Removal of perfluorinated surfactants from wastewater by adsorption and ion exchange——Influence of material properties,sorption mechanism and modeling

Perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS) has attracted increasing concern in recent years due to its world-wide distribution, persistence, bioaccumulation and potential toxicity. The influence of sorbent properties on the adsorptive elimination of PFOS from wastewater by activated carbons, polymer adsorbents and anion exchange resins was investigated with regard to their isotherms and kinetics. The batch and column tests were combined with physicochemical characterization methods, e.g., N_2 physisorption, mercury porosimetry, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, titrations, as well as modeling. Sorption kinetics was successfully modelled applying the linear driving force(LDF) approach for surface diffusion after introducing a load dependency of the mass transfer coefficient βs.The big difference in the initial mass transfer coefficient βs,0, when non-functionalized adsorbents and ion-exchange resins are compared, suggests that the presence of functional groups impedes the intraparticle mass transport. The more functional groups a resin possesses and the longer the alkyl moieties are the bigger is the decrease in sorption rate.But the selectivity for PFOS sorption is increasing when the character of the functional groups becomes more hydrophobic. Accordingly, ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction were found to be involved in the sorption processes on resins, while PFOS is only physisorptively bound to activated carbons and polymer adsorbents. In agreement with the different adsorption mechanisms, resins possess higher total sorption capacities than adsorbents. Hence, the latter ones are rendered more effective in PFOS elimination at concentrations in the low μg/L range, due to a less pronounced convex curvature of the sorption isotherm in this concentration range.     

The selective catalytic reduction of NO over Ce0.3TiOx-supported metal oxide catalysts

A Ce_(0.3)TiO_xoxide carrier was synthesized via a sol–gel process,and Ce_(0.3)TiO_xsupported metal(M=Cd,Mn,Fe,W,Mo)oxide catalysts were prepared by the method of incipient-wetness impregnation.The catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction(XRD),Brunauer–Emmett–Teller(BET)analysis,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),Fourier transform infrared(FT–IR)spectroscopy,UV–Visdiffusereflectancespectroscopy(UV–VisDRS),and Temperature-programmed reduction with H_2(H_2-TPR).The catalytic activities for de-NO_(x )were evaluated by the NH_3-SCR reaction.Among all the catalysts tested,the 2 wt.%Cd/Ce_(0.3)TiO_xcatalyst exhibited the best NH_3-SCR performance,with a wide temperature window of 250–450°C for NO conversion above 90%.Moreover,the catalyst showed N_2 selectivity greater than 99%from 200 to 450°C.     

Sequential extraction of Cs and Sr from Ain Oussera soils around Es-Salam research reactor facility

Four types of undisturbed soil in Ain Oussera region around the Es-Salam reactor facility, located in the south of Algiers, Algeria, at about 200 km, were artificially contaminated for one year with stable CsCl and SrCl₂ in order to simulate an accidental release of these elements. This study was performed using sequential extraction procedure based on Shultz method and containing six fractions. The selectivity of the extraction protocol was confirmed by analyzing some elements (Ca, C, Fe, Mn, Si and Al) designed as indicators of the targeted phases. The obtained results showed an acceptable reproducibility, in view of the coefficients of variation that were in most cases less than 15%. The results revealed a clear proportional correlation between the extracted Cs and Sr in fractions for each soil and some of soils physicochemical properties. Organic matter appears to play an important role in the soil retention, particularly for Cs where the extracted percentage exceeds to 30% in whole soils. In contrast, strontium expresses a remarkable affinity for the fraction bound to carbonates. The obtained data also indicate that the availability of Cs in the four soils is less important compared to Sr availability. This is illustrated by the higher value of extracted Sr in the easily extractible phase, including the water-soluble and the exchangeable fraction.     

