Ozonation of Two Acidic Azo Dyes with Different Substituents

The ozonation of two differently substituted azo dyes (Schwarz GRS and Orange Acid 8) in water media is studied. The influence of pH on the effectiveness of the ozonation at various initial concentrations of each dye is explored. It was found out that the rates of decolorization for amino-group substituted dyes reflect the considerable influence by the widely varying initial pH from 4.5 to 10. Specifically, the highest effect of decolorization of this dye was obtained at the highest pH studied (pH 10) for all initial concentrations of the solutions. Considering the dye without an amino-group substitute, the rates of color disappearance in ozonation reflected to a lower degree the variations of the initial pH. Pseudo-first-order trends of decolorization were observed in all the experimental runs. Regarding the kinetic results obtained, an attempt to explain the different dyes reactivity was made based on the absolute electronegativity (E_lumo + E_homo) of both dyes. The COD/BOD analysis shows that the ozonation of both azo dyes can reduce the sample COD but it could not improve the biodegradability ratio (BOD₅/COD). BOD decrease with ozonation time indicates that the intermediates of the ozonation are of lower biodegradability. Oxalic acid was found as the final product of ozonation of both dyes.     

Pretreatment of Highly Polluted Pharmaceutical Waste Broth by Wet Air Oxidation

The preoxidation of a highly polluted waste pharmaceutical fermentation broth using wet air oxidation (WAO) has been studied as a possible method for the effective removal of organics. The applied (pre)treatment method should enhance the biotreatability of the pharmaceutical fermentation broth in terms of reduced initial toxicity and higher biodegradability. Preliminary experiments in the pilot biological treatment plant were successful only at low organic loads, whereas the system collapses at higher ones. The characterization of the fermentation broth was started by common physicochemical analysis, whereas several bioassays were used to determine its impact on biological treatment plants and the environment. Toxicity prior to and after WAO was determined using the acute Vibrio fischeri test, measurement of inhibition of O2 consumption, and the Daphnia magna acute test. Ready biodegradability of the treated and untreated broth has also been assessed. WAO experiments were accomplished in the 2?L batch reactor at different temperatures (240/280°C) and operating pressures. WAO experiments confirmed reduction of the toxicity toward microorganisms, whereas oxidized wastewater was more toxic to daphnids. Biodegradability of the oxidized broth has also been enhanced. Further work has been focused on designing appropriate combination of WAO and biological processes.     

变频调速技术在污水处理厂的应用

概述污水处理厂的一般工艺，简单介绍了风机、水泵等的节能特点，介绍了变频调速装置在污水处理厂各处理工段的应用。     

Existence, uniqueness and stability of the equilibrium points of a SHARON bioreactor model

This paper addresses the dynamics of a SHARON reactor, a promising technology for ammonium removal from concentrated wastewater streams. The contraction mapping theorem is used to determine which operating conditions of a SHARON reactor with pH-control result in a unique equilibrium state. However, this approach only identifies the case of very large dilution rates, in practice corresponding with complete biomass wash-out, i.e. with complete loss of biological activity. Practical operation of a SHARON reactor aims at reaching ammonium conversion to nitrite. To identify such interesting operating points, the equilibrium points are subsequently calculated directly in terms of input variables for a simplified SHARON reactor model. The stability of the obtained equilibrium points is assessed and the corresponding phase portraits are analyzed. The influence of slightly varying parameter and input values is investigated as well.     

Toxicity Estimation of Phenolic Compounds by Bioluminescent Bacterium

Phenolic compounds are environmentally important due to their extensive use in various industries, presence in wastewaters, and potential toxicity. When phenolic compounds reach the activated sludge processes of publicly owned treatment works, they can cause upsets in the operations of the treatment plants. A continuous toxicity testing system was developed based on the bioluminescent bacterium Shk1. The toxicities of 23 phenolic compounds to Shk1 were studied and the 5 min EC50 values were obtained. Quantitative structure-activity relationship models based on the logarithm of the octanol-water partitioning coefficient [log(Kow)] were established for estimating the toxicity of phenolic compounds and the model validity was verified.     

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic application for wet oxidation of phenol of iron-containing clays

High-surface-area pillared clays (PILC) were prepared from naturally occurring montmorillonites by exchanging interlayer ions to polyoxocations containing (i) aluminum (Al₁₃-PILC), (ii) iron adsorpted onto Al₁₃-PILC, and (iii) iron and aluminum located within the same complex (Fe_0.8Al_12.2-PILC). The obtained Fe_0.8Al_12.2-PILCs were characterized by DR–UV–vis and IR spectroscopy, XRD, ESR, scanning electron microscopy and low temperature N₂ adsorption measurements. Important factors affecting catalyst activity and phenol removal efficiencies have been studied, i.e. the effect of pH, temperature, catalyst concentration and stability of the catalyst.     

