Assessment of leaching behavior and human bioaccessibility of rare earth elements in typical hospital waste incineration ash in China

Leaching behavior and gastrointestinal bioaccessibility of rare earth elements (REEs) from hospital waste incineration (HWI) fly and bottom ash samples collected from Beijing and Nanjing Cities were assessed. In the same ash sample, the leaching concentrations of individual REEs determined by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) were higher than those detected by the European standard protocol (EN-type test), thereby suggesting that the low pH value of leaching solution was an important factor influencing the leachability of REE. The REE bioaccessibility results, which were evaluated using the physiologically based extraction test (PBET), indicated that REEs were highly absorbed during gastric phase by dissolution; and subsequently precipitated and/or re-adsorbed in small intestinal phase. The relative amounts of the total REEs extracted by the TCLP method, EN-type test and PBET test were compared. In addition to the pH value of extraction solutions, the chelating role of REEs with organic ligands used in the PBET method was also an important parameter affecting REE adsorption in human body. Additionally, this study showed that REEs were extracted by these methods as concomitants of heavy metals and anions (NO₃ ^–, F^–, SO₄ ^2–, and Cl^–) from HWI ash, which probably caused the remarkably complex toxicity on human body by the exposure pathway.

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Sulfide elimination by intermittent nitrate dosing in sewer sediments

The formation of hydrogen sulfide in biofilms and sediments in sewer systems can cause severe pipe corrosions and health hazards, and requires expensive programs for its prevention. The aim of this study is to propose a new control strategy and the optimal condition for sulfide elimination by intermittent nitrate dosing in sewer sediments. The study was carried out based on lab-scale experiments and batch tests using real sewer sediments. The intermittent nitrate dosing mode and the optimal control condition were investigated. The results indicated that the sulfide-intermittent-elimination strategy by nitrate dosing is advantageous for controlling sulfide accumulation in sewer sediment. The oxidation–reduction potential is a sensitive indicator parameter that can reflect the control effect and the minimum N/S(nitrate/sulfide)ratio with slight excess nitrate is necessary for optimal conditions of efficient sulfide control with lower carbon source loss. The optimal control condition is feasible for the sulfide elimination in sewer systems.     

污水厂Carrousel氧化沟溶解氧和速度分布的研究

对长沙某污水处理厂的Carrousel氧化沟进行现场测试，获得不同截面的溶解氧和速度的数据，探讨了表曝机台数、沟深、沟的长宽比、进出水位置对溶解氧和速度的影响。初步掌握了该Carrousel氧化沟内溶解氧和速度的变化规律，认为通过调节倒伞形表面曝气机，可以在沟内不同区段创造好氧与缺氧的环境，为最终实现同步硝化反硝化的高效运行做准备。     

硫化物对亚硝化污泥的活性抑制研究

污水厂进水或厌氧单元出水中的硫化物会对污水处理工艺的硝化反应过程产生潜在抑制作用,认识和调控硫化物对活性污泥生化反应过程的影响对污水厂工艺的发展具有重要意义.亚硝化过程对于保障污水工艺氮的去除至关重要,本研究以硫化物对亚硝化过程的影响为研究对象,探讨相关影响过程的特征和发生机制.同时,选择不同典型浓度范围的硫化物和不同存在状态对亚硝化过程的影响开展研究.结果表明,硫化物浓度由10 mg·L~(-1)提高到30 mg·L~(-1),氨氧化抑制率由16.3%提高到40%,但随着硫化物浓度进一步升高,氨氧化抑制率上升并不明显.进一步通过硫化物对羟胺氧化反应的影响实验发现,硫化物导致羟胺氧化速率下降要大于氨氧化阶段.同时系统内硫化物耗尽后,氨氧化反应和羟胺氧化反应均不能完全恢复.铁盐作为常见的硫化物去除剂,铁盐加入后并未能够有效消除硫化物对亚硝化过程的抑制.     

Carrousel氧化沟的流动特性研究

采用颗粒动态分析仪(PDA)对倒伞形表面曝气机曝气的Carrousel小试氧化沟进行测试,得出了氧化沟内较系统的流动特性参数.比较了固液两相在氧化沟内流动的差别,发现固液两相流动速度差别较小,由于惯性的影响,固相的沉降速度略大于液相.考察了表曝机的转速、表曝机相对于液面的位置、氧化沟的深度等因素对氧化沟内流动的影响,随着表曝机转速的增大和表曝机浸入液面深度的增加,流动速度和沉降速度均会增大,而氧化沟深度增加时,距离液面同一深度处的速度则会减小.实验结果与污水处理厂的实际情形进行比较发现,二者变化趋势一致,说明本实验结果可用于指导工程实际,为氧化沟的优化设计提供依据.     

