Effect of pH conditions on the depolymerization of Wucaiwan coal by mixed acids/ultrasound method and the product structures and performance

The cleavage of the aliphatic chain or ether bond connecting the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coal can be achieved by not only hydrogenation reduction but also oxidative acid treatment. In this paper, coal samples from Wucaiwan in Xinjiang were pretreated with HNO3 followed by mixed acids/ultrasound treatment. The depolymerized coal samples obtained under different pH conditions were then separated by fractional washing. The structures and properties of the resulting coal samples were studied by elemental analysis, FT-IR, XRD, TG-DTA, TEM, UV-Vis, and PL. The results showed that when pH = 0.012, the obtained coal samples were fragments stripped off from the raw coal samples by ultrasound in strong acid conditions, aliphatic hydrocarbons linked with oxygen-containing groups such as nitro group, a small amount of small aromatic molecules and mineral salts; when pH -- 1.99-4.09, the obtained coal samples were polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons linked with oxygen-containing groups such as nitro group,possessing the annulus wall of multilayer graphene fragment structures built up by sp2 carbons, and they are typical fluorescent substances of carbon nanoparticle structure. The former has no solubility in organic solvents, while the latter can be well dissolved in polar solvents such as acetone. All the depolymerized coal samples obtained under different pH conditions exhibited good absorption and ability of fluorescence emission.

Fe/S oxidation-coupled arsenic speciation transformation mediated by AMD enrichment culture under different pH conditions

Arsenic(As)speciation transformation in acid mine drainage(AMD)is comprehensively affected by biological and abiotic factors,such as microbially mediated Fe/S redox reactions and changes in environmental conditions(pH and oxidation-reduction potential).However,their combined impacts on arsenic speciation transformation remain poorly studied.Therefore,we explored arsenic transformation and immobilization during pyrite dissolution mediated by AMD enrichment culture under different acidic pH conditions.The results for incubation and mineralogical transformation of solid residues show that in the presence of AMD enrichment culture,pH 2.0,2.5,and 3.0 are more conducive to the formation of jarosites and ferric arsenate,which could immobilize high quantities of dissolved arsenic by adsorption and coprecipitation.The pH conditions significantly affect the initial adsorption of microbial cells to the minerals and the evolution of microbial community structure,further infuencing the biodissolution of pyrite and the release and oxidation process of Fe/S.The results of Fe/S/As speciation transformation of the solid residues show that the transformation of Fe,S,and As in solution is mainly regulated by pH and potential values,which imposed significantly different effects on the formation of secondary minerals and thus arsenic oxidation and immobilization.The above results indicated that arsenic transformation is closely related to the Fe/S oxidation associated with pyrite bio-oxidation,and this correlation is critically regulated by the pH conditions of the system.

Effect of Low pH on Forming Process of Desulfurization Gypsum Composite Boards Strengthened by Melamine-formaldehyde Resin

Through exploring the effects of low pH on the composite system of desulfurization gypsum(DG)enhanced by melamine-formaldehyde resin(MF),it is found that the inducing of sulfate-ion,in contrast to chloride and oxalate ions,favors the longitudinal growth of the crystalline form of the hydration product,which was relatively simple and had the highest length to width(L/D)ratio.At the same time,MF can also improve L/D ratio of gypsum hydration products,which favors the formation of hydrated whiskers.Finally,in a composite system composed of hemihydrate gypsum,MF,and glass fibers,when dilute sulfuric acid was used to regulate pH=3-4,the tight binding formed among the components of the composite system compared to pH=5-6.The hydration product of gypsum adheres tightly to glass fiber surface and produces a good cross-linking and binding effect with MF.The flexural strength,compressive strength,elastic modulus,and water absorption of the desulphurized gypsum composite board is 22.7 MPa,39.8 MPa,5608 MPa,and 1.8%,respectively.

A THEORETICAL APPROACH TO P_(co_2) EVOLUTION IN THE ATMOSPHERE BASED ON ASSOCIATIONS OF SEDIMENTARY MINERALS

Based on the theory of pH evolution of sea water and the balance between the seawater and the atmosphere the authors discussed the problems about (i) the method ofcalculating P_(CO_2) in the ancient atmosphere with the associations of sedimentary miner-als; (ii) the evolution of P_(CO_2) values in the geologic history; (iii) the relations of thepH evolution of sea water with carbonate precipitations; and (iv) calculation of the pHlimit for some associations of sedimentary minerals and its corresponding P_(CO_2) valuesin the atmosphere. The authors pointed out that though carbonates had deposited little in the Archaean,the content of CO_2 gas in the Archaean atmosphere was very high and was gradually go-ing up to form a thick CO_2 atmosphere. Up to 2600 Ma ago, the P_(CO_2) had reached a gradeof 10- 50 atm. There was a general trend of evolution that from the early Proterozoicera to the present the depositional horizon of carbonate layers was gradually risingand finally surpassed the horizons of clay minerals and sulfides. The corresponding P_(CO_2)in the atmosphere was lowering from the thick CO_2 atmosphere to the present 0.03%atm. On the basis of the calculated P_(CO_2) sizes and its fluctuation characteristics thehistory of P_(CO_2) evolution can be divided into three major stages.

A scalable versatile methodology to construct micro/nano open-cell polypropylene foam with high oil adsorption capacity and speed

Oil pollution is a serious environmental and natural resource problem.Traditional adsorption materials for oil–water separation have limitations in terms of their preparation cost,reusability,and mechanical properties.Among the conventional adsorption materials,super-hydrophobic/super-lipophilic materials are easily contaminated by oil.In this study,polypropylene(PP)is used as a foam substrate to prepare an open-cell PP foam via hot pressing,supercritical CO_(2) foaming,and electron beam(EB)irradiation.The impact of EB irradiation dose on the open-cell content of PP foam can lead to cell wall rupture,resulting in an open-cell structure that enhances oil-water separation performance.At an absorbed radiation dose of 200 kGy,the PP foams exhibit optimal oil–water separation performance,cyclic compression stability,heat insulation,and preparation cost.The open-cell content of PP foam is increased to 86.5%,the adsorption capacity for diesel oil is 42.8 g/g,and the adsorption efficiency remains at 99.6%after 100 cycles of oil desorption in a complex pH environment.Meanwhile,cracks and nano-voids simultaneously promote the capillary action of oil,and the oil transport rate is 0.0713 g/(g·s).This study provides a new concept for the preparation of open-cell polymer foams that can meet the demand for high oil-absorption capacity under complex acid-base pH conditions.