Detection of fluorescent compounds in the environment using granular activated charcoal detectors

Granular activated charcoal (GAC) acts as a general adsorptive medium for organic molecules, and is widely used to capture fluorescent tracer dyes. To investigate the capability of GAC in contaminant screening and tracer adsorption, a number of detectors were deployed for 2-6 days in a range of urban surface waters, and the adsorbed compounds eluted in an alkaline alcohol solution. Simultaneous water samples showed a diverse range of fluorescence environments, ranging from relatively clean, steady groundwater discharge, to highly concentrated and variable treated municipal sewage. A wide variety of organic compounds and dyes were found in the waters, as chronic and acute contaminants. The relationship between charcoal and water spectra depended on exposure time and loading. Short exposure times emphasized short wavelengths, longer exposure times emphasized longer wavelengths at the expense of shorter wavelengths. The magnitude of the effect depended on loading, being greater in enriched waters. In general, charcoal eluent shows a significant gain in fluorescence intensity over water. However, there may be an apparent loss at shorter wavelengths for samples with long exposure times and high loading. A similar bias was also discovered with the elution time of activated charcoal. Short wavelength fluorescence intensity peaked after a few minutes of elution; longer wavelength fluorescence increased over many days. These results show that charcoal is a reasonably effective material for adsorption of longer wavelength compounds. However, the ubiquity of many fluorescent dyes in the environment, and the complex relationship between the waters and the eluent spectrum, suggest that considerable care is required in the interpretation of eluent spectra.     

Removal of copper ions from aqueous solution using silica derived from rice straw: comparison with activated charcoal

The batch removal of copper(II) ions from aqueous solution under different experimental conditions using alkali-leached silica and activated charcoal was investigated in this study. The copper(II) uptake was dependent on varying time, pH, copper concentration and temperature. Copper sorption was found fast reaching equilibrium within 1 h with better performance for alkali-leached silica than charcoal. Copper sorption was low at low pH values and increased with rise in initial pH-value until 6.7. Sorption fits well the Langmuir and Freundlich equations with higher uptake by increasing temperature. According to Langmuir equation, the maximum uptake of Cu(II) ions by alkali-leached SiO₂ and charcoal was found to be 242.5 and 94.4 mmol/g at temperature 60 °C and pH 6. Thermodynamic studies confirm that the process was spontaneous and endothermic nature. Kinetic data for Cu(II) sorption was found to follow pseudo-second-order model.     

Enhanced control of activated sludge process using predetermined set-points

The performance of activated sludge process (ASP) is evaluated by the effluent quality which is determined by five different variables of the treated wastewater such as ammonia, total nitrogen, COD, BOD₅ and TSS. To keep these five variables within the limits as per environmental regulations, nitrate and nitrite concentration (S _NO) in the second anoxic reactor and the dissolved oxygen concentration (S _O) in the last aerobic reactor of the ASP should be maintained at prescribed levels. To do that, a closed-loop control configuration is required and proper set-points for these closed-loop control configurations are needed. In this paper, the optimal values of controller set-points are determined for nitrogen removal in the activated sludge process. Effluent quality limits have been considered to evaluate the optimal set-points for the Indian climatic conditions. Once the optimal set-points are determined, PI controllers are used to control S _NO in the second anoxic reactor and S _O in the last aerobic reactor of the ASP. Further, feed-forward control is incorporated to minimize the effect of disturbances, which enters along with the influent. No case studies of BSM1 model have been reported in the literature for the Indian wastewater. In this work, the dynamic simulation of an activated sludge process is performed using the data collected from the sewage treatment plant, located in India. The results of the simulation showed that feed-forward with PI control strategy, ASP can be efficiently controlled without any effluent violations, when compared to BSM1.     

用Monte Carlo方法模拟砂土的自然堆积过程

用MonteCarlo随机模拟方法模拟砂土颗粒在重力作用下,在圆柱与长方体容器中的自然堆积过程。首先用参考网格法生成一个砂土颗粒的松散结构,松散结构中粒子与粒子、粒子与边界间不存在任何接触;然后启动MonteCarlo随机模拟算法,即给处于松散结构中的每个粒子施加随机位移,得到新构形,如果新构形中粒子间或粒子与边界间发生重叠,则放弃这个构形;如果没有重叠存在,则判别粒子体系的势能变化,运用Metropolis准则来判别这个构形是否被接受,重复这个过程可以得到砂土的密集堆积结构。采用Schinner建议的接触发现算法判别粒子间是否存在重叠,同时详细介绍了粒子与边界间的接触发现算法。模拟结果表明,用MonteCarlo方法模拟砂土的自然堆积结构是非常有效的,可以为砂土的流动、压实等的数值模拟工作提供初始构形。     

