Rapid and long-effective removal of broad-spectrum pollutants from aqueous system by ZVI/oxidants

• The coupling of oxidants with ZVI overcome the impedance of ZVI passive layer. • ZVI/oxidants system achieved fast and long-effective removal of contaminants. • Multiple mechanisms are involved in contaminants removal by ZVI/oxidant system. • ZVI/Oxidants did not change the reducing property of ORP in the fixed-bed system. Zero-valent iron (ZVI) technology has recently gained significant interest in the efficient sequestration of a wide variety of contaminants. However, surface passivation of ZVI because of its intrinsic passive layer would lead to the inferior reactivity of ZVI and its lower efficacy in contaminant removal. Therefore, to activate the ZVI surface cheaply, continuously, and efficiently is an important challenge that ZVI technology must overcome before its wide-scale application. To date, several physical and chemical approaches have been extensively applied to increase the reactivity of the ZVI surface toward the elimination of broad-spectrum pollutants. Nevertheless, these techniques have several limitations such as low efficacy, narrow working pH, eco-toxicity, and high installation cost. The objective of this mini-review paper is to identify the critical role of oxygen in determining the reactivity of ZVI toward contaminant removal. Subsequently, the effect of three typical oxidants (H₂O₂, KMnO₄, and NaClO) on broad-spectrum contaminants removal by ZVI has been documented and discussed. The reaction mechanism and sequestration efficacies of the ZVI/oxidant system were evaluated and reviewed. The technical basis of the ZVI/oxidant approach is based on the half-reaction of the cathodic reduction of the oxidants. The oxidants commonly used in the water treatment industry, i.e., NaClO, O₃, and H₂O₂, can be served as an ideal coupling electron receptor. With the combination of these oxidants, the surface corrosion of ZVI can be continuously driven. The ZVI/oxidants technology has been compared with other conventional technologies and conclusions have been drawn.     

Phytoavailability and Fractions of Iron and Manganese in Calcareous Soil Amended with Composted Urban Wastes

Little is known about the effects of applying composted urban wastes on the phytoavailability and distribution of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) among chemical fractions in soil. In order to study this concern several experiments in pots containing calcareous soil were carried out. The received treatments by adding separately two rates (20 and 80 Mg ha^?1) of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost and/or municipal solid waste and sewage sludge (MSW-SS) co-compost. The cropping sequence was a lettuce crop followed by a barley crop. It was observed that treatments amended with composted urban wastes tended to promote slight increases in lettuce yield compared to the control. The highest Fe levels in lettuce were found when higher rates of MSW-SS co-compost were applied; these values were significant compared to those obtained in the other treatments. In all cases, the application of organic materials increased the concentration and uptake of Mn in lettuce compared to the control; however, these increases were significant only when higher rates of MSW compost were applied. The organic amendments had beneficial delayed effects on barley yields, showing, in most cases, significant increases compared to the control. In this context, treatments with MSW compost were found to be more effective than the equivalent treatments amended with MSW-SS co-compost. Compared to the control, composted urban wastes increased Fe concentration in straw and rachis, and decreased Fe concentration in barley grain. Similarly, a decreased concentration of Mn in the dry matter of barley crop grown in soils treated with composted urban wastes was observed.     

Chemical composition of water from roofs in Gdansk, Poland

This study deals with the assessment of roof runoff waters from the region of Gdansk collected during the winter season (2007/2008). The chemical analysis includes 16 chemical variables: major ions, PAHs and PCBs measured at 3 sampling sites for 6-14 rain events. Although the data set is of limited volume the statistical data treatment using self-organizing maps (SOM) reveals the main factors controlling roof runoff water quality even for a data set with small dimension. This effort for explanation of the identified factors by the possible emission sources of the urban environment and air-particulate formation seems to be very reliable. Additionally to the roof runoff water quality factors the rain events patterns are found: “background” group of events and groups formally named “PAHs”, “PCBs” and “air-borne particles” - dominated events. The SOM classification results give an opportunity to uncover the role of roof “impact” on the runoff waters.Rain runoff water quality is described by four latent factors and the “roof” impact is uncovered.     

