Advanced approach for degradation of recalcitrant by nanophotocatalysis using nanocomposites and their future perspectives

Industrial effluents containing persistent pollutants play a significant role in environmental pollution. Classical techniques such as chlorination, coagulation, ion flotation, membrane process and sedimentation that have been used to decontaminate polluted water are incapable of efficient degradation due to the generation of secondary pollutants. Photocatalysis, an advanced oxidation process in which the photoreaction is accelerated by the irradiation of catalyst, has shown efficient degradation of recalcitrant in water system. Usage of nanoparticles as homogenous photocatalyst has become prevalent due to their improved properties such as large surface-to-volume ratio, controlled uniform particle size and its composition which enhances the degradation rate. The recombination of holes and electron pair which is considered to be the limitation in homogenous system can be overcome by nanocomposites or heterogeneous photocatalysts. This system decreases the rate of recombination, leading to effective degradation of individual pollutants because of their enhanced physicochemical and structural properties. In recent years, heterogeneous nanophotocatalytic processes employing titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO) composites have gained immense research interest as an effective wastewater treatment method because of its efficacy in decomposing and mineralizing the hazardous organic and inorganic pollutants utilizing the UV and visible photons. This paper reviews about the process, synthesis and parameters influencing photocatalytic reaction and their kinetics with much emphasize on types of nanoparticles and nanocomposites and its application in wastewater treatment.     

Transition of TiO_2 in TiO_2/Vermiculite Nanocomposites

The TiO2/vermiculite composites were prepared by in-situ hydrolyzing reaction and in-situ dehydrating reaction of tetrabutyl titanate-hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide intercalated vermiculite. The structural phase transition of TiO2 in TiO2/vermiculite composites calcined at different temperatures was characterized by using XRD and Raman. The results show that at calcination temperature of 800℃ appeared the anatase phase of TiO2 in TiO2/vermiculite nanocomposites, while pure TiO2 is all converted to rutile at the same temperature. The average crystal size of TiO2 in TiO2/vermiculite nanocomposites and pure TiO2 both increase with the calcination temperature. The average grain size of TiO2 in TiO2/vermiculite nanocomposites is less than that of pure TiO2 at the same calcination temperature. The results also show that the silicon-oxygen structure in layered vermiculite structure can effectively depress the phase transformation from anatase to rutile, thus enhancing the transition temperature and inhibitting the growth of anatase crystals.     

凹凸棒石的材料矿物学实验研究

凹凸棒石对有机物,尤其对具有极性或极性基团的有机大分子有强烈的吸附作用,其机理在于它特殊的结构所导致的表面和沸石水孔道中的电性不饱和而产生的电吸附作用。凹凸棒石可以用作高分子PEK-C复合材料的填料,经过缩醛反应对凹凸棒石表面进行改性,可改善填料与基体之间内表面的粘结,提高复合材料的杨氏模量、抗张强度和断裂伸张。     

鄂尔多斯盆地姬塬地区上三叠统长6段储层成岩非均质性

通过对57口钻井的岩心观察,结合岩石薄片、岩石铸体薄片和扫描电镜观测,以及岩石常规物性、X衍射及流体包裹体分析等多种分析测试的综合研究,在明确姬塬地区长6段储层岩石学、物性及成岩作用特征的基础上,探讨了该地区储层成岩非均质的成因及演化过程。研究表明：姬塬地区长6段是以长石砂岩为主的低孔超低渗储层;沉积伊始,受机械分异作用控制,形成原始沉积的孔隙非均质,使不同原始孔隙条件的储层在成岩演化过程中发生差异演化,并经历早期压实、早期酸性水注入、碳酸盐胶结受阻、有机酸及油气注入4个演化阶段,导致储层的成岩非均质性。     

仿油性水基钻井液的试验研究

近期研制成功了一种代号为 JMC的新型水基仿油性钻井液。这种钻井液配方简单 ,具有优良的流变性、滤失性 ,抗污染能力强。和常规的水基钻井液相比 ,JMC仿油性钻井液具有良好的页岩抑制性、润滑性和储层保护性     

