Using Natural Radionuclides to Trace Sources of Suspended Particles in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow River

Natural radionuclides are powerful tools for understanding the sources and fate of suspended particulate matter(SPM).Particulate matter with different particle sizes behaves differently with respect to adsorption and desorption.We analyzed the activi-ties and distribution characteristics of multiple natural radionuclides(238U,226Ra,40K,228Ra,7Be and 210Pbex)on size-fractionated SPM at the Lijin Hydrographic Station(Huanghe or Yellow River)every month over a one-year period.Results showed that medium silt(16–32µm)was the main component.As expected,the activity of each radionuclide decreased with an increase of particle size.We examined the sources of SPM with different particle sizes using activity ratios of 226Ra/238U,228Ra/226Ra,40K/238U and 7Be/210Pbex,and concluded that SPM with different particle sizes originated from different sources.Our results indicate that fine SPM(<32µm)was mainly from the erosion of soil along the lower reaches of the Yellow River,while coarse SPM(>32µm)was mainly derived from resuspension of riverbed sediment.During high runoff periods,the concentration of SPM increased significantly,and the pro-portion of fine particles originating upstream increased.Naturally occurring radioactive isotopes,especially on size-fractionated par-ticles,are therefore seen as useful tracers to understand the sources and behaviors of riverine particles transported from land to sea.

Liver histological changes and lipid peroxidation in the amphibian Ambystoma mexicanum induced by sediment elutriates from the Lake Xochimilco

Lacustrine sediments accumulate pollutants that input from the lake watershed and can be released to the water column by sediment resuspension; thus, pollutants can change their bioavailability and exert adverse effects to aquatic biota. Shallow-urban lakes are particularly susceptible to receive pollutants from urban discharges and sediment resuspension. Lake Xochimilco, in Mexico City, an urban-shallow lake, faces multiple problems： urban sprawl, overexploitation of aquifers, drying of springs, discharge of wastewater from treatment plants, and sediment resuspension. The aquatic biota living in this ecosystem is continuously exposed to the release of pollutants from the sediments. We assessed the risk that pollutants released from sediments from Lake Xochimilco, Touristic（TZ） and Agriculture zone（AZ）, can exert on a native amphibian species of the lake（Ambystoma mexicanum） through exposure bioassays to sediment elutriates. We evaluate alterations in the amphibian by three approaches： biochemical（level of lipid peroxidation,LPO）, cellular（ultrastructure） and the liver histology of A. mexicanum and we compare them with a batch control. Additionally, we assessed heavy metals（Pb, Cd and Hg） in elutriates.Elutriates from TZ showed the highest concentrations of the metals assessed. Organisms exposed to sediment elutriates from either study sites showed higher LPO values than control organisms（p 〈 0.05）. Organisms exposed to elutriates from the TZ showed the most conspicuous damages： hepatic vasodilation of sinusoids, capillaries with erythrocytes,leukocyte infiltration and cytoplasmic vacuolation in hepatocytes. The biological responses assessed reflected the risk that faces A. mexicanum when is exposed for prolonged periods to sediment resuspension in Lake Xochimilco.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF GAS—SOLID SUSPENSION FLOWS IN VORTEXING FLUIDIZED BED CHAMBER FREEBOARD

Gas flows and particle mass flux were measured and clutriation experimentswere conducted in two cold test models of vortexing fluidized bed(VFB).The experimen-tal results show that the secondary air injected tangentially creates strong vortexes,estab-lishes particle suspension layers and internal circulation,and suppresses the elutriation offine particles greatly.The vortexing fluidized bed combustion has bright prospect bccauseof its much higher combustion efficiency and desulphidation efficiency than bubblingfluidized bed combustion due to long particle residence time and high slip velocity betweengas and solid,and its simpler configuration and lower cost than circulating fluidized bedcombustion.

Identification and Detection of Dyeing Components in Counterfeit Cinnabar (Elutriation)

[Objectives]This study aimed to analyze the dyeing status and dyeing components of counterfeit cinnabar(elutriation),in order to provide technical basis for cinnabar(elutriation)supervision.[Methods]The scarlet 808 in cinnabar(elutriation)was identified qualitatively using thin-layer chromatography(TLC)and high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC),and the positive samples were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS).The conditions were as follows:column,Agilent Eclipse Plus C 18;mobile phase,acetonitrile-0.1%formic acid(85∶15);detection wavelength,520 nm;ion source,electrospray ion source;scanning mode,positive ion scanning;scanning range,100-700 m/z;cone voltage,3.5 kv;drying gas temperature,350℃;drying gas flow rate,12 L/min.[Results]The thin-layer chromatography spots were clear and separated well.Among the 13 batches of samples,12 batches were positive for scarlet 808.[Conclusions]The counterfeit cinnabar(elutriation)currently circulating in the market has dyeing problem,with scarlet 808 as the dye.The TLC,HPLC and HPLC-MS methods established in this article can quickly screen and confirm the scarlet 808 in cinnabar(elutriation).

