Facile one-step synthesis of functionalized biochar from sustainable prolifera-green-tide source for enhanced adsorption of copper ions

The use of biochars formed by hydrothermal carbonization for the treatment of contaminated water has been greatly limited,due to their poorly developed porosity and low content of surface functional groups.Also,the most common modification routes inevitably require post-treatment processes,which are time-consuming and energy-wasting.Hence,the objective of this research was to produce a cost-effective biochar with improved performance for the treatment of heavy metal pollution through a facile one-step hydrothermal carbonization process coupled with ammonium phosphate,thiocarbamide,ammonium chloride or urea,without any posttreatment.The effects of various operational parameters,including type of modification reagent,time and temperature of hydrothermal treatment,and ratio of modification reagent to precursor during impregnation,on the copper ion adsorption were examined.The adsorption data fit the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model quite well.The maximum adsorption capacities(mg/g) of the biochars towards copper ions followed the order of 40-8 h-1.0-APBC(95.24) 140-8 h-0-BC(12.52) 140-8 h-1.0-TUBC(12.08) 140-8 h-1.0-ACBC(7.440) 140-8 h-1.0-URBC(5.277).The results indicated that biochars modified with ammonium phosphate displayed excellent adsorption performance toward copper ions,which was 7.6-fold higher than that of the pristine biochar.EDX and FT-IR analyses before and after adsorption demonstrated that the main removal mechanism involved complexation between the phosphate groups on the surface of the modified biochars and copper ions.     

Hydrothermal carbonization of food waste and associated packaging materials for energy source generation

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a thermal conversion technique that converts food wastes and associated packaging materials to a valuable, energy-rich resource. Food waste collected from local restaurants was carbonized over time at different temperatures (225, 250 and 275 °C) and solids concentrations to determine how process conditions influence carbonization product properties and composition. Experiments were also conducted to determine the influence of packaging material on food waste carbonization. Results indicate the majority of initial carbon remains integrated within the solid-phase at the solids concentrations and reaction temperatures evaluated. Initial solids concentration influences carbon distribution because of increased compound solubilization, while changes in reaction temperature imparted little change on carbon distribution. The presence of packaging materials significantly influences the energy content of the recovered solids. As the proportion of packaging materials increase, the energy content of recovered solids decreases because of the low energetic retention associated with the packaging materials. HTC results in net positive energy balances at all conditions, except at a 5% (dry wt.) solids concentration. Carbonization of food waste and associated packaging materials also results in net positive balances, but energy needs for solids post-processing are significant. Advantages associated with carbonization are not fully realized when only evaluating process energetics. A more detailed life cycle assessment is needed for a more complete comparison of processes.     

Vent sizing for gas-generating runaway reactions

Exothermic runaway reactions that generate non-condensible gas as the temperature increases, as is typical of decompositions for example, can reach extremely high rates of pressure rise necessitating emergency relief of the process vessel containing the reactant. Sizing of a relief device using presently recommended methods (e.g. DIERS) frequently leads to extremely large and expensive vents. This paper presents a methodology that leads to a simple but much improved method for vent sizing, fully allowing for two-phase release of the gas—liquid mixture. A number of examples are presented which lead to interesting conclusions about the influence of plant variables.     

The mild hydrothermal synthesis of hydrogrossular from coal ash

In this study, an attempt was made to synthesize hydrogrossular, a group of garnet minerals, under hydrothermal conditions at temperatures below 180°C, using coal ash, which is the solid waste from thermal power plants, as a starting material. A single phase corresponding to hydrogrossular was found at around 120°C, and the hydrogrossular coexisted with 11-Å tobermorite above 140°C. The hydrogrossular phase decreased with increasing reaction temperature, while that of 11-Å tobermorite increased concurrently. The physicochemical properties of the hydrogrossular obtained from the hydrothermal synthesis was characterized by X-ray diffraction thermogravimetry/differential thermal, analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Received: September 4, 2000 / Accepted: March 7, 2001     

Potential utilization of riverbed sediments by hydrothermal solidification and its hardening mechanism

Hydrothermal solidification of riverbed sediments (silt) has been carried out in a Teflon (PTFE) lined stainless steel hydrothermal apparatus, under saturated steam pressure at 343–473 K for 2–24 h by calcium hydrate introduction. Tobermorite was shown to be the most important strength-producing constituent of the solidified silt. A longer curing time or a higher curing temperature was shown to be favorable to the tobermorite formation, thus promoting strength development; however, overlong curing time (24 h) seemed to affect the strength development negatively. The hardening mechanism consisted of the crystal growth/morphology evolution during the hydrothermal process. The species dissolved from the silt were precipitated first as fine particles, and then some of the particles seemed to build up the rudimental morphology of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) gel. The CSH gel, with precipitated particles, appeared to cause some reorganization within the matrix, which made the matrix denser and thus gave an initial strength development. Tobermorite, transformed inevitably from the CSH gel, reinforced the matrix with its interlocked structure, and thus further promoted the strength development.     

