Allelopathic effect of Acorus tatarinowii upon algae

Besides competing with algae for light and mineral nutrients (i. e. N, P, etc.), the root system of Acorus tatarinowii excretes some chemical substances, which injure and eliminate alga cells, to inhibit the growth of the algae. When the algae cells were treated in 'A. tatarinowii water', some of the chlorophyll a were destroyed and the photosynthetic rate of algae decreased markedly and the ability of alga cells to deoxidize triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) reduced greatly. Then alga cells turned from bright red to bluish green under fluorescence microscope. These showed that the allelopathic effects of A. tatarinowii on algae were obvious and planting A. tatarinowii can control some green algae. The experiment on the extractions of the secretions of the root system showed that the inhibitory effect had a concentration effect. If the concentration of the root secretion was below 30 μl/disc, the inhibitory rate was negative; if it was over 45 μl/disc, the inhibitory rate was positive. This proved that the influence of the root secretion on the same acceptor was a kind of concentration effect. When the concentration of the root secretion was low, it promoted the growth of algae; when the concentration reached a definite threshold value, it restrained the growth of algae. In present case, the threshold value was between 30 μl/disc and 45 μl/disc.

Investigation on tribological behaviors of neodymium dialkyldithiophosphate

Neodymium dialkylthiophosphate （NdDDP） with alkyls of isopropyl and isooctyl were synthesized by exchanged reaction respectively. The structures of the two NdDDPs were determined using IR and XRD. Properties of anti-wear and friction-reducing of the two additives were investigated with four ball experiment and the commercial anti-wear additive ZDDP was selected as control. The elemental analysis of the wear scars after 10 s friction at low stress were investigated by EDXA （Energy Dispersion Analysis of X-ray）. Primary results showed that the NdDDPs possess better lubrication ability than ZDDP. This might mainly be contributed to the formation of a boundary film containing Nd2O3, FeS and sulphate, phosphate, organo-sulfide, etc., and a neodymium-rich diffused layer which changes the crystal structure of the surface of friction materials.

Influence of temperature on production of lactic acid from kitchen garbage

The production of lactic acid from kitchen garbage, the precursor for production of biodegradable plastics is described in detail. The influence of temperature on the lactic acid concentration, sugar concentration, and decrement of garbage were evaluated through experiments. Fermentation were carried out in an incubator at 5, 25, 37 and 50 ℃. The latic acid produced was maximum at initial pH 6.0 and 37 ℃, i.e. 38 g/L with a yield of 0.23 g/gVS. It is concluded from the experimental results that temperature has quite a considerable effect on the production of lactic acid; lactic acid concentration increases with temperature until 37 ℃, and production rate of lactic acid drops at 50 ℃; the optimal fermentation is 37 ℃. This study shows that production of lactic acid from kitchen garbage is feasible and reduction of garbage can be realized.

Preparation of TiO_2-activated carbon complex membranes and their photoelectrocatalytic activity

The experimental process of preparing TiO 2 activated carbon complex membranes with activated carbon powder as main carrier, PTFE as binder and wire netting as matrix is described in detail, and both photo catalysis and photo electro catalysis are measured to study the properties of complex membranes. Experimental results show that the photo catalytic activity of the membranes is high and stable in the process of treating Rhodamine B; the application of an electric field accelerates the speed of photo catalysis, and the efficiency of photo catalysis is increased 2.5 times when the applied voltage is 0.8 V; and the degradation of Rhodamine B follows the dynamics of first order reaction. It is concluded from the discussion of experimental results that the preparation process of TiO 2 activated carbon complex membranes is a simple low cost process suitable for large scale application.

