Nitrate removal from aqueous solutions by magnetic cationic hydrogel: Effect of electrostatic adsorption and mechanism

Excessive nitrate(NO_3~-) is among the most problematic surface water and groundwater pollutants.In this study,a type of magnetic cationic hydrogel(MCH) is employed for NO_3~-adsorption and well characterized herein.Its adsorption capacity is considerably pHdependent and achieves the optimal adsorption(maximum NO_3~--adsorption capacity is95.88±1.24 mg/g) when the pH level is 5.2-8.8.The fitting result using the homogeneous surface diffusion model indicates that the surface/film diffusion controls the adsorption rate,and NO_3~-approaches the center of MCH particles within 30 min.The diffusion coefficient(D_s) and external mass transfer coefficient(k_F) in the liquid phase are1.15 × 10~(-6) cm~2/min and 4.5 × 10~(-6) cm/min,respectively.The MCH is employed to treat surface water that contains 10 mg/L of NO_3~-,and it is found that the optimal magnetic separation time is 1.6 min.The high-efficiency mass transfer and magnetic separation of MCH during the adsorption-regeneration process favors its application in surface water treatment.Furthermore,the study of the mechanism involved reveals that both-N~+(CH_3)_3 groups and NO_3~-are convoluted in adsorption via electrostatic interactions.It is further found that ion exchange between NO_3~-and chlorine occurs.     

阳离子聚丙烯酰胺复配钠基膨润土处理模拟苯酚废水

将阳离子聚丙烯酰胺与钠基膨润土进行复配,制备出复合吸附剂,并将其用于模拟苯酚废水的处理。采用XRD和FTIR技术对复配前后的钠基膨润土进行了表征。表征结果显示:阳离子聚丙烯酰胺附着在钠基膨润土的表面,对钠基膨润土的表面具有改性作用,使其由亲水性变为疏水性。实验结果表明:在阳离子聚丙烯酰胺与钠基膨润土的复配比例为200 mg/g、反应时间为40 min、复合吸附剂投加量为6 g/L、废水p H为11的最佳条件下,于25℃处理苯酚质量浓度为50 mg/L的模拟苯酚废水,苯酚去除率达89.5%。     

不同类型清水剂处理油田含聚污水的效果对比

考察了阳离子型CWC-14、非离子型NQS-01和阴离子型AQS-08 3类清水剂对油田含聚污水的处理效果,对比了它们的作用特点和絮体性能。实验结果表明:在清水剂加入量350 mg/L、处理温度65℃、搅拌转速300 r/min、搅拌时间5 min的条件下,CWC-14、NQS-01和AQS-08对含聚污水的除油率分别为98.8%、98.0%和99.4%;NQS-01受处理温度、搅拌条件影响较大;CWC-14受污水中聚合物质量浓度影响最大。清水剂的絮体特点与其作用机理有关,CWC-14的絮凝速率最快,起效时间最短,絮体呈黏性大块状;NQS-01的絮凝速率最慢,起效时间最长,絮体呈浮油状;AQS-08的絮凝速率和起效时间适中,絮体呈松散状、流动性好。对比结果表明,非阳离子型清水剂可有效避免油田含聚污水处理过程中的黏性油泥问题。     

Quantifying Purported Competition with Individual‐ and Population‐Level Metrics

Abstract: Competitive species interactions may contribute to population declines. Purportedly, Red‐bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus), a common species, and Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis), an endangered species, compete for roosting and nesting cavities in living pine trees. To determine whether behavioral interactions measured at the individual level manifest themselves at the population level, we conducted field experiments designed to test whether the presence of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers resulted in a decrease in fitness to Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers. As part of a 4‐year study examining the nature of interspecific interactions in two populations of Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers (one stable, the Apalachicola Ranger District; one declining, the Wakulla Ranger District) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida, we conducted a set of Red‐bellied Woodpecker removal experiments. Paradoxically, following the removal of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers, we observed decreases in Red‐cockaded Woodpecker group size, proportion of nests that were successful, and proportion of individuals remaining on territories. Removal of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers may have exaggerated the immigration rate of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers to Red‐cockaded Woodpecker territories. The Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers in the Apalachicola Ranger District likely can withstand pressure from immigrating Red‐bellied Woodpeckers given that their population has remained relatively stable despite the presence of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers. A major factor of population persistence in the Wakulla Ranger District was the high turnover rate of adult female Red‐cockaded Woodpeckers, a phenomenon that was exacerbated by removal of Red‐bellied Woodpeckers. Relying solely on observations of apparently competitive interactions between individuals may not necessarily provide information about population‐level outcomes. Paradoxically, removing species that appear to be competitors may harm species of concern.     

Setting Practical Conservation Priorities for Birds in the Western Andes of Colombia

We aspired to set conservation priorities in ways that lead to direct conservation actions. Very large‐scale strategic mapping leads to familiar conservation priorities exemplified by biodiversity hotspots. In contrast, tactical conservation actions unfold on much smaller geographical extents and they need to reflect the habitat loss and fragmentation that have sharply restricted where species now live. Our aspirations for direct, practical actions were demanding. First, we identified the global, strategic conservation priorities and then downscaled to practical local actions within the selected priorities. In doing this, we recognized the limitations of incomplete information. We started such a process in Colombia and used the results presented here to implement reforestation of degraded land to prevent the isolation of a large area of cloud forest. We used existing range maps of 171 bird species to identify priority conservation areas that would conserve the greatest number of species at risk in Colombia. By at risk species, we mean those that are endemic and have small ranges. The Western Andes had the highest concentrations of such species—100 in total—but the lowest densities of national parks. We then adjusted the priorities for this region by refining these species ranges by selecting only areas of suitable elevation and remaining habitat. The estimated ranges of these species shrank by 18–100% after accounting for habitat and suitable elevation. Setting conservation priorities on the basis of currently available range maps excluded priority areas in the Western Andes and, by extension, likely elsewhere and for other taxa. By incorporating detailed maps of remaining natural habitats, we made practical recommendations for conservation actions. One recommendation was to restore forest connections to a patch of cloud forest about to become isolated from the main Andes. Establecimiento de Prioridades Prácticas para la Conservación de Aves en los Andes Occidentales de Colombia     

