Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solution by raw and modified plant residue materials as biosorbents

Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs）, e.g., naphthalene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene and pyrene, from aqueous solution by raw and modified plant residues was investigated to develop low cost biosorbents for organic pollutant abatement. Bamboo wood, pine wood, pine needles and pine bark were selected as plant residues, and acid hydrolysis was used as an easily modification method. The raw and modified biosorbents were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The sorption isotherms of PAHs to raw biosorbents were apparently linear, and were dominated by a partitioning process. In comparison, the isotherms of the hydrolyzed biosorbents displayed nonlinearity, which was controlled by partitioning and the specific interaction mechanism. The sorpfion kinetic curves of PAHs to the raw and modified plant residues fit well with the pseudo second-order kinetics model. The sorption rates were faster for the raw biosorbents than the corresponding hydrolyzed biosorbents, which was attributed to the latter having more condensed domains （i.e., exposed aromatic core）. By the consumption of the amorphous cellulose component under acid hydrolysis, the sorption capability of the hydrolyzed biosorbents was notably enhanced, i.e., 6-18 fold for phenanthrene, 6-8 fold for naphthalene and pyrene and 5-8 fold for acenaphthene. The sorpfion coefficients （Kd） were negatively correlated with the polarity index [（O＋N）/C], and positively correlated with the aromaticity of the biosorbents. For a given biosorbent, a positive linear correlation between logKoc and logKow for different PAHs was observed. Interestingly, the linear plots of logKoc-logKow were parallel for different biosorbents. These observations suggest that the raw and modified plant residues have great potential as biosorbents to remove PAHs from wastewater.

Effects of Two Composted Plant Pesticide Residues,Incorporated with Trichoderma viride,on Root-Knot Nematode in Balloonflower

Plant pesticide residues, such as chinaberry （Melia toosendan） residue and sand cypress （Sabina vulgaris） residue, are pesticidal plant materials discarded after the bioactive ingredient has been extracted with organic solvents. The only option for botanical pesticide residue utilization has been as landfill. Chinaberry residue （CBR） and sand cypress residue （SCR） were collected and composted in Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China. We studied the effects of chinaberry residue compost （CBRC）, CBRC incorporated with Trichoderma viride （CBRCT）, sand cypress residue compost （SCRC）, and SCRC incorporated with T. viride （SCRCv） on the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, infesting the balloonflower （Platycodon grandiflorum）. Bioassay results indicated that stock solutions of the CBRCT and SCRCT extracts significantly inhibited egg hatching and caused high larval mortality, followed in degree by the CBRC and SCRC extracts. The CBR and SCR extracts caused very low inhibition of eggs and larvae. Supplementing potting mixtures with these four composts reduced the severity of root galling and increased the proportion of marketable roots. The severity of root galling decreased and the average weight of the marketable roots increased with an increase in all the composts when supplemented at rates from 5 to 30%. CBR- and SCR-supplemented pot soils also inhibited the nematodes, but CBR and SCR applied to the soil had a phytotoxic effect and inhibited balloonflower growth. Supplementing field soil with the composts reduced the severity of root galling and the populations of southern root-knot nematodes in the soil. CBRCT and SCRCT clearly enhanced the average weight of the marketable roots by 30.45 and 26.64%, respectively. Continuous supplementation with CBRCT or SCRCT in the same field significantly enhanced the control of the root-knot nematode, and the populations of nematodes continued to decrease with second inoculations. The populations of total Trichoderma spp. were distinctly enhanced and were maintained at high levels for a long time in the supplemented soils.

Extraction and recycling technologies of cobalt from primary and secondary resources:A comprehensive review

Cobalt has excellent electrochemical,magnetic,and heat properties.As a strategic resource,it has been applied in many hightech products.However,the recent rapid growth of the battery industry has substantially depleted cobalt resources,leading to a crisis of cobalt resource supply.The paper examines cobalt ore reserves and distribution,and the recent development and consumption of cobalt resources are summarized as well.In addition,the principles,advantages and disadvantages,and research status of various methods are discussed comprehensively.It can be concluded that the use of diverse sources(Cu-Co ores,Ni-Co ores,zinc plant residues,and waste cobalt products)for cobalt production should be enhanced to meet developmental requirements.Furthermore,in recovery technology,the pyro-hydrometallurgical process employs pyrometallurgy as the pretreatment to modify the phase structure of cobalt minerals,enhancing its recovery in the hydrometallurgical stage and facilitating high-purity cobalt production.Consequently,it represents a promising technology for future cobalt recovery.Lastly,based on the above conclusions,the prospects for cobalt are assessed regarding cobalt ore processing and sustainable cobalt recycling,for which further study should be conducted.