Synthesis of high-activited weedicide quinclorac and QSAR analysis

A new high activated organic weedicide quinclorac (3,7-dicholoro-8-quinoxylic acid) was presented, and the optimal synthesis condition of the key step-Skraup cyclization was developed. A new synthesis process by using the catalyst of KI was set up,and the yield increased to 95 5%. The relationship between structure and activity of quinclorac and its derivatives was studied to find more active and more mild weedicide, 12 derivatives of this acid were synthesized, and the biological activities of all these compounds were detected, the QSAR equation of this series of compounds was established by Hansch method, which shows that the biological activity is linearly correlated with parameters L, M R, B 1, B 2 and B 4, and -CH 2-CH=CH 2 substituted quinclorac ester was more active and more mild weedicide analysised from QSAR equation.

Treatment of spent caustic by three kinds of photocatalyticoxidation processes

The investigation of the performance of UV/H2O2, UV/O3 and UV/H2O2/O3 oxidation systems treating spent caustic from an ethylene plant shows that in UV/H2O2 system, with the increase of H2O2dosage, removal efficiencies of COD and the ratio of biochemical oxygen demand （BOD） to chemical oxygen demand （COD） of the effluent were increased and a better performance was obtained than the H2O2system alone. In UV/H2O2 system, removal efficiency of COD reached 68% under the optimum condition, and BOD/COD ratio was significantly increased from 0.22 to 0.52. In UV/O3 system, with the increase of O3dosage, removal efficiency of COD and BOD/COD ratio were increased, and a better performance was obtained than the O3system alone. Under the optimum condition, removal efficiency of COD was 54%, and BOD/COD ratio was significantly increased from 0.22 to 0.48. In UV/H2O2/O3 system, COD removal efficiency was found to be 22.0% higher than UV/O3 system.

Effect of pH and temperature on acidogenic and hydrogenic activities of glucose-degrading bio-granules

Series batch experiments were made to investigate the influences of pH and temperature on the activity of acidogenus and acidogenus in glucose-degrading bacteria cultured in an UASB(up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket) reactor for glucose fermentation and hydrogen production. The bacteria exhibited different capability to recover to produce hydrogen at different initial pH and temperature. Hydrogen production, VFA production, COD removal and COD balance were measured at different pH and 20, 37 ℃ respectively with the same glucose and VSS in vials. Results showed that there are different influences on the activity of acidogenic bacteria at varied pH and result in a variety of amount of hydrogen production, specific hydrogen production and VFA production, etc. Through the present study, when nonmalized to the weight of VSS, a maximal biogas and hydrogen production of 1 717 1 ml/g and 870 0 ml/g were obtained when pH equals 9 at 37 ℃ and 679 00 ml/g of biogas, 246 35 ml/g of hydrogen were also got when pH equals 5 at 20 ℃ respectively. The maximal specific hydrogen production (SHA) was 116 56 ml/h,g around 8 of pH value at 37 ℃ and 6 46 ml/h,g around 4 of pH value at 20 ℃, which were obtained by calculating the slope of the accumulated hydrogen gas via time. Butyric acid fermentation was important for hydrogen production. Large quantity of unknown COD was found in the vials when a small quantity of bio-gas was produced, but relative less unknown COD was determined when there was large quantity of hydrogen produced. This revealed a better engineering foreground for application of hydrogen bio-production.

Characteristics of MSWI fly ash during vitrification

The vitrification characteristics of municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash were investigated. Effects of temperature on the binding efficiency of heavy metals, the change of chemical compositions and the weight loss of fly ash in the range of 800-1350 ℃ were studied. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) of the United States was used to analyze the leaching characteristics of heavy metals in fly ash and molten slag. Results indicate that chemical compositions, the weight loss of fly ash and the binding efficiency of heavy metals in fly ash have a tremendous change in the range of 1150-1260 ℃. The percentage of CaO, SiO2 and Al2O3 increases with the increasing temperature, whereas it is contrary for SO3, K2O, Na2O and Cl; especially when the temperature is 1260 ℃, the percentage of these four elements decreases sharply from 43.72% to 0.71%. The weight loss occurs obviously in the range of 1150-1260 ℃. Heavy metals of Pb and Cd are almost vaporized above 1000 ℃. Cr is not volatile and its binding efficiency can reach 100% below 1000 ℃. Results of TCLP indicate that the heavy metal content of molten slag is beyond stipulated limit values.

