility of the adsorbent was tested by removing U(VI) from simulated nuclear industry wastewater. Adsorbed U(VI) ions were desorbed effectively (about 96.2+/-3.3%) by 0.1M HCl. The adsorbent was suitable for repeated use (more than four cycles) without any noticeable loss of capacity.     

Effect of Pinus radiata derived biochars on soil sorption and desorption of phenanthrene

Biochars are anthropogenic carbonaceous sorbent and their influences on the sorption of environmental contaminants need to be characterized. Here we evaluated the effect of Pinus radiata derived biochars on soil sorption and desorption of phenanthrene. Two biochars separately produced at 350 °C and 700 °C and three soils were tested. Biochar amendment generally enhanced the soil sorption of phenanthrene. The biochar produced at 700 °C generally showed a greater ability at enhancing a soil’s sorption ability than that prepared at 350 °C. The single-step desorption measurement showed an apparent hysteresis in biochar-amended soils. After 28 d equilibration, the sorptive capacity of biochar-amended soil (with an organic carbon content of 0.16%) significantly decreased. This study clearly suggested that biochar application enhanced soil sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds, but the magnitude of enhancement depended on the preparation of biochars, the indigenous soil organic carbon levels, and the contact time between soil and biochar.     

Monitoring of pathogenic microorganisms contamination during heat drying process of sewage sludge

The sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plant is a potential source of infectious organism. The number and type of pathogens in sludge depends on various factors namely, the wastewater source, the type of treatment plant, and other environmental factors such as the biological medium offered by the sewage sludge. The principal sludge-borne diseases are presented followed by discussion on biological aspect of growth and occurrence. The overall objective of this work is to estimate kinetic reduction of pathogen population in sludge during different thermal-drying process including: the agitated conductive drying, drum drying, solar drying, and fry-drying. The temperature curves were reported from literature except frying data which were determined in experiment. In order to apply the temperature influence on pathogens population, kinetic parameters for the thermal inactivation (D, z-values) were chosen from literature. Values of concentrations of each pathogen were also extracted from scientific review of pathogens in bio-solids. This study conducted to resolve the survival kinetic of Hepatitis A viruses. The result showed that a concentration of 7 × 10⁴ cfu/100 ml initially present in the sewage sludge is significantly reduced during the heat drying processes except the solar plant. The sewage sludge is completely disinfected when heated for 20 min, 10 min, and 10 s, respectively, during the agitated conductive process, vacuum fry-drying, and drum drying process.     

Ignition characteristics, conditions of criticality and disappearance of criticality of cumene hydroperoxide reaction by modeling approach

The thermal explosion problem of cumene hydroperoxide exothermic reaction which is used in chemical industries for production of some chemical materials is investigated. The analytical solutions of the problem to determine the margin between ignition and non-ignition systems are presented. The solution offers different analytical expressions which relate between the critical parameters for both steady and unsteady-states in different planes of solutions for different cases. The numerical solutions in different planes offer different trajectories of solution as sub-critical (non-ignition) and supercritical (ignition). Also from the numerical solution the relations between the critical parameters are presented. The critical behaviors from both analytical and numerical solutions are concise and pertained the same results.     

贫烟煤氧化热解反应的动力学分析

通过运用热分析的技术研究平顶山烟煤以及郑州嵩枫贫煤氧化热解反应的动力学特性.依据转化率将煤样的TG曲线划分为两个不同的温度区间进行动力学机理函数的探讨.通过对比分析整个TG曲线的氧化受热情况,将线性较好的机理函数带入DSC曲线进行分析验证,并求解出动力学参数以分析其氧化热解反应的特点.研究得出:这两种煤的氧化热解过程相似但同等条件下反应程度不同;在不同的反应阶段其化学反应级数不同并且相应过程中的TG曲线和DSC曲线反应级数一致;煤反应的活化能随着煤与氧反应过程的深入而增加,指前因子随着活化能的增加而增加且煤氧化反应过程是个分阶段的、多步反应以及相互联系促进的过程.     

气相色谱法测定有机磷农药残留的常见问题探讨

针对气相色谱法测定有机磷农药残留过程中常见的基线噪声大、活性位点吸附、热分解和基质效应等4个问题,从气相色谱仪的结构和有机磷农药的性质出发,探讨了解决办法。提出从气路故障、检测器、外部干扰等3个方面排查,降低基线噪声;正确使用玻璃衬管和色谱柱,消除活性位点;合理设置进样口和检测器温度,防止发生热分解现象;采用基质净化、基质匹配校准及加入分析保护剂的方法,避免基质效应。     

Release of methane from aerobic soil: an indication of a novel chemical natural process?

Methane (CH₄) formation under aerobic conditions has been intensely debated, especially since the discovery of CH₄ generation by both dried plant material and living plants. In this study we test the hypothesis that non-microbial CH₄ formation also occurs in soils. All lyophilised soil samples investigated under aerobic conditions released CH₄ at temperatures ranging from 30 to 70 °C exceeding that allowing normal enzymatic activity to proceed. No emissions were observed for single mineral soil components such as quartz sand, clay mineral and iron oxide. Methane release rates from the soils investigated were found to increase both with increasing temperature and higher organic carbon content. Addition of water to dried soils increased CH₄ release rates up to 8-fold those observed with the dried material. Our results suggest the existence of a chemical process in soils that produces CH₄ under aerobic conditions, a finding which has not been hitherto reported.     

Co-contamination of arsenic and fluoride in the groundwater of unconsolidated aquifers under reducing environments

The co-contamination of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F⁻) in shallow aquifers is frequently observed worldwide, and the correlations between those contaminants are different according to the redox conditions. This study geochemically explores the reasons for the co-contamination and for the redox-dependent correlations by investigating the groundwater of an alluvial aquifer in Korea. Geochemical signatures of the groundwater in the study area show that the As concentrations are enriched by the reductive dissolution of Fe-(hydr)oxides, and the correlations between As and F⁻ concentrations are poor comparatively to those observed in the oxidizing aquifers. However, F⁻ concentrations are strongly dependent on pH. Desorption/adsorption experiments using raw soils and citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite treated soils indicated that Fe-(hydr)oxides are the important As and F⁻ hosts causing the co-contamination phenomenon. The weaker correlation between F⁻ and As in reducing aquifers is likely to be associated with sulfate reduction, which removes As from groundwater without changing the F⁻ concentration.