Semi-continuous anaerobic co-digestion of orange peel waste and residual glycerol derived from biodiesel manufacturing

The manufacturing of orange juice generates high volumes of orange peel waste which should not be deposited in landfill according to current recommendations. Furthermore, glycerol is a compound co-generated in biodiesel manufacturing, but the volume generated is higher than the current demand for pure glycerol. The anaerobic co-digestion of orange peel waste with residual glycerol could reduce the inhibitory effect of some compounds and provide a correct nutrient balance. Under mesophilic temperature and semi-continuous conditions, a mixture of orange peel waste-residual glycerol of 1:1 (in COD) operated favorably for organic loads up to 2.10 g VS/L. At higher organic loads, the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and a decrease in the pH caused process destabilization. The methane yield coefficient was quite constant, with a mean value of 330 ± 51 mL_STP/g VS_added, while the organic loading rate (OLR) reached a mean value of 1.91 ± 0.37 kg VS/m³ d (17.59 ± 2.78 kg mixture/m³ d) and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) varied in a range of 8.5–30.0 d.     

Sn(Ⅳ)掺杂纳米TiO2/AC降解橙黄G的动力学与机理研究

采用溶胶凝胶法制备了掺杂Sn(Ⅳ)的TiO2/AC光催化剂,以生物染料橙黄G为目标降解物,研究了多相光催化降解橙黄G的动力学规律.研究表明,该反应符合Langmuir-Hinshelwood动力学方程,速控步为吸附反应.同时,利用GC/MS联用仪探讨了橙黄的中间产物及其降解机理:橙黄G在强氧化性自由基·OH、·OOH、·O2-的作用下逐渐分解氧化为小分子有机醛、酮、酸,最后转化为CO2、NH4 、NO3-、NO2-、SO42-和H2O等无机小分子.     

三峡库区夏橙发展前景

对三峡库区的地理概貌、气候条件和夏橙的引种栽培情况进行了调查研究,分析了夏橙的生态习性及其对库区生态环境的适应性。调查结果表明,三峡库区是一个很大的夏橙宜林区,这里生产的夏橙产量高,果实品质优。因此,在库区开发适宜夏橙发展的区域有着重要的经济意义。     

Orange G degradation by heterogeneous peroxymonosulfate activation based on magnetic MnFe2O4/α-MnO2 hybrid

Wastewater containing an azo dye Orange G (OG) causes massive environmental pollution, thus it is critical to develop a highly effective, environmental-friendly, and reusable catalyst in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for OG degradation. In this work, we successfully applied a magnetic MnFe₂O₄/α-MnO₂ hybrid fabricated by a simple hydrothermal method for OG removal in water. The characteristics of the hybrid were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, vibrating sample magnetometry, electron paramagnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effects of operational parameters (i.e., catalytic system, catalytic dose, solution pH, and temperature) were investigated. The results exhibited that 96.8% of OG degradation was obtained with MnFe₂O₄/α-MnO₂(1:9)/PMS system in 30 min regardless of solution pH changes. Furthermore, the possible reaction mechanism of the coupling system was proposed, and the degradation intermediates of OG were identified by mass spectroscopy. The radical quenching experiments and EPR tests demonstrated that SO₄^{• ̶}, O₂^{• ̶}, and ¹O₂ were the primary reactive oxygen species responsible for the OG degradation. The hybrid also displayed unusual stability with less than 30% loss in the OG removal after four sequential cycles. Overall, magnetic MnFe₂O₄/α-MnO₂ hybrid could be used as a high potential activator of PMS to remove orange G and maybe other dyes from wastewater.     

Assessing possible exposures of ground troops to agent orange during the vietnam War: The use of contemporary military records

