Short-term greenhouse emission lowering effect of biochars from solid organic municipal wastes

Qatar economy has been growing rapidly during the last two decades during which waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions increased exponentially making them among the main environmental challenges facing the country. Production of biochar from municipal solid organic wastes (SOWs) for soil application may offer a sustainable waste management strategy while improving crop productivity and sequestering carbon. This study was conducted to (1) investigate the physicochemical parameters of biochars for SOW, (2) select the best-performing biochars for soil fertility, and (3) evaluate the potential benefits of these biochars in lowering greenhouse gases (GHGs) during soil incubation. Biochars were produced from SOW at pyrolysis temperatures of 300–750 °C and residence times of 2–6 h. Biochars were characterized before use in soil incubation to select the best-performing treatment and evaluation of potential GHG-lowering effect using CO₂ emission as proxy. Here, soil–biochar mixtures (0–2%w/w) were incubated in greenhouse settings for 120 days at 10% soil moisture. Soil properties, such as pH, EC, TC, and WHC, were significantly improved after soil amendment with biochar. Two biochars produced from mixed materials at 300–500 °C for 2 h and used at 0.5–1% application rate performed the best in enhancing soil fertility parameters. A significant decrease in CO₂ emission was observed in vials with soil–biochar mixtures, especially for biochars produced at 500 °C compared the corresponding raw materials which exhibited an exponential increase in the CO₂ emission. Hence, application of biochar to agricultural soils could be beneficial for simultaneously improving soil fertility/crop productivity while sequestering carbon, thereby reducing anthropogenic emissions of GHGs.     

Photodegradation of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) by UV–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in aqueous solution: operational parameters and kinetic analysis

In this paper, the adsorption and degradation phenomenon involved in the photocatalytic degradation of dimethyl phthalates (DMPs) by titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was studied. A variety of operating variables were selected firstly. Then, it was proved that even for such weak adsorption properties molecules as DMP, adsorption was still an important prerequisite for photolysis. A surface-mediated reaction process was proposed that the photodegradation of DMP assisted by TiO₂ particles occurred primarily at the surface of the photocatalyst rather than in the homogeneous phase. According to Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, the adsorption constant determined from the dark adsorption was far less than that obtained in the light condition. Enhanced DMP adsorption on the surface of TiO₂ under irradiation was the possible reason for the improvement of photodegradation efficiency. Under the irradiation of light, a synergistic mechanism of adsorption and photocatalysis was responsible for DMP degradation. The quantitative analysis by adding scavengers indicated that ^·OH radical was primarily responsible for the photodegradation of DMP. It was further verified that ^·OH was produced much more from conduction band electrons rather than valance band holes toward photodegradation of DMP by adding foreign Cu²⁺.     

Effect of confining stress and loading frequency on dynamic behavior of municipal solid waste in Kahrizak landfill

In order to analyze the stability of a landfill site, it should analyze some properties of waste introducing the main structural elements. Up to now, it has not been done much research on the properties of municipal solid waste. In addition, due to the differences in waste properties from one country to another and even from one to another landfill site, it is impossible to generalize the results. These conditions caused local research on the evaluation of static and dynamic parameters of municipal solid waste to be done. Because Iran is a seismic country, the short-term behavior of waste controls landfill sites stability during seismic loads; so it is necessary to know the dynamic behavior of these materials. In this paper, about 18 cyclic tests were performed, and in addition to determining the dynamic parameters of municipal solid waste of Tehran Kahrizak Disposal Site using cyclic triaxial test, the effect of confining stress and loading frequency on dynamic properties of these materials was evaluated. The results have shown that with increasing the confining stress and loading frequency, shear modulus and damping ratio was increased and decreased, respectively, and it is related to the composition of the municipal solid waste materials.     

