Effect of Mn2+ on the phosphorus removal and bioflocculation under anoxic condition.

Manganese ion (Mn2+) generated from metallurgical, steel making and chemical industries enters sewage treatment plants and affects the sludge activity and flocculation. The effect of Mn2+ on the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total phosphorus (TP) and sludge activity were investigated in anoxic zone of an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2O) process. The compositions and structures of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were characterized using three-dimensional excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to reveal the relationship among Mn2+, EPS and sludge flocculation. The results showed that low concentration of Mn2+ (<5 mg/L) improved removal efficiencies of COD and TP and increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase. Meanwhile, the addition of Mn2+ increased total EPS, sludge contact angle, Zeta potential and sludge particle size, and thus enhanced sludge flocculation. However, high concentration of Mn2+ (>10 mg/L) hindered microbial flocculation and reduced removal efficiencies of the pollutants. When Mn2+was 5 mg/L, removal efficiencies of COD and TP reached 65% and 90%, respectively. Sludge flocculation was the best and SVI was 70.56 mL/g. The changes of Mn2+ concentration caused deviation of groups' compositions in LB-EPS and TB-EPS, where the main components were always protein (PN) and polysaccharide (PS). The addition of Mn2+ resulted in the degradation of humic acids. However, it did not give rise to significant morphology changes of EPS.

Controllable Synthesis of Zn-Doped α-Fe2O3 Nanowires for H2S Sensing.

One-dimensional Zn-doped α-Fe2O3 nanowires have been controllably synthesized by using the pure pyrite as the source of Fe element through a two-step synthesis route, including the preparation of Fe source solution by a leaching process and the thermal conversion of the precursor solution into α-Fe2O3 nanowires by the hydrothermal and calcination process. The microstructure, morphology, and surface composition of the obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the formation process of α-Fe2O3 is significantly influenced by the introduction of Zn2+. The gas sensing measurements indicated that the sensor based on 1% Zn-doped α-Fe2O3 nanowires showed excellent H2S sensing properties at the optimum operating temperature of 175 °C. Notably, the sensor showed a low H2S detection limit of 50 ppb with a sensor response of 1.5. Such high-performance sensing would be ascribed to the one-dimensional structure and high specific surface area of the prepared 1% Zn-doped α-Fe2O3 nanowires, which can not only provide a large number of surface active sites for the adsorption and reaction of the oxygen and H2S molecules, but also facilitate the diffusion of the gas molecules towards the entire sensing materials.

Influence of Synthesis Conditions on Microstructure and NO2 Sensing Properties of WO3 Porous Films Synthesized by Non-Hydrolytic Sol⁻Gel Method.

Nanostructured tungsten trioxide porous films were prepared by a non-hydrolytic sol⁻gel method following the inorganic route in which ethanol and PEG were used as the oxygen-donor and structure-directing reagent, respectively. The effects of aging time of the precursor solution, PEG content, and calcination temperature on the structure, morphology, and NO2 sensing properties of WO3 films were systematically investigated by using the techniques of X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and gas sensing measurements. The results demonstrated that a series of WO3 films with different microstructures could be obtained by manipulating the synthesis parameters. Furthermore, a suitable synthesis condition of WO3 films for NO2 sensing application was determined.

[Biosorptive-flotation and desorption operation of heavy metals from wastewater effluents by Gordona amarae].

The process of adsorptive-flotation and desorption to remove and recovery heavy metals from aqueous solution was studied using Gordona amarae as sorbent, and the mechanisms of biosorption and flotation were analyzed. Experimental results showed that the selectivity of Gordona amarae for various heavy metal cations was Pb > Hg > Cu, and the restrain oneself of Cu2+ was the highest. the present of NH4+ ion on loaded Pb2+ cells was remarkably improved, however, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+ of co-existing ions slightly restrained influence. The flotation recoveries respectively of Pb2+ and biomass more than 93% and 96% for with DA dosage of 17.5 mmol/L in the pH of 9.5, and that was almost quantitative remaining around 94% and 97% being desorbed when desorption frequence of Na2CO3 was up to three times. The measure of Zeta potential and infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that the ioselectric point of Gordona amarae in water was 3.50, up to 4.02 when loaded Pb2+, down to 3.02 when DA doseage added in the loaded biomass. Experiments indicated the lead bosorpting process was likely to involving in the group of -NHCOCH3 and COO- on the cell wall, while the biosorptive flotation was concerned cooperatively to be basing on electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bond, ion exchange and chemical complexation. SEM observation showed that Gordona amarae biomass loaded Hg2+ changed into flocculent matter.

[Flotation mechanism on Mycobacterium phlei and adsorption of Pb2+ by collectors].

The possibility of removal of heavy metals from waste water by adsorption flotation using Mycobacterium phlei as adsorbent was investigated, and the collection mechanism of collectors on adsorbent was analyzed. From the single flotation tests, it shows that cationic collectors have a stronger collecting ability for Mycobacterium phlei than anionic collectors. The adsorptive flotation experiment shows that floatability process occurred within 10 minutes, the recovery of Mycobacterium phlei and the removing rate of Pb2+ are high by using cationic collectors during pH value from 4 to 7. At 45mmol/L of Di-buty lamine as collector, and 4.75 of pH, the recovery of Mycobacterium phlei and the removing rate of Pb2+ are 92 % and 98%. The isoelectric point of Mycobacterium phlei is 3.09 at pH of the solution, which increased when Pb2+ or Di-buty lamine is adsorption by Mycobacterium phlei. The good floatability of Mycobacterium phlei with cationic collectors results from the intense zeta potential on the surface of cell, Adsorptive flotation may have practical applications for the removal of hazardous metals from contaminated water supplies.

[Research on Pb2 + removal from wastewater by Sphaerotilus natans].

As biosorbent used Sphaerotilus natans, influencing factors on removal of Pb2+ were investigated such as ratio of the biomass and lead, pH, temperature and time of adsorption. The results show that Sphaerotilus natans has good effect on adsorption of Pb2+. The process of adsorption reached equilibrium in 10 minutes. Temperature has no significant effect on the adsorption. Removal of Pb2+ approached to 100% under the condition of pH 5.5, 0.6 g/L and c0 < or =20 mg/L. The maximum adsorption amount was 2.1 mmol/g dry biomass . The adsorption was fitted with Freundlich isotherm adsorption equation under the concentration of Pb2+ 0-60 mg/L. HCI and EDTA can desorb the Pb2+ from the bacteria effectively.

[Nutrient balance and mechanism of biological degradation of oil].

This paper studied the nutrient balance and mechanism for enhancing the bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soils by the bio-slurry method. Oil degrading strains isolated and screened from Liaohe oil field was used. The results show that the suitable weight ratio of N and P element in the nutrient is 5.67:1, which is similar to their proportion in the microbial cells. It was found that the degradation of oil was significantly enhanced by adding nutriment and about 30% oil was decreased in the 14,000 mg/kg-15,000 mg/kg samples during 16 days. Using (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, NaNO3, CO(NH2)2 as the nitrogen source respectively, it shows that the inorganic nitrogen is better than the organic one, and the nitrogen in nitrate is more effective than that in ammonia. Adding nutrient salt can change the system's pH and promote the growing of the microbes.