Water extractable plant nutrients in soils amended with cow manure co-composted with maple tree residues

Studies on the availability of plant nutrients in soils treated with manure co-composted feed-stocks are very rare.The present investigation aimed at studying the nutrient release pattern from three soils amended with maple tree leaves co-composted with cow manure.Soils were mixed with the compost at the rate of 20 t/hm^(2) and incubated at room temperature.Prior to incubation,plants residue samples were analyzed for total elemental concentrations(NO_(3),NH_(4),P,K,Ca,Mg,Na,Zn,Mn,Fe,Cu,Ni and Cd).Water extractability of nutrients from soils was affected by the type of soil and ratio of composted manure applied.Extractable NH_(4),P,K,Ca and Mg concentrations varied in the descending order of sandy clay,sandy loam and silt loam except NO_(3).The concentrations of P,K,Ca and Mg in the amended soils increased with the ratio of manure co-composted with leaf litter while those of NO_(3),NH_(4) and trace elements decreased.The residual nutrients in soil varied directly with their contents in the compost amendments.Co-composting improved the availability of nutrients in soils and this should be an ideal approach to managing the enormous waste generated from the livestock sector for restoring soil fertility.

30,000 bpd Capacity Modified Modular Refinery Operations in Nigeria

The study investigated and classified twenty Nigerian crude oil types based on their products recovery volume at true boiling point temperature of 370&#730C using crude oil assay analysis data into Group A (crude oil with recovery volume above 80%), Group B (crude oil with recovery volume between 70% and 79%) and Group C (crude oil with recovery volume below 70%) respectively. Thus, twenty Nigerian crude oil types were simulated in a modified modular refinery (modified topping plant) of 30,000 bpd capacity and twenty-nine (29) column trays number using Aspen Hysys software. Furthermore, the residues from the conventional modular refinery were processed as feedstock or precursor into the hydrocracker reactor attached to the stripping section of the modified modular refinery to yield more valuable products of liquefied petroleum gas, naphtha, diesel and bottom (residue). The simulation results of the modified modular refinery were compared with conventional modular refinery in terms of their residual yield percentage as Nigerian Brass 2012 of API 40.62, recovery volume 88.78%, yielded residue of 11.22% and 1.29% for conventional modular and modified modular refineries respectively while Okoro 2012 of least API 23.54, recovery volume 57.84%, yielded residue of 42.16% and 4.92% for conventional modular and modified modular refineries respectively. Thus, the residual or bottom product issue associated with operational process of conventional modular refinery operations in Nigeria due to inefficient or non-operational conventional major refinery in Nigeria has been resolved to minimum or least amount with the operational process of modified modular refinery operations in Nigeria.

Co-incorporation of rice straw and leguminous green manure can increase soil available nitrogen(N)and reduce carbon and N losses:An incubation study

Returning rice straw and leguminous green manure alone or in combination to soil is effective in improving soil fertility in South China.Despite the popularity of this practice,our understanding o f the underlying processes for straw and manure combined application is relatively poor.In this study,rice straw(carbon(C)/nitrogen(N)ratio of 63),green manure(hairy vetch,C/N ratio of 14),and their mixtures(C/N ratio of 25 and 35)were added into a paddy soil,and their effects on soil N availability and C or N loss under waterlogged conditions were evaluated in a 100-d incubation experiment.All plant residue treatments significantly enhanced C〇2 and CH4 emissions,but decreased N2O emission.Dissolved organic C(DOC)and N(DON)and microbial biomass C in soil and water-soluble organic C and N and mineral N in the upper aqueous layer above soil were also enhanced by all the plant residue treatments except the rice straw treatment,and soil microbial biomass N and mineral N were lower in the rice straw treatment than in the other treatments.Changes in plant residue C/N ratio,DOC/DON ratio,and cellulose content significantly affected greenhouse gas emissions and active C and N concentrations in soil.Additionally,the treatment with green manure alone yielded the largest C and N losses,and incorporation of the plant residue mixture with a C/N ratio of 35 caused the largest net global warming potential(nGWP)among the amended treatments.In conclusion,the co-incorporation of rice straw and green manure can alleviate the limitation resulting from only applying rice straw(N immobilization)or the sole application of leguminous green manure(high C and N losses),and the residue mixture with a C/N ratio of 25 is a better option because of lower nGWP.

Tolerance of Chrysantemum maximum to heavy metals:The potential for its use in the revegetation of tailings heaps

To find if ornamental plants are applicable to the remediation of metal-polluted areas, the tolerance of chrysanthemum plants （Chysanthemum maximum） var. Shasta to different metals under hydroponic conditions was studied. Their responses as influenced by the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae （Nicol. ＆ Gerd.） Gerdemann ＆ Trappe BEG25 on substrates containing mine residues were also investigated. Our results showed that chrysanthemum is a metal-tolerant plant under hydroponic conditions, plants behaving as Pb-excluders, whereas Cd, Cu and Ni were accumulated in roots. Low accumulation in flowers was observed for Cd and Cu but it was concentration-dependent. Ni and Pb were not translocated to flowers. Shoot biomass was not significantly affected by the different rates of mine residue addition for both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Mycorrhizal plants accumulated less Pb and Cu in both shoots and roots than non-mycorrhizal plants. Chysanthemum could be a prospective plant for revegetation of tailings and the use of inoculation may decrease plant metal accumulation in polluted soils.