Preservation of thermophilic mixed culture for anaerobic palm oil mill effluent treatment by convective drying methods

The generation of huge amount of liquid waste known as palm oil mill effluent is a major problem in oil palm industry. Meanwhile, anaerobic biodegradation of such organic effluent at thermophilic condition is a promising treatment technology due to its high efficiency. However, storage and transportation of thermophilic mixed culture sludge are challenging due to constant biogas generation and heating requirement. Hence, drying of thermophilic sludge was conducted to obtain dormant thermophiles and thus enables easier handling. In this study, thermophilic sludge was dried using heat pump at 22 and 32 °C as well as hot air oven at 40, 50, 60, and 70 °C. Subsequently, quality of dried sludge was examined based on most probable number enumeration, chemical oxygen demand, and methane yield. Average drying rate was found to increase from 3.21 to 17.84 g H₂O/m² min as drying temperatures increases while average moisture diffusivity values ranges from 5.07 × 10^?9 to 4.34 × 10^?8 m²/s. Oven drying of thermophilic mixed culture resulted in highest chemical oxygen demand removal and lowest log reduction of anaerobes at 53.41% and 2.16, respectively, while heat pump drying resulted in the highest methane yield and lowest log reduction of methanogens at 53.4 ml CH₄/g COD and 2.09, respectively. To conclude, heat pump at 22 °C was most suitable drying technique for thermophilic mixed culture as the original methane-producing capability was largely retained after drying, at a slightly lower yet still comparable chemical oxygen demand removal when palm oil mill effluent was treated with the rehydrated culture.     

Impact of a Jet A-1/HEFA blend on the performance and emission characteristics of a miniature turbojet engine

It is forecast that in the future, alternative fuels derived from non-petroleum sources will become the basic propellant for turbine aircraft engines. Currently, five types of aviation turbine fuel containing synthesized hydrocarbons are certified and accepted, and allow adding a maximum of 50% of synthetic component to conventional fuel. The experimental performance and the emission characteristics of a turbojet engine were investigated in this paper. The studies were conducted with the use of a miniature turbojet engine, which is the main component of a laboratory test rig. The test rig is an interesting solution for engine research, due to the fact that studies concerning full-scale aircraft engines are very complex and expensive. The literature of the subject contains many papers using small-scale turbojet engines for testing alternative fuels. However, most of them concern components of fuels, e.g. biodiesel, butanol, which do not have direct application in aviation. Two different fuel samples, a conventional Jet A-1 fuel and a blend of 48% synthesized paraffinic kerosene from hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids process with Jet A-1 were tested. This process is one of the routes of producing alternative fuel for aviation, approved by ASTM standard. The test rig studies were performed according to a specific profile of engine test, which models different modes of a turbojet engine’s operation. The obtained results are compared in relation to the results for neat Jet A-1 fuel and then discussed.     

Isolation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus cereus</Emphasis> from botanical soil and subsequent biodegradation of waste engine oil

Waste engine oil causes a vital environmental pollution when it spill during change and transportation and products of waste engine oil causes lethal effects to the living systems. Thus, abiotic and biotic approaches are being extensively used for removal of waste engine oil pollution. Therefore in present study, waste engine oil degradation was accomplished by a new bacterial culture, isolated from the soil by an enrichment technique. Morphological, biochemical and gene sequence analysis revealed that isolate was Bacillus cereus. Subsequently, biodegradation potential of B. cereus for waste engine oil was studied. Experimental variables, such as pH, substrate concentration, inoculum size, temperature and time on the biodegradation, were checked in mineral salt medium. The biodegradation efficiency of B. cereus was determined by gravimetry, UV–visible spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. In addition, waste engine oil was also characterized by GC–MS and FTIR for its major constituents, which showed total 38 components in waste engine oil, including hopanes, benzopyrene, long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons, dibenzothiophenes, biphenyl and their derivatives. Results of successive biodegradation indicated that B. cereus was capable to degrade 1% of waste engine oil with 98.6% degradation potential at pH 7 within 20 days. Hence, B. cereus presents an innovative tool for removing the engine oil from the contaminated area.     