Nitrate depuration of secondary sewage effluents in mangrove sediments

The sewage treatment plant (STP) at La Parguera, on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, discharges an average of 228,000 dm³ of secondary sewage effluents per day into percolation ponds located at the landward margin of the coastal mangrove fringe. Effluents flowing from the STP percolation ponds to the adjacent mangrove fringe typically exhibited nitrate levels between 0.2 mM and 1.0 mM. Experimental determination of actual and potential denitrification using acetylene block and substrate disappearance techniques indicate that mangrove sediment microbial communities are capable of depurating 10 to 15 times the nitrate added in the STP effluent. Plots of porewater salinities vs nitrate concentrations show exponential decay of nitrate concentration. Our observations confirm the potential of mangrove sediment-microbial communities for nitrate depuration of secondary sewage effluents.     

Treatability of resin effluents by electrochemical oxidation using batch recirculation reactor

Electro oxidation processes are developed throughout the world for ambient temperature destruction of organic wastes. Several of these processes are based on mediated electrochemical oxidation. This article presents the experimental results of electro chemical study based on mediated electrochemical oxidation process conducted for synthetic organic ion exchange resin materials. Investigation was carried out using the traditional noble metal oxide coated anode, ruthenium oxide-titanium and the mediator used for the experiment was ferrous sulphate, with sodium chloride as supporting electrolyte. The concentration of sodium chloride was maintained at 5, 8, 12 gm/L. The experiment was carried out in batch recirculation reactor with varied current densities for various flow rates. The study highlighted that in batch reactor set up the best effect of total organic content reduction was found to occur at 3.75 A/dm² with flow rate of 20 L/h. The simulated studies were carried out for different volumes of effluent and current densities. A graphical analysis was made between the experimental and simulated values and it was found that both the values are very close.     

Permineralization process promotes preservation of Holocene macrofossil charcoal in soils

The use of macrofossil soil charcoal as a palaeoecological tool to reconstruct past vegetation, climate or fire history has gained much interest in recent years. Yet little is known about taphonomy of charcoal in soils. Here we assessed the putative loss of palaeoecological information due to charcoal fragmentation after burial. We found no significant loss of charcoal mass with time. Instead, we found a significant positive relationship between the mass of charcoal particles and their age. Permineralization of charcoal particles older than ca. 5200 a explained the increased charcoal mass with time in mineral soils. The permineralization process increased the density of charcoal particles (resulting in a twofold particles mass increase) and thus offers a protection against subsequent degradation. Our results suggest high stability of palaeoecological information from charcoal macrofossils buried in mineral soils at least over the Holocene timescale. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Field and laboratory procedures for determining gold in natural waters: Relative merits of preconcentration with activated charcoal

The critical parameters and merits of a method to determine Au in waters by initial adsorption on to activated charcoal, and measurement by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) have been examined. Neutron activation analysis of the filtered charcoal substrate has been the prevalent methodology employed in recent years to determine Au in waters.Results of this study show that pH adjustment and intense mixing of the activated charcoal in the sample are prerequisites to complete adsorption of the Au. Thus, provided that such preparation facilities exist in the field area, this method would enable low-cost shipment of filtered activated charcoal discs to the laboratory where they would be analyzed relatively inexpensively and rapidly by GFAAS. A determination limit of 0.5 ng L⁻¹ (parts per trillion), based on adsorption from a 1-L sample, is achieved with a relative standard deviation of about ± 10% at the 5 ng L⁻¹ level. However, if acidification and filtration are not possible in the field or within a one-day delay period, then an alternate method is proposed. The litre sample would be sent to the laboratory where bromine-hydrochloric acid would be added to desorb the Au lost to the container walls and the water evaporated, the extract obtained and analysed by GFAAS. This approach is more time-consuming in the laboratory and entails costly shipment of bulky samples but may be the only feasible choice for some field situations.Application of this methodology to a small study area in British Columbia indicates the potential of analyzing surface waters for Au for geochemical exploration purposes.     

