2,4,6‐Trichlorophenol and phenol removal in methanogenic and partially‐aerated methanogenic conditions in a fluidized bed bioreactor

A fluidized bed bioreactor (FBBR) was operated for more than 575 days to remove 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (TCP) and phenol (Phe) from a synthetic toxic wastewater containing 80 mg L^?1 of TCP and 20 mg L^?1 of Phe under two regimes: Methanogenic (M) and Partially‐Aerated Methanogenic (PAM). The mesophilic, laboratory‐scale FBBR consisted of a glass column (3 L capacity) loaded with 1 L of 1 mm diameter granular activated carbon colonized by an anaerobic consortium. Sucrose (1 g COD L^?1) was used as co‐substrate in the two conditions. The hydraulic residence time was kept constant at 1 day. Both conditions showed similar TCP and Phe removal (99.9 + %); nevertheless, in the Methanogenic regime, the accumulation of 4‐chlorophenol (4CP) up to 16 mg L^?1 and phenol up to 4 mg L^?1 was observed, whereas in PAM conditions 4CP and other intermediates were not detected. The specific methanogenic activity of biomass decreased from 1.01 ± 0.14 in M conditions to 0.19 ± 0.06 mmolCH₄ h^?1 gTKN^?1 in PAM conditions whereas the specific oxygen uptake rate increased from 0.039 ± 0.008 in M conditions to 0.054 ± 0.012 mmolO₂ h^?1 gTKN^?1, which suggested the co‐existence of both methanogenic archaea and aerobic bacteria in the undefined consortium. The advantage of the PAM condition over the M regime is that it provides for the thorough removal of less‐substituted chlorophenols produced by the reductive dehalogenation of TCP rather than the removal of the parent compound itself. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of glucose oxidase immobilized in different carriers using radiation polymerization

Glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4) was immobilized on different polymeric materials using different immobilization techniques (entrapping by γ‐irradiation, and covalent binding using epichlorohydrin). Studies were carried out to increase the thermal stability of glucose oxidase (GOD) for different applications. The activity and stability of the resulting biopolymers have been compared with those of free GOD. The effect of different polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylamide (PVA/PAAm) compositions of the copolymer carrier on the enzymatic activity of the immobilized GOD was studied. The maximum enzymatic activity was obtained with the composition ratio of PVA/PAAm of 60:40. The behaviour of the free and immobilized enzyme was analysed as a function of pH. A broadening in the pH profile (5.5–8) was observed for immobilized preparations. The activity and stability of the resulting biopolymers produced by immobilization of GOD onto different carriers have been compared, in both aqueous and organic media, with those of the free GOD. The enzyme's tolerance toward both heat and organic solvent was enhanced by immobilization onto polymers. The addition of different concentrations of organic solvents (10–50%, v/v) to the enzyme at higher temperature (60 °C) was found to stabilize the enzyme molecule. The strongest stabilizing effect on the enzymatic activity was achieved at a concentration of 10%. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ozonation of CI Reactive Black 5 using rotating packed bed and stirred tank reactor

This study investigates the ozonation of CI Reactive Black 5 (RB5) by using the rotating packed bed (RPB) and completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR) as ozone contactors. The RPB, which provides high gravitational force by adjusting the rotational speed, was employed as a novel ozone contactor. The same ozone dosage was separately introduced into either the RPB or the CSTR for the investigation, while the experimental solution was continuously circulated within the apparatus consisting of the RPB and CSTR. The decolorization and mineralization efficiencies of RB5 in the course of ozonation are compared for these two methods. Moreover, the dissolved and off‐gas ozone concentrations were simultaneously monitored for the further analysis. As a result, the ozone mass transfer rate per unit volume of the RPB was significantly higher because of its higher mass transfer coefficient and gas–liquid concentration driving force. Furthermore, ozonation kinetics was found to be independent of the gravitational magnitude of an ozone gas–liquid contactor. Therefore, the results suggest employing RPBs as ozone‐contacting devices with the advantage of volume reduction. The experimental results, which can be used for further modeling of the ozonation process in the RPB, also show the requirement of correct design for the RPB. Consequently, the present study is useful for the understanding of practical application of RPBs. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

The maximum bit rates of soliton communication systems with lumpedamplifiers and filters in different distances

The maximum bit rate of a soliton communication system with lumped amplifiers and optical filters is considered. When the dispersion of the fiber varies from one amplifier spacing to another amplifier spacing, the maximum bit rate is significantly reduced. To overcome the effect, the amplitude of the soliton is amplified so that it is still the average soliton corresponding to the fiber dispersion for an amplifier spacing. Thus, the maximum bit rate is only slightly less than that without the dispersion variations. For a given distance, the maximum bit rate limited by the stability and soliton interaction is obtained. The result is compared with that limited by the Gordon-Haus effect. For shorter transmission distance, the maximum bit rate is limited by the stability and soliton interaction. For longer transmission distance, the maximum bit rate is limited by the Gordon-Haus effect     