Kinetic modelling of NO+CO reaction on Pt/MoO_x/Al_2O_3 catalyst

A mathematical model has been developed to describe the dynamic behaviours of NO+CO reaction on supported Pt MO catalyst. The ignited state kinetics can be fit quantitatively using directly a Langmuir Henshelwood bimolecular rate expression with a heat of adsorption of NO of 32 4 kJ/mol and of CO of 106 7 kJ/mol, respectively.

Preparation and luminescence properties of europium complex with α-naphthylacetic acid incorporated in silica matrix by sol-gel method

Europium ternary complex of Eu(NNA) 3(NNA=α-naphthylacetic acid) was embedded in silica matrix at different ratios by sol-gel method. The luminescence properties of silica composites were studied by comparing them with those of corresponding pure complex by means of excitation, emission spectra and lifetimes. The fluorescence lifetime was prolonged when the pure complex was incorporated in silica matrix. The relative fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetimes increased simultaneously with the increase of (Eu(NNA) 3.)

Influence of fungicides and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza on growth and nutrient balance of soybean by used DRIS equation

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of mycorrhiza, fungicides in difference concentration and there combination on growth and nutrients balance index of soya bean. Tow AM treatments including with and with out mycorrhiza and tow fungicides (parasmid and ant-arcol) each of them including four concentration (0.0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 Kg·donum-1) were tested in factorial completely randomized design in the three replication. The results indicates that the higher value of total dry matter weight was recorded from combination treatment (F1M1C1) which attained 11.09 gm·pot-1 ,while the lower value 2.25 gm·pot-1 was produced by combination treatment (F2M2C3) ,however the same combination treatments was showed that the nitrogen ,phosphorus ,magnesium and iron in the shoot tissues in the mycorrhizal plant with lower concentration of fungicides were significantly greater (P -1, 251.00 mg·K-1) was recorded. The result of nutrient index and nutrient balance index revealed that the lower NBI (56.18) was recorded in combination treatments (F1M1C1), while the higher NBI (2033.81) was produced from combination treatments (F2M2C3), moreover the results shows significant negative correlation ship between NBI and total dry matter weight (r = -0.63*) .

Denitrifying phosphorous removal in anaerobic/anoxic SBR system with different startup operation mode

To achieve stable and efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal and to investigate the characteristics of the A/A SBR enriched with denitrifying phosphorus removal bacteria(DPB),the whole course of startup was studied with two reactors operated in different mode.The reactor I was operated under anaerobic/settling/anoxic/settling mode,and the reactor II was operated under anaerobic/anoxic/settling mode.Differences between the two reactors in removal efficiency of COD,nitrogen and phosphorus were examined.The results indicated that efficient performance could be achieved in both reactors with different startup operation mode,while the phosphorus removal efficiency was improved sooner in reactor I than in reactor II,which suggested that reactor I would supply a more favorable condition for DPB proliferation.Meanwhile,it was observed that the amount of organic substrates consumption had a linear correlation to that of phosphorus release in anaerobic phase when DPB was accumulated in the A/A SBR denitrifying phosphorus removal system.

Vinylene carbonate additive for EMITFSI-based electrolyte for Li/LiFePO_4 batteries

Ionic liquids have been paid much attention and are considered to replace the conventional organic electrolyte and solve the safety issues by virtue of nonvolatility,non-flammability,high ionic conductivity and extended electrochemical steady window.The paper introduces ionic liquids electrolyte on basis of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (EMITFSI),which shows a wide electrochemical window (0.5-4.5 V vs.Li+/Li),and is theoretically feasible as an electrolyte for Li/LiFePO4batteries to improve the safety.Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was performed to investigate the electrochemical stability window of the polymer electrolyte.Interfacial resistance for Li/electrolyte/Li symmetric cells and Li/electrolyte/LiFePO4 cells were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).The results showed that additive vinylene carbonate (VC) enhances the formation of solid electrolyte interphase film to protect lithium anodes from corrosion and improves the compatibility of ionic liquid electrolyte towards lithium anodes.Accordingly,Li/LiFePO4cells delivers the initial discharge capacity of 124 mAh g-1 at a current rate of 0.1C in the ionic liquid electrolyte (EMITFSI+0.8 mol L-1LiTFSI+5 wt%VC),and shows better cyclability than in the ionic liquid electrolyte without VC.

