Experimental study on mitigating wind erosion of calcareous desert sand using spray method for microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation

Wind erosion is one of the significant natural calamities worldwide, which degrades around one-third of global land. The eroded and suspended soil particles in the environment may cause health hazards, i.e. allergies and respiratory diseases, due to the presence of harmful contaminants, bacteria, and pollens. The present study evaluates the feasibility of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) technique to mitigate wind-induced erosion of calcareous desert sand (Thar desert of Rajasthan province in India). The temperature during biotreatment was kept at 36 °C to stimulate the average temperature of the Thar desert. The spray method was used for bioaugmentation of Sporosarcina (S.) pasteurii and further treatment using chemical solutions. The chemical solution of 0.25 pore volume was sprayed continuously up to 5 d, 10 d, 15 d, and 20 d, using two different concentration ratios of urea and calcium chloride dihydrate viz 2:1 and 1:1. The biotreated samples were subjected to erosion testing (in the wind tunnel) at different wind speeds of 10 m/s, 20 m/s, and 30 m/s. The unconfined compressive strength of the biocemented crust was measured using a pocket penetrometer. The variation in calcite precipitation and microstructure (including the presence of crystalline minerals) of untreated as well as biotreated sand samples were determined through calcimeter, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX). The results demonstrated that the erosion of untreated sand increases with an increase in wind speeds. When compared to untreated sand, a lower erosion was observed in all biocemented sand samples, irrespective of treatment condition and wind speed. It was observed that the sample treated with 1:1 cementation solution for up to 5 d, was found to effectively resist erosion at a wind speed of 10 m/s. Moreover, a significant erosion resistance was ascertained in 15 d and 20 d treated samples at higher wind speeds. The calcite content percentage, thickness of crust, bulk density, and surface strength of biocemented sand were enhanced with the increase in treatment duration. The 1:1 concentration ratio of cementation solution was found effective in improving crust thickness and surface strength as compared to 2:1 concentration ratio of cementation solution. The calcite crystals formation was observed in SEM analysis and calcium peaks were observed in EDX analysis for biotreated sand.     

Effect of sintering temperature on lightweight aggregates manufacturing from copper contaminated soil

Manufacturing lightweight aggregate (LWA) at high temperature is an effective way to immobilize heavy metals in solid waste. This work investigated the performance and solidification mechanism of LWA prepared from copper contaminated soil. The volume expansion of LWA could reach a maximum of 28%, and its lowest density accounted of 1.5 g/cm³, which met the standard requirements. Optical microscope and micro-CT test illustrated that the addition of Cu leaded to obvious phase separation in LWA. The Cu leaching result of LWA first increased and then dropped with the temperature. The XRD test found that the main formation phase of Cu in LWA were t-CuFe₂O₄ and amorphous phase that they had different acid resistance ability. XPS revealed that the main cause of the agglomeration of liquid phase in LWA was the chain broken reaction between Cu and Si–O tetrahedron. SEM-EDS results showed that the distribution of Cu and Si had a strong correlation, which meant that Cu mostly formed amorphous phase. This work showed the uniqueness of Cu in the high temperature immobilization and pointed out the best immobilization target phase.     

木质纤维与水泥共同改良软土的力学性能与微观机制分析

通过压实试验、无侧限抗压强度试验和劈裂试验,分析不同木质纤维含量、水泥含量和固化时间对软土力学性能的影响规律,探讨木质纤维、水泥改良软土的微观机制。结果表明,木质纤维的加入对水泥改良软土的击实特性有显著的影响;木质纤维与水泥可有效改善土体的抗压和劈裂抗拉强度,随着木质纤维含量的增加,改良土的抗压和劈裂抗拉强度呈现出明显的“驼峰”现象,并在木质纤维含量为0.25%时最大;木质纤维与水化产物、软土颗粒形成互锁效应,增大了改良土的摩擦力,同时木质纤维还承担一定的拉伸强度,使改良土的劈裂强度增加。     

Isolation and identification of soil bacteria resistant to surfactants in washing detergents