Sulfide elimination by intermittent nitrate dosing in sewer sediments

The formation of hydrogen sulfide in biofilms and sediments in sewer systems can cause severe pipe corrosions and health hazards, and requires expensive programs for its prevention. The aim of this study is to propose a new control strategy and the optimal condition for sulfide elimination by intermittent nitrate dosing in sewer sediments. The study was carried out based on lab-scale experiments and batch tests using real sewer sediments. The intermittent nitrate dosing mode and the optimal control conditionwere investigated. The results indicated that the sulfide-intermittent-elimination strategy by nitrate dosing is advantageous for controlling sulfide accumulation in sewer sediment. The oxidation-reduction potential is a sensitive indicator parameter that can reflect the control effect and the minimum N/S (nitrate/sulfide) ratiowith slight excess nitrate is necessary for optimal conditions of efficient sulfide controlwith lower carbon source loss. The optimal control condition is feasible for the sulfide elimination in sewer systems.     

Assessing human bioaccessibility of trace contaminants in size-fractionated red mud,derived precipitates and geopolymeric blocks

The objective of this study was to provide insight into human exposure to trace contaminants bearing red mud, derived precipitates and geopolymeric blocks due to inhalation contact and/or hand-to-mouth ingestion. The in vitro bioaccessibility behavior of trace contaminants was investigated with the PBET (physiologically based extraction test), ALF (artificial lysosomal fluid) and MGS (modified Gamble’ solution) methods. The results showed that total contents of trace contaminants and operation parameters, such as pH and chelating properties of simulated gastrointestinal phases (PBET), played a joint role in controlling the bioaccessibility efficacy for size-fractionated red mud particles. As for airborne particles (<38 μm size fractions), trace contaminants concentrations extracted by MGS was significantly higher than those by ALF. Additionally, higher bioaccessibility (PBET) values of Cu, Pb, Zn, As, V and U were obtained from red mud derived precipitates compared with those of red mud itself. Even though short-term and long-term leaching values of trace contaminants were relatively lower in the prepared geopolymeric blocks, the health risk could be significantly higher due to the more pronounced bioaccessibility characteristics.

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深水型表面曝气机的模拟计算与构型比较

为了加深氧化沟深度、减少其占地面积、节省污水厂建设投资,研究开发深水型表面曝气机成为氧化沟工艺的一个重要课题。由于上述原因,应用流体力学计算软件Fluent对3种深水型曝气机叶轮的构型进行了模拟计算,并从搅拌深度、推流效果和所需功率等方面对3种叶轮构型进行了比较。又以小试实验进行了初步的验证,证明模拟计算的结果是可靠的。流体力学数值模拟由于其简单易行、成本低、周期短等特点,作为曝气机设计研究的辅助工具可以发挥作用。     

Particles and porous tablets based on Fe0/ZSM-5 composites prepared by ball-milling for heavy metals removal: Dissolved Fe2 +, pH, and mechanism

Novel, low-cost Fe~0/ZSM-5-based particles and porous tablets were prepared by a ballmilling method and used for the removal of Pb~(2+) in solution. Solid-phase characterization by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(SEMEDS) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) revealed that the Fe0 microparticles were evenly loaded and tightly immobilized on the surface of ZSM-5 because of the extrusion/welding impact during ball-milling. For different Pb~(2+) concentrations, batch experiments indicated that the removal of Pb~(2+) increased with the decline of dissolved Fe2+and p H value in the solution for particles; opposite results were obtained for the tablets. The differences in the contact between both materials and Pb~(2+) were the main factor controlling Pb~(2+) removal in the solution. Investigation into the effect of initial p H value revealed that high p H reduced the number of electrons released from Fe corrosion. Consequently, low levels of removed Pb~(2+) and dissolved Fe~(2+) were synchronously observed. Also, simulated electroplating wastewater was treated using the prepared particles and porous tablets,and the removal order of Pb~(2+) Cr~(6+) Cu~(2+)≈ Cd~(2+) was observed. The Fe~0/ZSM-5 particles and tablets prepared through ball-milling show potential as materials for treatment of Pb~(2+) and other toxic metals.     

Long-term organic fertilizer-induced carbonate neoformation increases carbon sequestration in soil

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Soil carbon is major driver of climate in the long term because soil can either decrease global&nbsp;warming by carbon sequestration or increase warming by...