BACKGROUND: Potential exposure of ground troops in Vietnam to Agent Orange and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) remains controversial despite the passage of 30 years since the Vietnam War. Because of uncertainty over the serum dioxin levels in ground troops at the end of their service in Vietnam, attempts have been made to develop a methodology for characterizing exposure of ground troops in Vietnam to Agent Orange and other herbicides based upon historical reconstruction from military records. Historical information is often useful in evaluating and modeling exposure, but such information should be reasonably accurate, complete, and reliable. METHODS: This paper reviews the procedures and supporting historical information related to the spraying of herbicides in Vietnam. The historical information is classified into two categories: procedural information and operational information. Procedural information covered the process and procedures followed in spraying herbicides from US Air Force fixed wing aircraft (Operation RANCH HAND) in Vietnam, and included approval procedures for spray missions, the criteria required to conduct a mission, the control exercised by the Forward Air Controller and the Tactical Air Control Center and the characteristics of the equipment used to apply the herbicides. Operational information includes data from the RANCH HAND Daily Air Activities Reports, which included geographic locations of specific spray missions, the amount of herbicide sprayed by a specific mission, reports of battle damage to spray aircraft, reports of fighter aircraft support for aerial spray missions, and any comments, such as reasons for canceling a mission. RESULTS: Historical information demonstrates that herbicide spray missions were carefully planned and that spraying only occurred when friendly forces were not located in the target area. RANCH HAND spray missions were either not approved or cancelled if approved when there were friendly forces in the area designated for spraying. Stringent criteria had to be met before spray missions could be approved. The operational information shows that spray missions for both defoliation and crop destruction were conducted in an extremely hostile environment. Heavy 'fighter suppression' with antipersonnel ordnance was used to minimize the impact of hostile ground fire on RANCH HAND aircraft. Procedures were in place that prohibited movement of troops into sprayed areas immediately after a mission due to the possible presence of unexploded ordnance delivered by fighter aircraft supporting RANCH HAND missions. The optimal nature of the spray equipment and application procedures minimized the possibility of significant spray drift. Conclusions. Few friendly troops were sprayed by fixed wing aircraft during Operation RANCH HAND, which delivered 95% of all defoliants used in Vietnam. Similarly, few troops were sprayed during helicopter or surface-based spray operations, which constituted the remaining 5% of defoliants. Detailed policies and procedures for approval and execution of spray missions ensured that friendly forces were not located in the areas targeted for spraying. Fighter aircraft assigned to accompany each spray mission frequently suppressed much of the hostile fire with bombs and other ordnance. Confirmed clearance of the target area was necessary to avoid friendly casualties. Historical records establish that these policies and procedures were strictly followed. Exposure of troops whether from direct spraying or movement through areas recently sprayed was very unlikely. The wartime military records of troop positions and herbicide operations are valuable for some purposes, but have specific limitations in exposure reconstruction. The completeness and accuracy of the geographic data (maps used by RANCH HAND and military ground units) were dependent upon the inherent precision of the map, the accuracy with which it depicted surface features, and the completeness and accuracy of the information on which it is based. Navigation by the crew using visual orientation and reference to the map was the only means that aircrew on spray missions had for establishing their locations. A Forward Air Controller independent of Operation RANCH HAND was present at the location of each spray target immediately before and during spraying operations to verify the target location and ensure that friendly forces were clear of the target area. Anecdotal reports of direct spraying of troops in Vietnam likely reflect the RANCH HAND missions spraying insecticide for mosquito control at regular intervals from March 1967 through February 1972. Outlook. The distribution and levels of serum dioxin in RANCH HAND veterans and the US Army Chemical Corps Vietnam veterans (the unit responsible for helicopter and ground-based spray operations) are distinguishable from typical levels in the population decades after the Vietnam conflict. An exposure model similar to that proposed in the 2003 report of the Institute of Medicine's Committee on 'Characterizing Exposure of Veterans to Agent Orange and Other Herbicides Used in Vietnam' was tested in 1988 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and found to be a poor predictor of absorbed dose of TCDD. Military records during the Vietnam War lack the precision to determine that troops were directly sprayed with herbicides during Operation RANCH HAND, especially given the procedures in place to ensure clearance of friendly forces from the target area and the lack of elevated serum levels of TCDD in ground troops judged to have operated in heavily sprayed areas.     