环境温度对烟火药剂混触机械感度的影响研究

对烟花爆竹药剂典型氧化剂与还原剂的二元混合物在不同温度的条件下进行撞击感度及摩擦感度测试,分析不同氧化剂、还原剂及温度对二者混触的影响规律。结果表明:含有硫磺的药剂撞击感度值较大,含有镁铝合金粉的药剂摩擦感度值较大;随着温度升高,药剂的撞击感度值升高,而不同药剂的摩擦感度值表现出不同趋势,这与机械撞击和摩擦作用下起爆机理不同有很大的关系,并从理论上对实验结果进行分析。     

Short-Term Opportunities for Decreasing CO2 Emissions from the Steel Industry

There is a strong political will to decrease CO₂ emissions. Although the steel industry only accounts for some 5% of worldwide CO₂ emissions (which totalled 1,200 million tonnes per annum in the late 1990s), it will be strongly affected by this. The EU, for example, is putting up strong economic incentives for reductions. This is taking place at a time when demand for steel products is greater than ever. To radically change existing processes and production routes to decrease the CO₂ emissions would be extremely expensive, even if it were possible. Nevertheless, many of the solutions which have been discussed seem to go in this direction. The other alternative discussed seems to be the creation of process solutions and alterations that lead to a focusing of CO₂ streams, i.e., much higher CO₂ concentrations in flue gases than today, for entrapment of the CO₂ so that it is not discharged into the atmosphere. These solutions are feasible, but expensive.

However, there exists today a number of solutions and technologies which, if fully implemented, could substantially decrease CO₂ emissions without seriously altering current methods of operation; they are short-term viable solutions. The present paper reviews and discusses such technologies, throughout the steel production paths. If these solutions are fully implemented, the combined impact on CO₂ emissions from the steel industry worldwide is estimated to be a reduction of 100–150 million tonnes of CO₂ per annum, i.e., current emissions can be reduced by some 8–10% within a relatively short time span.     

上海城区PM2.5中有机组分及硝基芳香化合物分布特征

硝基芳香化合物（NACs）是细颗粒物中含氮化合物的重要组成部分,研究其在大气中的污染特征和季节变化,有助于表征大气细颗粒物中含氮有机化合物特性,并为城市氮氧化物削减提供科学支撑.采集并分析了上海城区2018年3月～2019年2月大气PM_2.5样品,采用超高效液相色谱-轨道阱质谱（UPLC-Orbitrap MS）在PM_2.5样品中定性检测到了2 439～3 695个有机物,内标法定量了9种NACs,春季ρ（NACs）范围为3.12～16.8 ng·m^-3,平均值为9.31 ng·m^-3;夏季ρ（NACs）范围为1.05～9.70 ng·m^-3,平均值4.16 ng·m^-3;秋季ρ（NACs）范围为2.87～36.27 ng·m^-3,平均值9.84 ng·m^-3,冬季ρ（NACs）范围为4.83～56.23 ng·m^-3,平均值为22.37 ng·m^-3. 9种硝基芳香化...     

热脱附法快速分析大气细颗粒物中非极性有机物

本研究改进了传统有机样品前处理步骤,将大气细颗粒物样品直接装填于TD管并与气相色谱联用的自动化热脱附装置,建立的新型热脱附(thermo desorption,TD)与气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)联用方法,对72种非极性有机物(non-polar organic compounds,NPOCs),包括34种多环芳烃(polylicycle aromatic hydrocarbon,PAHs)、1种苯并噻吩、27种(C_(10)~C_(34))烷烃(alkanes)、5种霍烷(hopanes)和5种甾烷(steranes)化合物进行定量分析.优化了承载样品装填方式、热脱附条件和进样模式等参数.结果表明,热脱附-气相色谱/质谱方法对多环芳烃、正构烷烃、霍烷和甾烷的检出限分别为0.01~1.0、0.1~8.0和0.50~2.0 ng·m~(-3),标定曲线线性相关系数在0.9以上.热脱附效率分别为:多环芳烃95%~100%、正构烷烃81%~100%、霍烷和甾烷83.1%~100%.与传统溶剂超声萃取的方法差异性比较结果表明,两种方法分析结果的偏差基本小于30%,在可接受范围内.对临安和上海PM_(2.5)中的痕量NPOCs的定量分析表明,采样期间两地大气PM_(2.5)中NPOCs以烷烃为主,其次为PAHs.特征比值法分析结果表明,大气细颗粒物污染主要来自化石燃料燃烧和煤炭燃烧.     

