In situ adsorption-catalysis system for the removal of o-xylene over an activated carbon supported Pd catalyst

An activated carbon (AC) supported Pd catalyst was used to develop a highly efficient in situ adsorption-catalysis system for the removal of low concentrations of o-xylene. In this study, three kinds of Pd/AC catalysts were prepared and tested to investigate the synergistic efficiency between adsorption and catalysis for o-xylene removal. The Pd/AC catalyst was first used as an adsorbent to concentrate dilute o-xylene at low temperature. After saturated adsorption, the adsorbed o-xylene was oxidized to CO2 and H2O by raising the temperature of the catalyst bed. The results showed that more than 99% of the adsorbed o-xylene was completely oxidized to CO2 over a 5% Pd/AC catalyst at 140℃. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) were applied to investigate the physical properties of o-xylene adsorption-desorption and the in situ adsorption-catalysis activity of the AC support and Pd/AC catalyst. A synergistic relationship between the AC support and the active Pd species for the removal of low concentrations of o-xylene was established.     

废催化剂再生后对甲基橙的吸附动力学研究

废催化剂为生产醋酸乙烯过程中产生的废弃物,经过热处理直接得到ZnO／活性炭。以ZnO／活性炭为吸附剂,进行了吸附水溶液中甲基橙（MO）实验,在优化条件下,实验浓度范围内甲基橙溶液的吸附去除率均高于97％,表明ZnO／活性炭适于吸附甲基橙。采用准二级动力学模型和粒子内扩散模型研究ZnO／活性炭对水溶液中甲基橙的吸附动力学,并计算得到动力学参数和相关系数。结果表明,两种模型较好地描述了实验数据,其吸附过程的速率控制步骤为膜扩散控制,并随溶液初始浓度的增加准二级速率常数降低,面内扩散速率常数增加。     

Influence of inoculating earthworms on removal of pyrene in soils growing Festuca arundinacea

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine the potential of inoculating earthworms (Pheretima sp.) in order to enhance phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) present in soils with the use of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). In particular, experiments with or without inoculating earthworms for removal of pyrene was investigated. Results showed that planting of F. arundinacea enhanced the removal of pyrene at initial content over 70 days approximately 54%–80% but only 12%–24% occurred in non-planted soils. After inoculating earthworms, the dissipation rates of pyrene in planted soils were increased up to 61%–86%, which was 6%–12% higher than those in corresponding soils without inoculating earthworms. Among all possible pathways, the contribution of plant--microbial interactions on removal of pyrene was predominant, either with (46%) or without inoculating earthworms (52%), is the primary mechanism of contaminant removal. Data suggest inoculating earthworms may be a feasible way for reinforcing removal of PAH in contaminated sites.     

Adsorption of caesium from aqueous solution using cerium molybdate–pan composite

In this study, a cerium molybdate–polyacrylonitrile (CM–PAN) composite ion exchanger was synthesised and its characteristics were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry (TGA), specific area measurement (BET), X-ray fluorescence and CHN elemental analyses. The adsorption of caesium from aqueous solutions by CM–PAN composite was investigated under batch and continuous conditions. The distribution coefficient of caesium on the composite sorbent was studied as a function of pH, solution temperature and the presence of interfering cations, and the optimum conditions for a batch system were determined. Pseudo-first- and second-order sorption kinetic models were used to investigate the kinetics of adsorption and the results pointed to the pseudo-second-order model for caesium sorption kinetics. The intraparticle diffusion model was used to the predict rate-limiting step of the ion exchange process in order to specify the sorption mechanism. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherm models were fitted to the experimental sorption data, where the Freundlich model showed a good agreement. The adsorption thermodynamic parameters, standard enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs’ free energy were calculated and the reaction was found to be endothermic and spontaneous. Finally, the dynamic sorption capacities of the sorbent at two breakthroughs were calculated from the continuous system.     

Zooplankton responses to hydrological and trophic variability in a Mediterranean coastal ecosystem (Lesina Lagoon,South Adriatic Sea)

Spatial and temporal variability in zooplankton was studied at eight stations located in the Lesina Lagoon (South Adriatic Sea) Salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a (in the lagoon) at these stations were also assessed. The zooplankton community was characterised by clear seasonal oscillations and mostly represented by copepods and their larvae. The dominant copepod species were Calanipeda aquaedulcis and Acartia tonsa, which exhibited spatial–temporal segregation in the lagoon. C. aquaedulcis copepodites seemed to be better adapted to oligotrophic and oligohaline conditions compared with the A. tonsa population. The invasive species A. tonsa has completely replaced the formerly abundant Acartia margalefi. A positive correlation was found between abundances, total species numbers and trophic state. An increasing abundance trend was shown from the lagoon towards the sea. The highest diversity indices were recorded at the two channel inlets, during high tide due to the absence of a clear dominance of one or more coastal species and the co-occurrence of species of lagoon and marine origin.     