Azo-dyes photocatalytic degradation in aqueous suspension of TiO2 under solar irradiation

The photodegradation of two common and very stable azo-dyes, i.e. methyl-orange (C₁₄H₁₄N₃SO₃Na) and orange II (C₁₆H₁₁N₂SO₄Na), is reported. The photocatalytic oxidation was carried out in aqueous suspensions of polycrystalline TiO₂ irradiated by sunlight. Compound parabolic collectors, installed at the “Plataforma Solar de Almería” (PSA, Spain) were used as the photoreactors and two identical reacting systems allowed to perform photoreactivity runs for the two dyes at the same time and under the same irradiation conditions. The disappearance of colour and substrates together with the abatement of total organic carbon content was monitored. The main sulfonate-containing intermediates were found to be in lower number in respect to those obtained under artificial irradiation. In particular there were no more evidence of the presence of hydroxylated transients. The dependence of dye photooxidation rate on: (i) substrate concentration; (ii) catalyst amount; and (iii) initial pH was investigated. The influence of the presence of strong oxidant species (H₂O₂, S₂O₈²⁻) and some ions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻) on the process was also studied.     

Photodegradation of Orange Ⅱ using waste paper sludge-derived heterogeneous catalyst in the presence of oxalate under ultraviolet light emitting diode irradiation

A waste paper sludge-derived heterogeneous catalyst(WPS-Fe-350) was synthesized via a facile method and successfully applied for the degradation of Orange Ⅱ in the presence of oxalic acid under the illumination of ultraviolet light emitting diode(UV-LED) Powder X-ray diffraction,Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,scanning electronic microscopy and N2 sorption isotherm analysis indicated the formation of α-Fe2O3 in the mesoporous nanocomposite.The degradation test showed that WPS-Fe-350 exhibited rapid Orange Ⅱ(OⅡ) degradation and mineralization in the presence of oxalic acid under the illumination of UV-LED.The effects of p H,oxalic acid concentration and dosage of the catalyst on the degradation of OⅡ were evaluated,respectively.Under the optimal conditions(1 g/L catalyst dosage,2 mmol/L oxalic acid and p H 3.0),the degradation percentage for a solution containing 30 mg/L OⅡ reached 83.4% under illumination by UV-LED for 80 min.Moreover,five cyclic tests for OⅡ degradation suggested that WPS-Fe-350 exhibited excellent stability of catalytic activity.Hence,this study provides an alternative environmentally friendly way to reuse waste paper sludge and an effective and economically viable method for degradation of azo dyes and other refractory organic pollutants in water.     

A visible light-responsive iodine-doped titanium dioxide nanosphere

I-doped titanium dioxide nanospheres (I-TNSs) were synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal synthesis route, their potential for the e cient utilization of visible light was evaluated. The prepared anatase-phase I-TNSs had a bimodal porous size distribution with a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 76 m2/g, a crystallite size of approximately 14 nm calculated from X-ray di raction data, and a remarkable absorption in the visible light region at wavelengths > 400 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by decoloration of Methyl Orange in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation in comparison to the iodine-doped TiO2 (I-TiO2). The I-TNSs showed higher photocatalytic e ciency compared with I-TiO2 after irradiation for 180 min even though the latter had a much greater surface area (115 m2/g). It was concluded that the surface area was not the predominant factor determining photocatalytic activity, and that the good crystallization and bimodal porous nanosphere structure were favourable for photocatalysis.     

Combination of adsorption and biodegradation processes for textile e uent treatment using a granular activated carbon-biofilm configured packed column system

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using a granular activated carbon-biofilm configured packed column system in the deeolodzation of azo dye Acid Orange 7-containing wastewater.The Acid Orange 7-degrading microbial from anaerobic sequencing batch reactor which treating the azo dye-containing wastewater for more than 200 d was immobilized on spent granular activated carbon(GAC)through attachment.The GAC-biofilm configured packed column system showed the ability to decolorize...     

甲基橙在镧掺杂二氧化钛表面的吸附研究

以钛酸丁酯为原料,采用溶胶-凝胶法成功制备了一系列La^3＋-TiO2光催化剂。通过XRD对催化剂进行了表征,XRD光谱结果表明所制得的TiO2光催化剂晶型结构为锐钛矿型。考察了pH值对甲基橙在纯TiO2光催化剂表面的吸附以及掺杂量对吸附的影响,通过紫外-可见光吸收光谱分析得出碱性或中性条件下的吸附较好。镧（La^3＋）掺杂量的TiO2对甲基橙的吸附实验表明,La^3＋的掺杂显著提高了甲基橙在TiO2催化剂表面的吸附能力,随着La^3＋掺杂量的增加,吸附能力逐渐增强。