Biodegradation of Cypermethrin by Pseudomonas in a batch activated sludge process

The biodegradation of Cypermethrin (20 to 125 mg/L) in an effluent using batch activated sludge was studied. Degradation was found to occur to a great extent only in the presence of Pseudomonas (IES-Ps-1) culture. Under aerobic conditions using mechanical aerators, Cypermethrin (20 mg/L) was almost completely degraded in just over 48 h at ambient temperature. Further loading of organic compound in subsequent experiments demonstrated that IES-PS-1was capable to degrade 82 % Cypermethrin at 40 mg/L dose in approximately 48 h. When the concentration was increased to 80 mg/L, 50% degradation of this compound was observed. Over this time period the cells could utilize only 17 % of Cypermethrin when it was given 125 mg/L, respectively. These findings indicate that increased concentration of Cypermethrin has a marked effect on biodegradation performance of IES-Ps-1 with a modest increased in the duration of lag phase, but did not lead to complete inhibition or cell death. These results proved that IES-Ps-1 is responsible for Cypermethrin degradation. Such finding may be useful in designing a scale-up in situ or on-site hazardous waste bioremediation process for field application.     

砂箱模型模拟休耕田区以砂桩补注地下水对溶质传输影响

水田在休耕期间蓄水,除了可维持水田原有之生态机能外,亦可增加土壤水分涵养与补注地下水.利用砂箱来模拟休耕田区中打入砂桩以补注地下水时,砂桩存在对灌溉水中之溶质在土壤中传输之影响.由试验结果得知当砂桩贯穿牛踏层时可增加水分入渗速率约40倍,相对的,砂桩亦加速溶质在不同土壤层间之传输速率,尤其在牛踏层下方之土壤为砂层时,其影响更为显著.因此,蓄水过程中需注意水源之品质,以避免土壤与地下水受污染.     

Effect of activated carbon on microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation of sand

Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a sustainable technique to transform or improve physical and mechanical properties of soils. This paper aims to study the effect of activated carbon (AC) on the property of bio-treated China Standard sand. Six sample groups were prepared considering various dosages of cementation solutions and bacterial suspensions. In each group, samples were prepared at six different AC ratios (0%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% by weight of sand). Bacterial retention ability, calcium carbonate mass, unconfined compression strength (UCS), and microstructures of bio-treated samples were examined and evaluated in the presence of AC. It was found that the improved yield of calcium carbonate crystals and increased UCS were correlated to the enhanced bacterial retention ability attributed to AC. In addition, the test results showed that the amount of cementation solution played an important role in the MICP process, but volume variation of the bacterial suspension had a little effect on the bio-treated samples.     

利用滩坝砂体规模研究古风力的定量恢复*

古风力是一项重要的古气候指标,其定量恢复是一个难题。风作用于水体产生的波浪大小间接地反映了风力,能够为古风力的恢复提供思路。发育于破浪带和冲浪回流带的破浪沙坝、沿岸沙坝分别记录了破浪和冲浪过程,作者分别介绍利用古湖泊中发育的破浪沙坝和沿岸沙坝进行古波况和古风力恢复的原理和操作流程。(1)根据破浪沙坝的几何形态,可以将其厚度与破浪水深建立函数关系,而破浪水深又由破浪波高决定,因此破浪沙坝厚度可以恢复破浪波高,据此可以进一步根据波浪统计关系恢复有效波高、根据风浪关系恢复风力。此方法依托以下3个参数: 单期次的破浪沙坝厚度、破浪沙坝的基座坡角、古风程。(2)沿岸沙坝厚度近似记录了冲浪的极限高度,后者受控于有效波高,据此也可以恢复有效波高和风力。此方法依托以下5个参数: 单期次的沿岸沙坝厚度、古(平均)水深、古风程、古风向相对于岸线的入射角、组成沿岸沙坝的沉积物粒度。上述2种方法综合性较强,涉及古风向、古地形坡度、风程或盆地直径、古水深等参数的恢复,需要综合运用古地貌恢复、去压实校正、古岸线识别、古水深恢复等技术,并需要结合波浪理论。古湖泊滨岸带地层中保存有大量的滩坝沉积,利用其恢复古波况和古风况具有一定的应用前景,能够有助于更详细地重建沉积盆地的古地理背景。     

Modifying the mechanical properties of sand by using different hydrophobic conditions

Acta Geotechnica - Constructing a hydrophobic barrier structure is an effective means in reducing rainwater infiltration and maintaining the stability of earthen structures. The hydraulic...     

Statistical analysis of sand grain/bed collision process recorded by high-speed digital camera

A high‐speed digital camera was employed to record the sand grain/bed collision process. With image processing and a statistical method, a series of parameters of the collision process were obtained. The results show that the collision process of a grain with rebounding can be represented by two parameters: the kinetic energy restitution coefficient and the collision angle. Both parameters satisfy a normal distribution, and they are dependent on one another. With an increase of the collision angle, the distribution of the kinetic energy restitution gradually reduces from a broad to a narrow range with low values. The percentage of vertical velocity restitution coefficients greater than 1 can reach 70% or more, which ensures that the settling time of the sand grains in the air increases and that they receive more energy from the air to progress the saltation movement.     