Comparative Study of Gold Concentration by Elutriation from Different Precious Metal Bearing Ores

Conventional methods for precious metals gravimetric concentration involve equipment such as shaking tables, centrifuging concentrators, jigs, trommels, or a combination of those. A less commonly used technique is elutriation, which represents an efficient, safe and low-cost method of separation. The goal of the present investigation was to make a comparative study of gold concentration by elutriation from different precious metal bearing ores: an oxide ore, a mineral consisting of a sulfide matrix, a mineral in which the precious metals are free and disseminated and a slimy and clayey black sand material. The best recoveries of precious metals by elutriation were attained for the free disseminated ore and for the black sands, obtaining gold recoveries of 70% and 96% respectively, with appreciable ratios of concentration as well.

A STUDY ON THE KINETICS OF EXCHANGE REACTIONS OF W（Ⅵ） OR Mo（Ⅵ） WITHIN MACROPOROUS ANION EXCHANGE RESIN（D290） PHASE

The exchange behaviors of WO_4￣(2-) MoO_4￣(2-), H_2 W_(12) O_(40)￣(6-) and Mo8 O_(26)￣(4-) anions within macrOPorous exchange resin (D290) phases have been studied.The values of diffusion constant (B), inner diffusion coefficient (D), retarted time (td) half - exchange-period (t1/2), and activation energy (△E) were found from the kinetic analyses. A new method to separate W(Ⅵ) and Mo (Ⅵ) from each other was also suggested.

Effects of various parameters on the attrition of bed material in a recirculating fluidized bed with a draft tube

We performed an experimental study to investigate the effects of various parameters on the attrition of bed material and its size distribution with increasing operation time in a recirculating fluidized bed （RCFB）. The studied parameters included superficial velocity of fluidizing air, bed inventory, and spacing between the jet top and draft tube bottom （spacer height）. The bed material was prepared from Indian Standard （IS） Grade I sand from sieves with a size range of 2.20-1.00 mm. Experiments were performed at ambient conditions, with the superficial air velocity ranging from 7.13-9.16 m/s, a bed inventory of 7-10 kg, spacing of 0.085 and 0.045 m between the jet top and draft tube bottom, and an operating time of 40 h. We investigated the influence of these parameters in terms of changes in the size distribution of particles, changes in the %-weight of particles of different size ranges, generation of particles with smaller diameters, the decrease of the downcomer bed height, variations in the coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of curvature, and material loss from entrainment of fines with increasing operation time. The mode of attrition was abrasion in all experiments. We found that with increasing operation time and other parameters （bed inventory, superficial air velocity, and spacer height） attrition of the bed material also increased. Generation and elutriation of fines were more pronounced at higher superficial air velocity, bed inventory, and spacer height.

Elutriation characteristics of multi-component mixtures in a fluidized bed pyrolysis process

Multi-component mixtures were prepared to simulate a bed of walnut shells undergoing pyrolysis in acold fluidized bed.Four mixtures with different ratios of walnut shell,semi-chars,and clean char were used.Batch elutriation experiments using these mixtures were performed in a transparent fluidized bed to allow direct observation of the flow patterns and particle composition.The results indicated that the bubble wake rather than bubble nose was primarily responsible for particle entrainment at higher gas velocities,and that coarser particles would be“transformed”into elutriable particles.Dimensionless gas velocities ranged from 0.2 to 1.0 and an exponential decrease in particle concentration with respect to bed height was observed.The transport disengagement height(TDH)gradually increased with the gas velocity until the entire bed layer enters a pneumatic transport state.Notably,larger TDHs were required when the bed contained a larger fraction of light components.Two characteristic parameters were used to evaluate particle elutriation:the elutriation rate constant(K),and the residual volatile content of the elutriated particles(v′).These parameters were used to optimize operating gas velocity for the fluidized bed.

Elutriation, attrition and segregation in a conical spouted bed with a fountain confiner

This study examined elutriation,attrition,and segregation in a conical spouted bed with a fountain confiner and incorporating an open sided draft tube.Fine silica sand with a wide particle size distribution was employed as a model material,operating in both the batch and continuous modes.The use of a fountain confiner is crucial when operating with fine particles,because otherwise the bed rapidly exhibits significant entrainment.The extent of attrition was quantified using a tracing technique based on differently-coloured sand fractions as well as monitoring size distributions by sieving.Particle breakage was found to be the primary attrition mechanism,and the fountain confiner was determined to limit the elutriation of fine particles resulting from breakage.Consequently,only a small fraction of the finest particles were entrained from the bed.The incorporation of a confiner increased operational stability while reducing segregation,especially in the upper half of the bed where the majority of segregation typically occurs.Thus,the bed was perfectly mixed apart from very minimal segregation close to the wall and at the bottom of the contactor.These results provide a basis for the design and operation of larger scale equipment for the continuous drying of materials.

Recovery of valuable metals from waste cables by employing mechanical processing followed by spouted bed elutriation

Cables and wires, which are essential parts of equipment for the transmission of both information and electricity, contain valuable materials including copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al). This experimental work evaluates the use of mechanical processing (grinding and sieving), followed by spouted bed elutriation, for separation of the valuable materials (steel-coated copper, copper, and aluminum) present in waste coaxial and internet cables. A recovery efficiency of approximately 90% was achieved for the steel-coated copper in coaxial cables. For in ternet cables, the copper recovery efficiency was approximately 87%. These findings dem on strate that it is possible to separate, recover, and recycle the valuable materials (metals) present in waste cables using simple, low-cost, and efficient mechanical processing followed by spouted bed elutriation.