Characterization of Fe-humic complexes in an Fe-enriched biosolid by-product of water treatment

The fertilizing potential of Fe-enriched biosolids has been attributed to Fe associations with humic substances contained therein. In this study, alkaline and near-neutral aqueous extractions of humic substances from an Fe-enriched biosolid were followed by gel chromatographic fractionation and characterization (CHNS elemental analysis; UV/visible and FTIR spectroscopy; FAAS analysis). The alkaline bulk humic extract had a strong fulvic character and Fe was predominantly associated with the higher molecular weight (50 000 Da) molecules, possibly including organic-coated Fe oxides from which Fe may be released more slowly. Under both near-neutral and alkaline conditions, associations with lower molecular weight humic molecules were also observed, indicative of the presence of Fe in more readily available forms. Thus the biosolid appears to have good short- and long-term fertilizing potential, particularly for alkaline, Fe-deficient soils.     

Depth profiles of radiocarbon and carbon isotopic compositions of organic matter and CO2 in a forest soil

Depth profiles of the specific activities of (14)C and carbon isotopic compositions (Delta(14)C, delta(13)C) in soil organic matter and soil CO(2) in a Japanese larch forest were determined. For investigating the transport of CO(2) in soil, specific activities of (14)C, Delta(14)C and delta(13)C in the organic layer, and atmospheric CO(2) in the same forest area were also determined. The specific activity of (14)C and Delta(14)C in the soil organic matter decreased with the increase in depth of 0-60cm, while that of soil CO(2) did not vary greatly at a soil depth of 13-73cm and was more prevalent than that of atmospheric CO(2). Peaks of specific activities of (14)C appeared at the depth of 0-4cm and Delta(14)C values were positive in the depth range from 0 to 15cm. These results suggest that the present soil at a depth of 0-4cm had been produced from the mid-1950s up until 1963, and the bomb C had reached the depth of 15cm in the objective soil area. The delta(13)C in the soil organic matter increased at the depth of 0-55cm, while that of soil CO(2) collected on 8 November 2004 decreased rapidly at the depth of 0-13cm and only slightly at the depth of 53-73cm. By combining the Delta(14)C and delta(13)C of the respective components and using the Keeling plot approach it was made clear that the entering of atmospheric CO(2) showed a large contribution to soil CO(2) at the depth of 0-13cm and a negligible contribution at the depth of 53-73cm for soil air collected on 8 November 2004. Respiration of live roots was presumed to be the main source of soil CO(2) at the depth of 53-73cm on 8 November 2004.     

Sorption of heavy metals in strongly weathered soils: an overview

Current knowledge of sorption processes in tropical soils is reviewed. Landscapes throughout the tropics are dominated by oxisols which occupy extensive areas of potentially highly productive soils. These soils are dominated by low-activity sesquioxide minerals and clays that have variable charge surfaces. The limited information on tropical soils available suggests that the composition of the ambient soil solution can influence sorption through changes in particle surface-charge density. Thus the observed decrease in sorption in the presence of divalent index cations may be related to the effect of ionic charge on the double-layer thickness which is manifested through a change in surface-charge characteristics. However, much work needs to be done to differentiate the effect of cation charge on surface-charge density from the competitive effect between the index cation and heavy-metal ions for the sorption sites. The effects of inorganic and organic ligands on adsorption of Cd by variable charge surfaces are also reviewed.