铅离子印迹电化学传感器的制备及检测性能研究

重金属因其具有高毒性、致癌性和潜在的生物积累性，引发的环境问题受到广泛关注。为精确监测环境中的重金属污染，结合电化学分析和离子印迹技术的优势，构筑了对铅离子的高灵敏电化学传感器。利用铅离子作为模板，采用3-（γ-氨基乙氨基）-丙基-三甲基硅烷作为功能单体，在介孔硅表面，通过共缩聚法制备了离子印迹聚合物，并将其作为电化学传感器的核心识别元件。经过优化碳糊电极的组成，制备了一系列高选择性的离子印迹电化学传感器，并对其电化学行为进行了分析。测试结果表明，所制传感器对铅离子的检测线性范围为10^-9～10^-6 mol/L，且检出限达到1.3×10^-11mol/L（信噪比=3）。在对河水和大米等实际样品的检测中，传感器展现了高灵敏性（相对标准偏差为2.5%～7.4%）和高准确性（回收率为98.8%～102.9%），表明其在环境监测和食品安全检测方面具有应用潜力。     

Effective and selective separation of perrhenate from acidic wastewater by super-stable,superhydrophobic, and recyclable biosorbent

• A ZnO-biochar hybrid composite was prepared by solvothermal-pyrolysis synthesis. • The superhydrophobic composite is suitable for selective recovery of Re(VII). • The adsorption mechanism is elucidated by experiments and material characterization. The recovery of scattered metal ions such as perrhenate (Re(VII)) from industrial effluents has enormous economic benefits and promotes resource reuse. Nanoscale-metal/biochar hybrid biosorbents are attractive for recovery but are limited by their insufficient stability and low selectivity in harsh environments. Herein, a superstable biochar-based biosorbent composed of ZnO nanoparticles with remarkable superhydrophobic features is fabricated, and its adsorption/desorption capabilities toward Re(VII) in strongly acidic aqueous solutions are investigated. The ZnO nanoparticle/biochar hybrid composite (ZBC) exhibits strong acid resistance and high chemical stability, which are attributable to strong C-O-Zn interactions between the biochar and ZnO nanoparticles. Due to the advantages of its hydrolytic stability, superhydrophobicity, and abundance of Zn-O sites, the ZBC proves suitable for the effective and selective separation of Re(VII) from single, binary and multiple ion systems (pH= 1), with a maximum sorption capacity of 29.41 mg/g. More importantly, this material also shows good recyclability and reusability, with high adsorption efficiency after six adsorption-desorption cycles. The findings in this work demonstrate that a metal/biochar hybrid composite is a promising sorbent for Re(VII) separation.     

Tracking the reactivity of ozonation towards effluent organic matters from WWTP using two-dimensional correlation spectra

The characteristics of effluent organic matter (EfOM) from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) during ozonation were investigated using excitation and emission matrix (EEM) spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) at different ozone dosages. The selectivity of ozonation towards different constituents and functional groups was analysed using two-dimensional correlation spectra (2D-COS) probed by FT-IR, synchronous fluorescence spectra and HPSEC. The results indicated that ozonation can destroy aromatic structures of EfOM and change its molecular weight distribution (MWD). According to 2D-COS analysis, microbial humic-like substances were preferentially removed, and then the protein-like fractions. Terrestrial humic-like components exhibited inactivity towards ozonation compared with the above two fractions. Protein-like substances with small molecular weight were preferentially reacted during ozonation based on 2D-COS probed by HPSEC. In addition, the selectivity of ozone towards different functional groups of EfOM exhibited the following sequence: phenolic and alcoholic CO groups?>?aromatic structures containing CC double bonds?>?aliphatic CH. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) further elucidated the preferential reaction of aromatic structures in EfOM during ozonation.     

Highly efficient and selective removal of low-concentration antibiotics from aqueous solution by regenerable Mg(OH)2

The prevalent presence of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in aquatic environments has attracted considerable attention because of their harmful effects on humans and the ecological environment. Magnesium hydroxide nanocrystals were found to act as a simple and effective adsorbent to remove low-concentration ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aqueous solution. The as-prepared Mg(OH)₂ nanocrystals exhibited excellent CIP adsorption performance and high selectivity toward CIP molecules compared with other antibiotics or aromatics, e.g., norfloxacin (NOR) and eosin B (EB). The adsorbent showed pH-dependent adsorption, indicating that the adsorption process is probably dominated by an electrostatic interaction mechanism. In addition, structural analysis of the adsorbent indicated that coordination and hydrogen bonding between CIP and Mg(OH)₂ nanocrystal might also be involved in the adsorption process. Moreover, the adsorbent could be easily recovered by pyrolysis and hydration without significant reduction of adsorption capacity. The superior adsorption behavior of Mg(OH)₂ nanocrystal indicates that it may serve as a potential adsorbent material candidate for the selective removal of CIP from aquatic environments.     