Selective ensemble extreme learning machine modeling of effluent quality in wastewater treatment plants

Real-time and reliable measurements of the effluent quality are essential to improve operating efficiency and reduce energy consumption for the wastewater treatment process.Due to the low accuracy and unstable performance of the traditional effluent quality measurements,we propose a selective ensemble extreme learning machine modeling method to enhance the effluent quality predictions.Extreme learning machine algorithm is inserted into a selective ensemble frame as the component model since it runs much faster and provides better generalization performance than other popular learning algorithms.Ensemble extreme learning machine models overcome variations in different trials of simulations for single model.Selective ensemble based on genetic algorithm is used to further exclude some bad components from all the available ensembles in order to reduce the computation complexity and improve the generalization performance.The proposed method is verified with the data from an industrial wastewater treatment plant,located in Shenyang,China.Experimental results show that the proposed method has relatively stronger generalization and higher accuracy than partial least square,neural network partial least square,single extreme learning machine and ensemble extreme learning machine model.     

Synthesis and optimization of high surface area mesoporous date palm fiber-based nanostructured powder activated carbon for aluminum removal

Date palm fiber (DPF) derived from agrowaste was utilized as a new precursor for the optimized synthesis of a cost-effective, nanostructured, powder-activated carbon (nPAC) for aluminum (Al3+) removal from aqueous solutions using carbonization, KOH activation, response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD). The optimum synthesis condition, activation temperature, time and impregna-tion ratio were found to be 650 ℃, 1.09 hour and 1:1, respectively. Furthermore, the optimum conditions for removal were 99.5％and 9.958 mg·g-1 in regard to uptake capacity. The optimum conditions of nPAC was analyzed and characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, BET, TGA and Zeta potential. Moreover, the adsorption of the Al3+ conditions was optimized with an integrated RSM-CCD experimental design. Regression results revealed that the adsorption kinetics data was well fitted by the pseudo-second order model, whereas the adsorption isotherm data was best represented by the Freundlich isotherm model. Optimum activated carbon indicated that DPF can serve as a cost-effective precursor adsorbent for Al3+removal.     

Catalytic ozonation of NH4+-N in wastewater over composite metal oxide catalyst

Large amounts of water containing-ammonium nitrogen(NH₄⁺-N)have attracted increasing attention.Catalytic ozonation technology,involving the generation of hydroxyl radical(OH)with strong oxidation ability,was originally utilized to degrade organic-containing wastewater.In this paper,Ce/MnOx composite metal oxide catalysts prepared with different preparation conditions were used to degrade wastewater containing inorganic pollutant(NH₄⁺-N).The as-prepared catalyst features were characterized using X-ray diffraction(XRD),Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method(BET),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and H₂-temperature programmed reduction(H₂-TPR)techniques.The results show that the catalyst,prepared by conditions with precipitant Na₂CO₃ and Ce/Mn molar ratio 1:2 calcined at 400℃for 3 h in pH 11.0,displays the optimal performance,with the removal rate of NH₄⁺-N and selectivity to gaseous nitrogen,88.14 wt%and 53.67 wt%,respectively.The effects of several operating factors including solution pH,initial NH₄⁺-N concentrations and scavengers were evaluated.In addition,XRD patterns of catalyst with the best performance and the comparative study on decontamination of NH₄⁺-N by various processes(O₃,catalyst and catalyst/O₃)show that the primary metal oxides are CeO₂ and MnO₂ in Ce/MnOx composite metal oxide catalysts,which have a synergistic effect on the catalytic ozonation of NH₄⁺-N,and the new phase MnO₂ plays a great role.After 5 consecutive use cycles,the degradation efficiency is declined slightly,and can still achieve better than 70 wt%over 1 h reaction.Additionally,the application of catalytic ozonation for actual wastewater on the removal rate of NH₄⁺-N was investigated.Possible mechanism and degradation pathway of NH₄⁺-N were also proposed.In a word,the application of CeO₂-MnO₂ composite metal oxide catalysts in catalytic ozonation can be regarded as an effective,feasible and promising method for the treatment of NH₄⁺-N.     

Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment with Ozonated Activated Sludge

Poor sludge settleability is a problem encountered in many activated sludge wastewater treatment plants. This study was aimed at combatting the unwanted biological growths at the root of this phenomenon with ozone. Ozone dosed directly into the aeration basins of small activated sludge pilot plants treating both domestic and synthetic fuel wastewaters led to a substantial reduction of the bulking problem even at dosages as low as 6 to 10 mg/L. Ozone did not interfere in the delicate nutrient removal processes and significantly enhanced effluent quality.