我国聚甲醛工业的供需分析

从国内聚甲醛树脂的生产、贸易及消费状况出发 ,分析了国内聚甲醛工业的供需现状并提出短期预测。     

A unified approach for the analysis of grating-assisted couplers

Two coupled-mode theories based on individual waveguide modes and compound system modes, respectively, are briefly reviewed with proper modification and new comments. The relation between these two theories is built and it is found that one theory is actually an efficient approximation of the other. Also, the reason why the results obtained with the first more accurate than those obtained with the second is found. The constraint on both approaches is shown     

The Air is Always Cleaner on the Other Side: Race,Space, and Ambient Air Toxics Exposures in California

Abstract: Environmental justice advocates have recently focused attention on cumulative exposure in minority neighborhoods due to multiple sources of pollution. This article uses U.S. EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) for 1996 to examine environmental inequality in California, a state that has been a recent innovator in environmental justice policy. We first estimate potential lifetime cancer risks from mobile and stationary sources. We then consider the distribution of these risks using both simple comparisons and a multivariate model in which we control for income, land use, and other explanatory factors, as well as spatial correlation. We find large racial disparities in California's “riskscape” as well as inequalities by other factors and suggest several implications for environmental and land use policy.     

Development and simulation studies of an unsteady state biofilter model for the treatment of cyclic air emissions of an α‐pinene gas stream

This paper describes the development and simulation of an unsteady state biofilter model used to predict dynamic behaviour of cyclically‐operated biofilters and compares it with experimental results obtained from three, parallel, bench‐scale biofilters treating both periodically fluctuating concentrations and constant concentrations of an α‐pinene‐laden gas stream. The dynamic model, using kinetic parameters estimated from the constant concentration biofilter, was able to predict the performance of cyclic biofilters operating at short cycle periods (ie, in the order of minutes and hours). Steady state kinetic data from a constant concentration biofilter can be used to predict unsteady state biofilter operation. At a 24 h cycle period, the dynamic model compared well with experimental results. For long cycle periods (ie, hours and days), removal efficiency decreased after periods of non‐loading: the longer the period of non‐loading, the poorer the biofilter's performance at the re‐commencement of pollutant loading. At longer time scales the model did not effectively predict transient behaviour, as adsorption and changes in kinetic parameters were not accounted for. Modelling results showed that similar biofiltration performance for the cyclic and constant concentration biofiltration of α‐pinene is expected for biofilters operating solely in the first order kinetics regime. Poorer performance for cyclic biofilters following Monod kinetics spanning the entire kinetics range is expected as the cycle amplitude increases. The most important parameters affecting the performance of a cyclically‐operated biofilter with short cycle periods are: amplitude of cyclic fluctuations, C_{g, max}/C_g, relative value of the half‐saturation constant in the Monod expression, K_s, and effective diffusivity of α‐pinene in the biofilm, D_e. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ultrasound‐activated Knoevenagel condensation of malononitrile with carbonylic compounds catalysed by alkaline‐doped saponites

α,β‐Unsaturated nitriles have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of a carbonylic compound with malononitrile, assisted by sonochemical irradiation. Two alkaline‐promoted clays (Li⁺‐ and Cs⁺‐exchanged saponites) have been employed as catalysts. The influence of the carbonylic compound (benzaldehyde or cyclohexanone) and the use of a solvent on the catalytic activity have been studied. Remarkable increase in the conversion values has been found when the reaction is activated by ultrasound, as compared with the thermal activation. In this green, solvent‐free procedure, α,β‐unsaturated nitriles have been produced in very high yields (97%) when the Cs⁺‐saponite is used as catalyst. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigation of texture effect on visual colour difference evaluation

The texture effect on visual colour difference evaluation was investigated in this study. Five colour centers were selected and textured colour pairs were generated using scanned textile woven fabrics and colour‐mapping technique. The textured and solid colour pairs were then displayed on a characterized cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor for colour difference evaluation. The colour difference values for the pairs with texture patterns are equal to 5.0 CIELAB units in lightness direction. The texture level was represented by the half‐width of histogram, which is called texture strength in this study. High correlation was found between texture strength and visual colour difference for textured colour pairs, which indicates that an increasing of 10 units of texture strength in luminance would cause a decreasing of 0.25 units visual difference for the five colour centers. The ratio of visual difference between textured and solid colour pairs also indicates a high parametric effect of texture. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 30, 341–347, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.