高岭石有机插层机理及其复合物的应用

综述了近几十年来国内外高岭石有机插层纳米复合材料领域中有机插层理论的研究进展，主要对插层剂在纳米层问的形态及结构、插层过程中水的作用、吸附与插层、脱嵌过程等方面以及纳米复合材料的应用进行了详细的阐述，并在此基础上提出了该领域研究的重点及热点。     

遥感信息在南水北调西线工程区构造解译中的应用

以南水北调西线工程区的构造解译为例,对信息源选择、波段组合、影像融合、几何精校正、图像镶嵌等一系列处理方法进行针对性研究,证实了该方法组合对南水北调西线工程区的遥感影像处理的有效性,进而建立了色调、形状、地层或岩体被错断、地貌形态差异和水系格局等解译标志.通过对断裂构造解译的实地验证,表明解译准确率达到90%以上,位置误差小于15m.与常规地质调查方法相比,遥感信息具有视域宽广、内容丰富、主要断裂突出、受地面条件限制较少、有效提高野外验证效率的优势.     

Sb–SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles onto kaolinite rods: assembling process and interfacial investigation

In this article, we reported the synthesis of novel Sb–SnO₂/kaolinite (SK) nanocomposites by assembling antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles on the surface of kaolinite rods without addition of dispersant. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N₂ adsorption–desorption techniques. The crystal size and loading density of ATO nanoparticles onto kaolinite rods could be controlled through the synthetic conditions. The color and resistivity of the composites varied with the loading density of ATO nanoparticles. Investigations of the interfacial binding between ATO layer and rod surface indicated that surface characteristics could facilitate the deposition of various metal oxides nanoparticles. XPS analysis demonstrated that the entrance of Sb⁵⁺ into SnO₂ crystallite led to the improvement of conductivity and the color change of the composites. The formation mechanism for SK composites was also discussed.     

State-of-the-art review of soft computing applications in underground excavations

Soft computing techniques are becoming even more popular and particularly amenable to model the complex behaviors of most geotechnical engineering systems since they have demonstrated superior predictive capacity,compared to the traditional methods.This paper presents an overview of some soft computing techniques as well as their applications in underground excavations.A case study is adopted to compare the predictive performances of soft computing techniques including eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost),Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines(MARS),Artificial Neural Networks(ANN),and Support Vector Machine(SVM) in estimating the maximum lateral wall deflection induced by braced excavation.This study also discusses the merits and the limitations of some soft computing techniques,compared with the conventional approaches available.     

新疆达尔布特构造带多元信息综合找矿研究

在新疆达尔布特构造带附近展开多元信息综合找矿时．以遥感方法为先导,采用ETM数据多光谱假彩色合成、主成分分析、HSI编码、边缘增强以及Crosta法蚀变矿物填图等技术,结合化探异常及地质综合分析,圈定找矿靶区;经过部分地表检查验证,新发现矿化点8处,主要位于达尔布特断裂带的下盘,矿化多与花岗闪长岩小岩体有关,突破了前人认为成矿主要位于该断裂带上盘的认识,为区内找矿提供了重要线索,并为研究成矿规律、完善成矿理论提供了有益证据。     

FRP锚杆在岩土锚固中的研究进展

纤维增强复合材料（FRP）锚杆较传统锚杆具有耐腐蚀性强、轻质高强等特点,近年来在岩土锚固领域颇受青睐,代表了未来岩土锚固材料的发展方向,但其研究成果较为零散。材料力学性能研究表明,FRP具有抗拉强度高、长期性能和疲劳性能优良等优点,但存在抗弯和抗剪性能较差、脆性破坏特征显著的缺陷,在岩土锚固设计中需特别考虑;归纳分析了FRP锚固体系的破坏模式,指出锚固体系的失效通常是由多种破坏模式耦合作用的结果;总结FRP锚杆与基体介质界面黏结性能的影响因素、界面黏结强度模型和界面黏结-滑移关系,并探讨了界面剪应力分布规律;最后列举了国内外FRP锚杆的工程应用实例并指出FRP锚杆进一步的研究方向。     