重选—磨细—酸浸联合工艺回收PCB中金属的研究

采用重介质分选选择性磨细酸浸联合工艺,利用磁铁矿重介质悬浮液,对粗碎后的PCB进行分选,再利用PCB中不同塑料可磨性的不同,将其进行选择性磨细,使PCB中所含金属成分与其他组分有效分离,采用酸浸工艺将各种金属成分转移到液相中,实现金属成分的高效回收。结果表明,在PCB的粒度小于等于2.5mm时,可使PCB中约55.26%的金属得到富集;86.08%的Au和89.21%的Ag被富集到磨细的粉末中,产品中的各种金属含量分别为:Au0.68kg/t,Ag0.91kg/t,Cu120.8kg/t,Al2.98kg/t,Sn28.02kg/t。当采用350mL浓H2SO4、浸出时间为8h,浸出温度为100℃条件下,对50g分选后的重组分进行酸浸时,可以使Au的回收率达到89.8%,Ag的回收率达到90.2%。与其他传统工艺相比,该工艺具有回收效率高、低污染、低能耗等特点,可以作为PCBs资源化的有效手段。     

Development of metal organic framework-199 immobilized zeolite foam for adsorption of common indoor VOCs

Reticulated foam shaped adsorbents are more efficient for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly from low VOC-concentration indoor air streams. In this study composite structure of zeolite and metal organic frameworks (MOFs), referred as ZMF, has been fabricated by immobilization of fine MOF-199 powder on foam shaped Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5) Zeolitic structure, referred as ZF. The ZMF possess a uniform and well-dispersed coating of MOF-199 on the porous framework of ZF. It shows higher surface area, pore volume, and VOCs adsorption capacity, as compared to ZF-structure. Post-fabrication changes in selective adsorption properties of ZMF were studied with three common indoor VOCs (benzene, n-hexane, and cyclohexane), using gravimetric adsorption technique. The adsorption capacity of ZMF with different VOCs follow the order of benzene > n-hexane > cyclohexane. In comparison with MOF-199 and ZF, the composite structure ZMF shows improvement in selectivity for benzene from other two VOCs. Further, improvement in efficiency and stability of prepared ZMF was found to be associated with its high MOF loading capacity and unique morphological and structural properties. The developed composite structure with improved VOCs removal and recyclability could be a promising material for small to limited scale air pollution treatment units.     

Advancing ion-exchange membranes to ion-selective membranes: principles,status, and opportunities

● IEM ion/ion selectivities of charge, valence, & specific ion are critically assessed. ● Ion/molecule selectivities of ion/solvent and ion/uncharged solute are reviewed. ● Approaches to advance the selectivities through sorption and migration are analyzed. ● The permeability-selectivity tradeoff appears to be pervasive. ● Ion/molecule selectivities are comparatively underdeveloped and poorly understood. Ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) are utilized in numerous established, emergent, and emerging applications for water, energy, and the environment. This article reviews the five different types of IEM selectivity, namely charge, valence, specific ion, ion/solvent, and ion/uncharged solute selectivities. Technological pathways to advance the selectivities through the sorption and migration mechanisms of transport in IEM are critically analyzed. Because of the underlying principles governing transport, efforts to enhance selectivity by tuning the membrane structural and chemical properties are almost always accompanied by a concomitant decline in permeability of the desired ion. Suppressing the undesired crossover of solvent and neutral species is crucial to realize the practical implementation of several technologies, including bioelectrochemical systems, hypersaline electrodialysis desalination, fuel cells, and redox flow batteries, but the ion/solvent and ion/uncharged solute selectivities are relatively understudied, compared to the ion/ion selectivities. Deepening fundamental understanding of the transport phenomena, specifically the factors underpinning structure-property-performance relationships, will be vital to guide the informed development of more selective IEMs. Innovations in material and membrane design offer opportunities to utilize ion discrimination mechanisms that are radically different from conventional IEMs and potentially depart from the putative permeability-selectivity tradeoff. Advancements in IEM selectivity can contribute to meeting the aqueous separation needs of water, energy, and environmental challenges.