Study on particulate and metallic elements variation at daytime and nighttime period in urban atmosphere

Daily PM_2.5, PM_2.5–10 and TSP have been collected by Universal and PS‐1 sampler simultaneously at a site within Taichung between February and March 1999. The filters were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the elemental analysis of Ca, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr. In general, the concentration of these metallic elements are higher in fine particles than in coarse particles. On average, PM₁₀ accounted for 67% of the TSP at daytime, while at nighttime PM₁₀ accounted for only 44% of the TSP. For PM_2.5, PM₂._5–10 and TSP concentrations, there were no significant differences between day and night period. The averaged concentrations of metallic elements in PM_2.5 at daytime were all higher than that at nighttime. Ca, Fe and Zn have large and variable PM_2.5 concentrations at both daytime and nighttime. For the daytime Zn and Pb account for the largest portion of the heavy metal elements. For the nighttime, Zn and Cr make the largest portion of the heavy metal elements. The concentrations of Mn were higher on fine particulates. The trace metals Cu and Cr in Taichung are probably due to particulates emitted by Taichung Fire Power Plants transported into the sampling area by the prevailing northwesterly wind.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of a Fe3O4–AgCl nanocomposite against Escherichia coli

In this investigation, Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by the alkalinization of an aqueous medium containing ferrous sulfate and ferric chloride. In the next step, a Fe₃O₄–AgCl magnetic nanocomposite was fabricated by the drop-by-drop addition of silver nitrate solution into a NaCl solution containing Fe₃O₄ MNPs. All prepared nanoparticles were characterized by transition electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Both particle types varied in size from 2.5 to 20?nm, with an average size of 7.5?nm for Fe₃O₄ MNPs and 12.5?nm for Fe₃O₄–AgCl nanocomposites. The antibacterial effect of the Fe₃O₄ MNPs and fabricated Fe₃O₄–AgCl nanocomposites against Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218) were investigated by conventional serial agar dilution method using the Müller–Hinton Agar medium. The minimum inhibitory concentration was 4?mg?mL^?1 for Fe₃O₄ MNPs and 2?mg?mL^?1 for the Fe₃O₄–AgCl magnetic nanocomposites. Time-kill course assays showed that the Fe₃O₄–AgCl magnetic nanocomposites successfully killed all inoculated bacterial cells during an exposure time of 60?min. The antibacterial activity of recycled Fe₃O₄–AgCl magnetic nanocomposites over four 60?min cycles of antibacterial treatment was further tested against E. coli by the colony-forming unit (CFU) method. The antibacterial efficiency of the nanocomposites was constant over two cycles of antibacterial testing.     

Investigating the potential for different scooter and car exhaust emissions to cause cytotoxic and (pro-)inflammatory responses to a 3D in vitro model of the human epithelial airway

The aim of this study was to compare the cytotoxicity and the (pro-)inflammatory responses of two-stroke (direct injection and carburetor technology) and four-stroke scooter and diesel car exhaust emissions on lung cells in vitro. This was analyzed by exposing a 3D in vitro model of the epithelial airway (consisting of human bronchial epithelial cells (cell line 16HBE14o^?) combined with human whole blood monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells) to physically characterized exhaust emissions. Biological endpoints of cytotoxicity (lactate dehydrogenase release), as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) and inflammatory chemokine (interleukin(IL)-8) stimulation were examined. Two-stroke direct injection scooter exhaust contained the highest particle number concentration and nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) concentrations and the emissions from the two-stroke carburetor scooter contained the highest hydrocarbon and lowest NO _x concentrations. The four-stroke scooter emitted the highest carbon monoxide concentration whereas the cars emitted the lowest. The combination of various technical optimizations for the two-stroke direct injection scooter (particle filter, oxidative catalyst, better oil and fuel) reduced the total emissions strongly and the TNF-α concentration significantly (p?相似文献   

Solar photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide isoproturon on a Bi–TiO2/zeolite photocatalyst

The photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide isoproturon under solar light was investigated in aqueous solution containing a Bi–TiO₂/zeolite photocatalyst. The catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of Bi–TiO₂ loading onto the zeolite support and influence of the parameters such as catalyst amount, pH, and initial concentration of isoproturon on the degradation rate were evaluated. The recycling ability of the catalyst was found to be sustainable for elongated periods. The high activity of the Bi–TiO₂/zeolite was attributed to its absorptivity of visible light and its high adsorption capacity for the pollutant molecules.