Biotechnology and the future of rice production

Rice breeders are looking to basic bioscience and biotechnology for help in the solution of important problems that conventional breeding methods have not satisfactorily solved. Among these problems are durable resistance to recalcitrant pests and diseases such as yellow stem borer, gall midge, sheath blight, bacterial leaf blight, blast and tungro virus, and tolerance of abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and submergence. Nutrient use efficiency, yield potential and efficient hybrid rice production are additional problems for which biotechnology solutions are envisioned. IRRI's biotechnology program emphasizes techniques such as molecular markers, anther culture and DNA fingerprinting that accelerate conventional breeding, and also techniques such as wide hybridization and genetic engineering that broaden the gene pool that breeders can exploit. IRRI's experience in adopting and adapting biotechnology for use in its own breeding program is shared with the national agricultural research systems of Asia through the Asian Rice Biotechnology Network.     

The presentation of an agro-environmental nanocomposite: the study of its acoustic,physical and mechanical properties

Nanocomposites can be used as an acoustic panel to adsorb noise. The aim of this study was to evaluate: (1) acoustic, (2) physical, and (3) mechanical properties of agro-environmental nanocomposites. To prepare the nanocomposites, wood flour, PVA glue, and aluminum nanoparticles (between 1 and 4 %) were hardly mixed and heated at near 220 °C for 120 min. In the next step, sound absorption coefficient, transmission loss, water absorption percentage, thickness swelling percentage, density, flexural strength, flexural modulus, tensile strength, and tensile modulus of nanocomposites were measured. This study showed that the increase in nanoparticle percentage led to the increase in flexural strength, flexural modulus, water absorption percentage, thickness swelling percentage, density, and sound absorption coefficient. But, the increase in nanoparticle percentage led to the decrease in tensile strength, tensile modulus, and transmission loss. The authors think that the nanocomposites are suitable as an agro-industrial nanocomposite to reduce noise.     

石灰岩细观力学特性的颗粒流模拟

岩体地区地质灾害的发生和发展取决于岩石细观组分的运动学行为。研究岩石运动学行为时通常将岩石作为整体研究对象较多,而直接以细观组分为对象的研究较少。以石灰岩为例,根据室内试验获得的岩石力学性质指标,使用基于非连续介质理论的颗粒流方法,将材料离散成刚性颗粒组成的模型,把颗粒细观变化与宏观力学特性联系起来,建立了石灰岩的细观结构模型,获得了颗粒接触力、颗粒接触模量、接触连接强度和连接刚度比等细观力学参数。由于文中直接以细观成分为研究对象、反映了岩石和岩体组成的本质特点,所得结论不仅对含裂隙岩石本构关系研究具有广阔的应用前景,而且对岩体工程性质和地质灾害机制研究也具有重要的理论意义。     

From microscopic minerals to global climate change?

The study of minerals is often focused on their crystallographic properties, chemistry and economic importance, and so their breakdown, or 'weathering'. by physical, chemical and biological processes is less well understood. However, mineral weathering is of considerable environmental significance. The interaction of minerals with water and microbes, such as algae and bacteria, controls soil fertility, the transportation of pollutants through the ground, and ultimately the removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere over geological timescales. Therefore, minerals are a key factor in moderating global climate change. This article introduces conventional and new techniques that are being used by geologists to investigate these processes.     

Applications of Particle Swarm Optimization in Geotechnical Engineering: A Comprehensive Review

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is an evolutionary computation approach to solve nonlinear global optimization problems. The PSO idea was made based on simulation of a simplified social system, the graceful but unpredictable choreography of birds flock. This system is initialized with a population of random solutions that are updated during iterations. Over the last few years, PSO has been extensively applied in various geotechnical engineering aspects such as slope stability analysis, pile and foundation engineering, rock and soil mechanics, and tunneling and underground space design. A review on the literature shows that PSO has utilized more widely in geotechnical engineering compared with other civil engineering disciplines. This is due to comprehensive uncertainty and complexity of problems in geotechnical engineering which can be solved by using the PSO abilities in solving the complex and multi-dimensional problems. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the applicability, advantages and limitation of PSO in different disciplines of geotechnical engineering to provide an insight to an alternative and superior optimization method compared with the conventional optimization techniques for geotechnical engineers.     