Pyrimethanil Residues on Table Grapes Italia after Field Treatment

Residues of the pyrimidine fungicide pyrimethanil [N-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2yl)aniline] were determined in table grapes “Italia” by gas chromatography nitrogen-phosphorus detector (GC-NPD). Pesticides were extracted from grapes with ethyl acetate and hexane solution (1:1 v/v), and were analyzed without any further clean up. Pyrimethanil was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fitted with a diode array detector (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the select ion-monitoring mode (SIM). The residue of pyrimethanil was under the legal limit immediately after treatment, and showed a half-life time, calculated as a reaction of pseudo first order, of 12 days, with a regression coefficient of 0.9954. Recoveries from fortified grapes ranged between 90 and 113% with a maximum coefficient of variation (CV) of 11%. The calculated limits of detection and quantitation for pyrimethanil were 0.005 and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively.     

Innovative combined technique for high concentration of azo dye AR18 wastewater treatment using modified SBR and enhanced Fenton process as post treatment

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the performance of combined biological/advanced oxidation process (AOP) system for treatment of wastewater containing high concentration (500 mg/L) of azo dye Acid Red 18 (AR18). Two alternating anaerobic–aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBR1 and SBR2 without and with external feeding at the beginning of aeration cycle, respectively) were operated. The effluent of the SBRs was then post treated through enhanced Fenton process (using zero-valent iron combined with ultrasonic irradiation). More than 90% and 97% of COD was removed in the combined SBR/AOP system without external carbon source (CTS1) and with external feeding (CTS2), respectively. The analysis of dye and its metabolites using UV–vis and HPLC analysis also proved that 99% of the original dye was decolorized and more than 89% of its metabolites were degraded through CST2 which is significantly higher than the reported values in the literature. Besides, more than 87% of phosphorus removal efficiency was obtained in CST2 compared to only 54.5% removal efficiency in CST1. Regarding the findings of this study, the proposed combined treatment system (CTS2) can be suggested as an effective technique for treatment of high azo dye AR18 concentration wastewater.     

北京市水资源管理“三条红线”指标体系与评价方法

为将最严格的水资源管理制度落到实处,实现制度的可量化和可操作化,论文构建了水资源管理“三条红线”指标体系,分阶段与国家“五年规划”同步实施,并提出“三条红线”评价方法。然后以北京市为例,预测其2015 年“三条红线”控制指标的目标值;在此基础上对北京市各区县2011 年的水资源管理“三条红线”进行评价,并对达标情况进行分级。最后,分别给出各区县水务管理改进重点和方案。房山区和大兴区为5 级区,总量控制、效率控制和污染控制均需加强;城六区为4 级区,总量控制和效率控制是管理重点;通州区和昌平区为3 级区,需要加强污染控制;门头沟区、顺义区和延庆县为2 级区,水资源管理重点各不相同;怀柔区、平谷区和密云县为1 级区。     

Visitor Perceptions and the Shifting Social Carrying Capacity of South Sinai’s Coral Reefs

To investigate how the perceptions and behaviour of visitors to coral reefs are influenced by their prior experience and knowledge of marine life, a questionnaire-based study was undertaken at sites in the Ras Mohammed National Park and at Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt. It was evident that over the 10–20 years during which these reefs have deteriorated (mainly due to reef-flat trampling), there have been interrelated shifts in the nature of visitors making use of them. First, there has been a shift from experienced divers and snorkellers to inexperienced snorkellers and non-snorkellers with a poorer knowledge of reef biology. Second, there has been a shift in the predominant nationalities of visitors, from German and British, through Italian, to Russian. More recent user groups both stated and showed that they had less experience of snorkelling; they also showed less knowledge of marine life and less interest in learning about it. Visitor perceptions of both the state of the marine life on the reefs and the acceptability of current visitor numbers also varied between groups. More recent visitor groups and visitors with less knowledge were more satisfied with reef health. In general, however, visitor perceptions of reef health did not correlate well with actual reef conditions, probably because more experienced visitors preferred less impacted sites with which they were nevertheless less satisfied than inexperienced visitors at heavily impacted sites. More recent visitor groups were also less bothered by crowding on the shore or in the water. Consequently, the apparent “social carrying capacity” of sites seems to be increasing to a level well above the likely “ecological carrying capacity”.     

Proliferating Principles; Or How to Sup with the Devil without Getting Eaten

The international humanitarian system is seen by many to be in crisis. The reasons for this are complex but include the perception held by many that there is an increasing ambivalence on the part of powerful states to invest military, political and financial resources in upholding humanitarian principles, and a growing feeling that much humanitarian action both ignores human rights issues and can prolong conflict. As a result, much attention has focused on the notion of 'humanitarian principles' and there has been a proliferation of statements and initiatives on this topic in recent years.