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (POLE) are the major surfactants in washing detergents. In the present study, we isolated surfactant-resistant bacteria from soil samples collected from a sports ground and a farm field. The samples were treated with 2.0% LAS or POLE at 25°C for 30 min and cultivated on agar plates at 25°C for several days, after which manifold bacterial colonies were isolated. Thereafter, we tested the ability of each bacterial isolate to resist the antibacterial activity of the surfactant. Ten LAS-resistant strains were isolated, and all were found to be Gram-negative bacteria such as Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. On the other hand, 18 POLE-resistant strains were isolated, of which 14 were Gram-positive bacteria including Bacillus and Microbacterium. Notably, one POLE-resistant strain was identified as Bacillus cereus, a potential causative agent for foodborne illness. The genera of LAS- and POLE-resistant bacteria did not overlap. Therefore, the combination of LAS and POLE could be more effective to eliminate soil bacteria from clothes and/or daily necessities.     

能源土边界面模型的应力更新算法及算例分析

水合物的存在会显著影响能源土的刚度、峰值强度与剪胀性。针对已有能源土模型的不足，结合边界面模型的建模思想，构建一个新的能源土边界面模型，模型参数较少，能够恰当反映能源土的应力-应变关系。计算能源土变形问题的核心在于正确积分塑性本构方程，应用完全隐式回退Euler算法，建立模型应力及塑性内变量的更新公式，并给出显式的一致性切线模量表达式。基于ABAQUS软件提供的二次开发接口，编写模型的用户材料子程序，应用已有试验数据验证程序正确性。最后应用开发的子程序对能源土的平面应变试验进行模拟，分析水合物饱和度对剪切带倾角与孔隙比的影响。     

Research on slag-resistance of ZrN-SiAlON-SiC-C composite refractory in different atmospheres

The ZrN-SiAlON composite powder was synthesized using low-grade zircon and bauxite by carbothermal reduction nitridation at first and then ZrN-SiAlON-SiC-C composite refractory were fabricated with the ZrN-SiAlON powder, SiC particles, and a small amount of Si powder as raw materials and sucrose as the binder. The slag resistance of these composites in O₂, N₂ and Ar atmosphere was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersion spectra. The results show that the pores in the inside of ZrN-SiAlON-SiC-C composite refractory were enlarged in oxygen atmosphere due to oxidation, which leads to the decrease in slag resistance. In argon atmosphere, blast furnace slag destroyed the sintered body of zircon, corundum, and cristobalite with the formation of CaZrO₃, then infiltrated into and filled the pores inside the refractory to form a dense layer, which hindered the further erosion of the blast furnace slag. In the reducing atmosphere, the interfacial energy of the gas-liquid phases became larger due to the reactions between blast furnace slag liquid and the gas, resulting in a larger wetting angle which prevented the erosion.     

钢包包衬侵蚀对内衬温度和钢水温降的影响

为了研究包衬侵蚀对钢水温降的影响规律,通过ANSYS有限元软件以及ParaMesh网格随移技术建立了考虑包衬侵蚀的钢包传热计算模型,研究并分析了包衬侵蚀对包衬及钢水温度的影响规律。结果表明,包衬侵蚀对包衬温度影响较大,在相邻两个修包周期内,包衬侵蚀造成渣线和包壁的包衬内部(工作层与永久层交界处)温差为14～114 K;包衬侵蚀导致包壳外表面温度升高,包壳向外散热增加,与此同时,包衬受侵蚀变薄,蓄热减少,两者同时作用导致包衬侵蚀对钢水温降影响不大,最高不超过1 K,在实际生产中可以适当地忽略钢包侵蚀对钢水温降的影响。     

于都县黄麟地区绿色富硒土壤分布选区评价

通过于都县黄麟地区1:5万土地质量地球化学调查,基本査明该地区农作物中硒元素及其他元素的地球化学特征,综合分析岀绿色富硒土壤分布,并优选出绿色富硒地块,为特色农产品基地建设的开发与利用提供理论依据。