GENERALIZED FLOW LAWS OF POLYPHASE ROCKS: AN OVERVIEW

Rheological properties of polyphase rocks play an important role in the dynamics of the lithosphere and asthenosphere. However, such fundamental issues have not been well resolved. A theoretical analysis has been made to develop expressions for the flow laws of polyphase rocks in terms of the volume fractions and flow laws of their constituent phases. The flow strengths predicted by the proposed model for common crustal and upper mantle rocks such as granite, diorite, diabase and lherzolite, and for synthetic two-phase composites such as forsterite-enstatite and water ice-ammonia dehydrate aggregates are in good agreement with previously determined experimental values. The proposed theoretical model allows one to calculate, to the first approximation, the flow laws of a large number of polyphase rocks at geologic conditions based on the experimentally determined flow laws of a relatively small number of monomineralic aggregates.     

GENERALIZED FLOW LAWS OF POLYPHASE ROCKS: AN OVERVIEW

Rheological properties of polyphase rocks play an important role in the dynamics of the lithosphere and asthenosphere. However, such fundamental issues have not been well resolved. A theoretical analysis has been made to develop expressions for the flow laws of polyphase rocks in terms of the volume fractions and flow laws of their constituent phases. The flow strengths predicted by the proposed model for common crustal and upper mantle rocks such as granite, diorite, diabase and lherzolite, and for synthetic two-phase composites such as forsterite-enstatite and water ice-ammonia dehydrate aggregates are in good agreement with previously determined experimental values. The proposed theoretical model allows one to calculate, to the first approximation, the flow laws of a large number of polyphase rocks at geologic conditions based on the experimentally determined flow laws of a relatively small number of monomineralic aggregates.     

钉形水泥土双向搅拌桩加固软土地基的效果分析

针对水泥土搅拌桩应用中存在的问题,介绍了最新研制的钉形水泥土双向搅拌桩及其施工工艺。施工质量检验表明,钉形水泥土双向搅拌桩桩体质量好于常规水泥土搅拌桩,钉形水泥土双向搅拌桩单桩及复合地基承载力分别较常规水泥土搅拌桩的单桩及复合地基承载力有较大提高。通过对试验段的观测成果分析,论证了钉形水泥土双向搅拌桩加固软土地基优越的工程特性。     

Numerical evaluation of mean-field homogenisation methods for predicting shale elastic response

Homogenisation techniques have been successfully used to estimate the mechanical response of synthetic composite materials, due to their ability to relate the macroscopic mechanical response to the material microstructure. The adoption of these mean-field techniques in geo-composites such as shales is attractive, partly because of the practical difficulties associated with the experimental characterisation of these highly heterogeneous materials. In this paper, numerical modelling has been undertaken to investigate the applicability of homogenisation methods in predicting the macroscopic, elastic response of clayey rocks. The rocks are considered as two-level composites consisting of a porous clay matrix at the first level and a matrix-inclusion morphology at the second level. The simulated microstructures ranged from a simple system of one inclusion/void embedded in a matrix to complex, random microstructures. The effectiveness and limitations of the different homogenisation schemes were demonstrated through a comparative evaluation of the macroscopic elastic response, illustrating the appropriate schemes for upscaling the microstructure of shales. Based on the numerical simulations and existing experimental observations, a randomly distributed pore system for the micro-structure of porous clay matrix has been proposed which can be used for the subsequent development and validation of shale constitutive models. Finally, the homogenisation techniques were used to predict the experimental measurements of elastic response of shale core samples. The developed methodology is proved to be a valuable tool for verifying the accuracy and performance of the homogenisation techniques.