Treatment of oily sludge by advanced oxidation process

For treating oily sludge, wet peroxide oxidation (WPO) and catalytic wet oxidation (CWO) were investigated. The CWO experiment was carried out in a 0.5?L batch reactor using FeCl₃ as catalyst. By using WPO, the effects of reaction parameters such as residence time, temperature, H₂O₂ excess, and initial COD were investigated. The results demonstrated that >80?% chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed by CWO and >90?% COD was removed by WPO. Significantly, more of COD could be removed from the oily sludge by adding H₂O₂ in small doses. In conclusion, WPO was much more effective in the removal of organic compounds from oily sludge.     

砂土中开口管桩沉桩过程的颗粒流模拟研究

基于颗粒流理论,采用PFC2D程序,模拟再现不同型号开口管桩在沉桩过程中土塞的形成演化规律、土颗粒细观结构变化以及桩周土应力场分布情况,并通过分析土体细观变化模式揭示沉桩过程中宏观力学响应的内在机制。计算结果表明,管桩直径对土塞效应影响很大,外径为30 mm的开口管桩,沉桩过程中土塞增量填充率（IFR）值较小,土塞效应明显,土塞高度小,类似闭口桩;随着管桩直径的增大,土塞效应迅速减小,大直径管桩在砂土中沉桩全部闭塞的可能性很小。细观因素（孔隙率和滑动比例）与土体宏观位移表现之间存在着明显的相互对应关系,并依此将桩周土划分3个区域。桩周土体水平应力、竖向应力和剪应力都在桩底附近形成“应力核”,不同型号管桩桩周土应力场分布相近。     

The accumulation of silver and gold in Lemna gibba L. exposed to secondary effluents

Aquatic plants are used as a practical and effective method to remove toxic metals from secondary-treated municipal wastewater. In this study, Lemna gibba was investigated for its capacity to remove silver (Ag) and gold (Au) from secondary effluents. L. gibba was collected from a natural lake and then acclimatized to the effluent in situ. The concentration of toxic elements in the plant material was monitored as a function of time over 7 days. L. gibba accumulated significant amounts of Ag and Au for six days from initiation of the experimental study. The highest accumulations were 2303% for Ag and 247% for Au. However, after six days, the rate of Ag and Au accumulation in L. gibba declined, as saturation levels had been reached in the plant tissues. The metal accumulating property of L. gibba can also be commercially exploited to recover Au and Ag from wastewater and mining wastes.     

粉细砂层中锚索施工涌水涌砂的处理技术

广州市良业大厦基坑支护工程存在较厚的淤泥质粉细砂层,预应力锚索锚点位置处于粉细砂层中时,锚索施工易发生涌水涌砂现象而引发基坑事故。施工过程中通过采取跟管钻进干钻成孔、墙后孔口设置止浆袋及墙后注浆的处理措施,减少了锚索施工过程中涌水涌砂现象的发生,避免了因涌水涌砂水土流失造成基坑外地面下沉而引发的基坑事故。     

Treatment of arsenic rich waters by the HDS process

Arsenic contaminated waters are not uncommon; indeed from naturally occurring contaminated waters through to those that are a direct consequence of human activities such as mining, all are affecting the quality of water resources worldwide. The ever increasing demands on natural water resources mean that the effective control of this toxic contaminant is paramount and this is reflected in the ever increasing global legislation.There are currently three mechanisms by which arsenic is commercially treated in effluents. These are physical separation processes such as reverse osmosis, precipitation/adsorption processes, some of which are bacterially assisted, and a whole variety of ion exchange processes, again with some bacterial enhancement. The choice of treatment is not only driven by cost but by the chemistry of the water and the water quality standard to be met.In this study a very high arsenic enriched groundwater, containing in excess of 25,000 µg/L arsenic, was treated by a typical treatment method through a continuously operated pilot plant. In the treatment, iron III salts were added to the influent in order to form precipitates with the arsenic and to form an adsorptive surface that would assist with treatment of the enriched water. This addition of iron III salts for the removal of arsenic is common practice in the water treatment industry as the resulting iron III arsenates are highly stable.However, results from the pilot plant show that the process was further enhanced by the addition of small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidising reagent and assists in ensuring the complete conversion of any arsenic III to arsenic V that was then effectively removed in the pilot plant. After treatment residual arsenic levels of 10 µg/L were obtained compared to 68 µg/L without oxidation reagent addition.