Application of magnetic adsorbent with silicate and phenyl polymers to adsorb Rhodamine B

The extensive use of Rhodamine B (RhB) for textile, paper, pigment, food, cosmetic, and drug manufacturing and its indiscriminate disposal leads to serious human, biological, and environmental hazards. A magnetic adsorbent with silicate and phenyl polymers (Ph/SiO₂/Fe₃O₄) has been prepared to absorb RhB. The morphology and structure of the adsorbents have been characterized by TGA, XRD, FTIR, and adsorption–desorption measurement. The results revealed that Ph/SiO₂/Fe₃O₄ exhibited a paramagnetic behavior and could easily and quickly be separated from a suspension. The RhB adsorption behavior was almost pH independent due to the adsorption between the phenyl ring of Ph/SiO₂/Fe₃O₄ and RhB by π–π electron-donor–acceptor interactions. The adsorption behavior of RhB adsorption was in good agreement with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 142.186 mg g^?1. Good desorption performance of Ph/SiO₂/Fe₃O₄ showed that this novel magnetic adsorbent cannot only be activated by ethanol extraction process but also reuse by the recovery of magnetic force.     

Non-woven polypropylene fabric modified with carbon nanotubes and decorated with nanoakaganeite for arsenite removal

Due to its harmful impact on human health, the presence of heavy metals, metalloids and other toxic pollutants in drinking or irrigation water is a major concern. Recent studies have proved that nanosized adsorbents are significantly more effective than their microsized counterparts. Particular attention has been given to nanocomposites with nanoadsorbents embedded in matrixes that could provide stability to the material and contribute to eliminating problems that may appear when using conventional granular systems. This study presents the preparation of a novel hybrid filter from a commercially available polypropylene (PP) non-woven fabric matrix modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and iron oxy(hydroxide) nanoparticles, and its use in the removal of As(III). A Box–Behnken statistical experimental design has been chosen to explore relevant variables affecting the filter performance: (1) As(III) concentration, (2) pH and (3) sorbent dose. From an As(III) concentration of 10 mg L^?1, at pH 6.5 and with a sorbent dose of 5 g L^?1, the PP filter modified with MWCNT removes 10% of the initial metalloid concentration, reaching a capacity of 0.27 mg g^?1. After modification with iron oxy(hydroxide), the performance of the material is largely enhanced. The filter, under the same conditions, removes 90% of the initial As(III) concentration, reaching a capacity almost tenfold higher (2.54 mg g^?1). This work demonstrates that the developed hybrid filter is effective toward the removal of As(III) in a wide range of pHs. A cubic regression model to compute the removal of the filter as a function of pH and sorbent dose is provided.     

Hydrogeochemical Features of Thermal Waters of South Trungbo (Central Vietnam)

The results of studying the features of the hydrogeological structure and chemical and isotope composition of thermal waters from the central part of Vietnam that are characterized by intense manifestations of intrusive magmatism are presented. It is established that low–and high–thermal waters with temperature varying within 30–85°C are developed in the area under study. The value of total mineralization of the hydrotherms ranges from 0.05 to 10.05 g/dm³. It is assumed that the circulation of thermal waters that are different in temperature and chemical composition occurs at two levels. The regular change of the hydrotherm composition in the direction from mineralized chloride sodium, including with increased Ca content, to fresh sodium bicarbonate is revealed. The ratio of δ¹⁸O–δ²H isotopes indicates that the water component is based on meteoric water. In the coastal areas, there is an isotope shift towards the ocean waters, which is also confirmed by the hydrogeochemical data. The key factors for forming the chemical composition of the thermal waters in South Trungbo are their genetic type, the interaction processes in the “water–rock–gas–organic substance” system, and their equilibrium–nonequilibrium state.     

The Lower Paleogene Biostratigraphic Scale of the Northern Pacific Based on Deep-Water Benthic Foraminifera

Based on the stratigraphic distribution of benthic foraminifera in the lower bathyal–abyssal sediments uncovered by boreholes drilled under the framework of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and Ocean Drilling Project (ODP) in the Northern and Southern Pacific, the Lower Paleogene biostratigraphic zonal scale based on deep-water benthic foraminifera is proposed. The proposed scale includes eight subdivisions: six zones and two subzones. The boundaries of the zonal subdivisions are determined by biotic events (appearance or disappearance (extinction)) of stratigraphically important taxa and are correlated to the zonal scales based on planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nanoplankton. Most of these events are considered to be subglobal.