Reclaim nickel and remove organics from the spent electroless nickel-plating bath by electrolysis

Typical wastes from nickel plating operations include excess drag-out solution. An electrochemical approach was made to recover the nickel and remove the organic pollutants from the spent electroless nickel-plating bath. An electrolyte cell which was constructed by the cathode of porous nickel foam and the anode of Ti/RuO2 was used. During electrolysis, the nickel ion was electrodeposited at the cathode and the oxidation of the organics in the bath was conducted at the anode. The current（i）, time（t）, temperature（T） and pH of the solution affected the recovery efficiency of nickel with constant potential electrolysis. With the optimum experimental conditions of pH=7.6, i=0.45 A, T=65 ℃ and t=2 h, the concentration of nickel ion was reduced from 2.09 g/L to 0.053 g/L and the recovery rate of nickel, the current efficiency and the consumed energy were 97.5%, 17.1%, 12.2 kWh/kg Ni, respectively. Meanwhile, total organic carbon （TOC） of the bath was reduced from 5 800 mg/L to 152.5 mg/L and the removal efficiency of TOC was 97.3%. The recovery rate of nickel could keep to about 97% when electrodeposit was used to recover nickel for 40 hours in a laboratory batch reactor containing the spent bath. Dull nickel containing phosphorus was obtained on the cathode.

Challenges facing the USA in matching Germany on advanced manufacturing for green growth

This study explores the relative strength of public policies promoting advanced manufacturing by comparing the government programs and capacities of two world leaders in science and technology:the USA and Germany.Based on insights from’varieties-of-capitalism’literature and using process tracing methodology,this study identifies significant differences in today’s pursuit of advanced manufacturing.The German model of Rhine capitalism has strength due to its long tradition of diversified quality work,built on a long-term commitment to government-industry collaboration,with significant indirect public support provided by vocational training and research institutes.The American model of Manchester capitalism has been challenged by the loss of millions of low-skilled manufacturing jobs due to outsourcing and competition from Asia.The study finds that the“Manufacturing USA”policy initiative of the Obama era,although directly inspired by Germany’s Fraunhofer institutes,is hampered by the contextual and institutional circumstances identified.With biobased carbon fibers offering the potential of a novel,low-cost material,pursued with research and development(R&D)efforts in both countries,it provides a measure for evaluating policy outcomes,and the study confirms Germany’s technological lead.In addition,the study’s process-tracing methodology reveals that significant legacies from German knowledge creation in the past have spilled over to American science and technology,and may continue to do so,lured by government funds.Further studies on advanced manufacturing should test the robustness of these findings.

Identification and elucidation of anthropogenic source contribution in PM_(10) pollutant: Insight gain from dispersion and receptor models

Source apportionment study of PM10 （Particulate Matter） in a critically polluted area of Jhafia coalfield, India has been carried out using Dispersion model, Principle Component Analysis （PCA） and Chemical Mass Balance （CMB） techniques. Dispersion model Atmospheric Dispersion Model （AERMOD） was introduced to simplify the complexity of sources in Jharia coalfield. PCA and CMB analysis indicates that monitoring stations near the mining area were mainly affected by the emission from open coal mining and its associated activities such as coal transportation, loading and unloading of coal. Mine fire emission also contributed a considerable amount of particulate matters in monitoring stations. Locations in the city area were mostly affected by vehicular, Liquid Petroleum Gas （LPG） ＆ Diesel Generator （DG） set emissions, residential, and commercial activities. The experimental data sampling and their analysis could aid understanding how dispersion based model technique along with receptor model based concept can be strategically used for quantitative analysis of Natural and Anthropogenic sources of PM10.