排烟口布置方式对高层建筑火灾排烟效果的影响

高层建筑发生火灾时,烟气对人员的生命安全有着非常大的威胁,因此有效地控制烟气在建筑物内的扩散对于人员的逃生是非常重要的。通过高层建筑内烟气流动的数学模型,采用k-ε两方程三维紊流模型对高层建筑火灾时排烟口布置于走廊顶棚和走廊侧壁时的机械排烟进行模拟。结果表明,排烟口的布置方式不同对排烟效果的影响很大。排烟口置于顶棚时比排烟口置于侧壁时排烟效率高近10％,走廊内危险性低。在进行排烟设计时应优先考虑将排烟口设置在走廊顶部。     

Recycling process for yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia ceramics using a hydrothermal treatment

The recycling process for 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (3Y-TZP) sintered at 1450°–1550°C was examined by applying low-temperature degradation of zirconia ceramics under hydrothermal conditions. Hydrothermal treatment at a temperature from 200° to 240°C can lead to the spontaneous disintegration of 3Y-TZP sintered bodies into powdery particles. The hydrothermally obtained zirconia powder was found to consist of primary particles and aggregated particles. Detailed X-ray diffraction measurement revealed the formation of a cubic zirconia phase in the 3Y-TZP sintered bodies, which seemed to inhibit the disintegration of aggregated particles toward the primary particle level. The reclaimed 3Y-TZP powder was sintered again through a conventional powder processing route. The mechanical properties and microstructure of recycled 3Y-TZP sintered specimens were examined by comparison with those of the original 3Y-TZP sintered bodies. Dense recycled 3Y-TZP sintered at a higher temperature exhibited higher fracture toughness to some degree than the original 3Y-TZP.     

High seas marine protected area policy development: Macro-goals or micro-actions?

The notion of creating marine protected areas (MPAs) in the high seas has been hailed as “an idea whose time has come”, and advocates are calling for them to be part of a global representative system to be established by 2012. It is argued in this paper that embedding the high seas MPA concept in the macro-goal of a global representative system subsumes more pragmatic and politically acceptable “micro-actions”. Development of politically contentious policy proposals such as high seas MPAs may have a better chance of success if they proceed by increments and are negotiated outside the limelight of a full scale, temporally defined global project. The following paper critically analyses the salience of international environmental agreements in the context of high seas MPAs and suggests a prototype MPA established by means of a negotiated agreement between a small number of countries which share political will and technological capacity to make a difference. Modelled on the recently implemented Titanic Accord, the prototypical high seas MPA would allow parties to develop a collaborative, rules-based regime which could be used to manage the actions of citizens involved in activities that may have a negative impact on the specified area.     

An Assessment of U(VI) removal from groundwater using biochar produced from hydrothermal carbonization

The ever-increasing growth of biorefineries is expected to produce huge amounts of lignocellulosic biochar as a byproduct. The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process to produce biochar from lignocellulosic biomass is getting more attention due to its inherent advantage of using wet biomass. In the present study, biochar was produced from switchgrass at 300 °C in subcritical water and characterized using X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, scanning electron micrcoscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The physiochemical properties indicated that biochar could serve as an excellent adsorbent to remove uranium from groundwater. A batch adsorption experiment at the natural pH (~3.9) of biochar indicated an H-type isotherm. The adsorption data was fitted using a Langmuir isotherm model and the sorption capacity was estimated to be ca. 2.12 mg of U g(-1) of biochar. The adsorption process was highly dependent on the pH of the system. An increase towards circumneutral pH resulted in the maximum adsorption of ca. 4 mg U g(-1) of biochar. The adsorption mechanism of U(VI) onto biochar was strongly related to its pH-dependent aqueous speciation. The results of the column study indicate that biochar could be used as an effective adsorbent for U(VI), as a reactive barrier medium. Overall, the biochar produced via HTC is environmentally benign, carbon neutral, and efficient in removing U(VI) from groundwater.