Effects of DOM characteristics from real wastewater on the degradation of pharmaceutically active compounds by the UV/H_(2)O_(2) process

The characteristics of dissolved organic matter(DOM) can significantly affect the degradation of target compounds by the advanced oxidation processes. In this study, the effects of the different hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity fractions, molecular weight(MW) fractions,fluorescence components and molecular components of DOM extracted from municipal wastewater on the degradation of 4 pharmaceutically active compounds(Ph ACs), including carbamazepine, clofibric acid, atenolol and erythromycin by the UV/H_(2)O_(2) process were investigated. The results showed that the degradation rate constants of 4 Ph ACs decreased dramatically in the presence of DOM. The linear regressions of 4 Ph ACs degradation as a function of specific fluorescence intensity(SFI) are exhibited during the degradation of 4Ph ACs and the SFI may be used to evaluate effect of DOM on target compounds in wastewater. The hydrophobic acid(HPO-A) exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on degradation of 4 Ph ACs during oxidation process. The small MW fractions of DOM significantly inhibited the degradation of 4 Ph ACs during oxidation process. Among three fluorescence components,hydrophobic humic-like substances may significantly inhibit the degradation of 4 Ph ACs during oxidation process. At the molecular level, the formulas may be derived from terrestrial sources. CHO compound may significantly inhibit the degradation of 4 Ph ACs during oxidation process on formula classes. The unsaturated hydrocarbons, carbohydrates and tannins compounds may significantly inhibit the effectiveness of the UV/H_(2)O_(2) process on compound classes.

Homogeneous Liquid-Liquid Extraction (HoLLE) of Palladium in Real Plating Wastewater for Recovery

On the basis of homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction (HoLLE) with Zonyl FSA to plating water containing 1 mg palladium, 96.6% of the palladium was extracted into the sedimented liquid phase. After phase separation, the volume ratio (Va/Vs) of the aqueous phase (Va) and the sedimented liquid phase (Vs) was 556 (50 mL → 0.09 mL). The assessment of the potential implementation of this procedure to wastewater treatment showed that HoLLE was satisfactorily achieved when the volume was scaled up to 1000 mL. Moreover, HoLLE was conducted to real palladium plating wastewater generated in the plating industry. 94.5% of the palladium was extracted into the sedimented liquid phase. After phase separation, the volume ratio (Va/Vs) of the aqueous phase (Va) and the sedimented liquid phase (Vs) was 500 (50 mL → 0.1 mL). In addition, HoLLE could separate palladium from coexisting metals in real plating wastewater. This knowledge is expected to lead to the development of new separation and concentration technologies of rare metals from real plating wastewater.

Improvement of microalgae lipid productivity and quality in an ion-exchange-membrane photobioreactor using real municipal wastewater

To improve the productivity and quality of microalgae-based biodiesel when using municipal wastewater(MW)as nutrients source,an ion-exchange-membrane photobioreactor(IEM-PBR)was used in this study to eliminate the negative effects of pollutants in MW on microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus.In the IEM-PBR,the real MW and microalgae cultures were separated in two chambers by the ion-exchange-membranes(IEMs).Nutrients(N,P,etc.)in the MW permeated into microalgae cultures through the IEMs,while pollutants(suspended solids,competitors,etc.)in the MW could hardly permeate into microalgae cultures.As a result,the lipid productivity in the IEM-PBR was improved to 85.7 mg/(L·d)for C.vulgaris and 111.8 mg/(L·d)for S.obliquus,which was slightly higher than that in the traditional photobioreactor(T-PBR)with real MW after centrifugation(82.5 mg/(L·d)for C.vulgaris and 105.8 mg/(L·d)for S.obliquus),but much higher than that in the T-PBR with untreated MW and primary MW(with lipid productivity of 20-30 mg/(L·d)).Besides,the lipid quality obtained in the IEM-PBR had higher proportion of cetane number(ca.60%)and lower linolenic acid content(ca.8%),which showed a superior quality in the IEM-PBR to that in the T-PBR.It demonstrated that the IEM-PBR is an effective approach to improve the productivity and quality of microalgae biodiesel.

Portable wastewater treatment system based on synergistic photocatalytic and persulphate degradation under visible light

Highly efficient,low-cost,and portable wastewater treatment and purification solutions are urgently needed for aqueous pollution removal,especially at remote sites.Synergistic photocatalytic (PC) and persulphate (PS) degradation under visible light offers an exceptional alternative for this purpose.In this work,we coupled a TiO^(2-)based PC system with a PS oxidation system into a portable advanced oxidation device for rapid and deep degradation of organic contaminants in wastewater.Using hydrogenation,we fabricated hydrogenated anatase branched-rutile TiO_(2) nanorod (H-AB@RTNR) photocatalysts which enable the PC degradation to occur under visible light and improve the utilization of solar energy.We also discovered that the addition of PS resulted in the synergistic degradation of tenacious and persistent organics,dramatically improving the extent and kinetics of the degradation.A degradation rate of 100%and a reaction rate constant of 0.0221 min^(-1)for degrading 1 L rhodamine B(20 mg L^(-1)) were achieved in 120 min in a specially designed thin-layer cell under visible light irradiation.The superior performance of the synergistic PC and PS degradation system was also demonstrated in the degradation of real industrial wastewater.Both remarkable performances can be attributed to the heterophase junction and oxygen vacancies in the photocatalyst that facilitate the catalytic conversion of PS anions into highly active radicals (·SO_(4)-and·OH).This work suggests that the as-proposed synergistic degradation design is a promising solution for building a portable wastewater treatment system.