Bioelectrochemical sulfate reduction enhanced nitrogen removal from industrial wastewater containing ammonia and sulfate

Low organic carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and existing sulfate (SO₄²⁻) in industrial wastewater limited nitrogen removal. Coupling SO₄²⁻ reduction with sulfide autotrophic denitrification provides a novel strategy. Herein, bioelectrochemical sulfate reduction was coupled with heterotrophic sulfate reduction to drive sulfide autotrophic denitrification. In this coupled system, total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was increased from ~25% to ~85% by inputting −45 mA electricity. With the help of supplying electrons to denitrification through SO₄²⁻ reduction, coulomb efficiency was improved to 61.5%. Also, bioelectrochemical sulfate reduction could improve sulfur recovery and thus increase TN removal efficiency. Furthermore, through tuning turnover numbers of SO₄²⁻, high TN removal efficiency can be obtained at various concentrations of SO₄²⁻. Moreover, main functional bacteria in this system were identified. Finally, ~75% TN removal efficiency was achieved with real wastewater in this system. Overall, this work offered a new approach for efficient nitrogen removal from industrial wastewater containing SO₄²⁻.     

Systematic study of structure and piezoelectric properties of Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 by in situ synchrotron diffraction

Lead-based ferroelectric materials are extensively employed in industrial applications and everyday life due to their excellent ferroelectric and piezoelectric performance. Pb(Ni_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-PbTiO₃ (PNN-PT) is a typical binary relaxor ferroelectric system, whose refined structure and piezoelectric properties have not been systematically investigated. In this study, evolution of electric field-based crystal structure and variation of ferroelectric, piezoelectric, as well as dielectric properties with composition and temperature of (1 − x)PNN-xPT (0.32 ≤ x ≤ 0.36) ceramics were studied in full detail. The optimal performance is obtained at 0.66PNN-0.34PT with maximum piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ of 560 pC/N and large dielectric constant of 28 684. In situ high-energy synchrotron diffraction was employed to determine structural origins of enhanced properties of 0.66PNN-0.34PT. Interestingly, crystal structure of poled 0.66PNN-0.34PT ceramic is determined to be single monoclinic phase. Furthermore, both its lattice parameters and volume variation present butterfly shape under electric field. It is demonstrated that macroscopic strain of 0.66PNN-0.34PT stems mainly from intrinsic structure. The present study provides evidence for the relationship between microstructure and macroscopic properties, which is beneficial to the design of new materials with piezoelectric properties.     

Optimized sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties of Ca1+2xSnSi2x+yO3+6x+2y by composition modulation

Ca_1+2xSnSi_2x+yO_3+6x+2y (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.9; 0.1 ≤ y ≤ 0.9) microwave dielectric ceramics were prepared through traditional solid-state reaction sintered at 1450°C–1500°C for 5 hours. The Ca₃SnSi₂O₉ second phase replaced the SnO₂ second phase of the Ca_1+2xSnSi_2xO_3+6x (x = 0, y = 0) ceramics by controlling the ratio of Ca:Sn:Si. The cracks of CaSnO₃ (x = 0, y = 0) ceramic were inhibited, the microwave dielectric properties were optimized by introducing the Ca₃SnSi₂O₉ second phase, and the CaSnO₃-Ca₃SnSi₂O₉ mixture system existed at (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.9, y = 0). The CaSnSiO₅ phase with positive τ_f value was related to the Si-rich in CaSnSi_yO_3+2y (x = 0; 0.1 ≤ y ≤ 0.9), and the coexistence of three and four phases was obtained at CaSnSi_yO_3+2y (0.1 ≤ y ≤ 0.9) ceramics. The CaSnSiO₅ phase appeared at CaSnSi_yO_3+2y (0.3 ≤ y ≤ 0.9) ceramics. The CaSnSi_yO_3+2y (y = 0.8) ceramic with 49.2 wt% CaSnSiO₅ phase exhibited excellent microwave dielectric properties: ε_r = 11.06, Q × f = 57,500 GHz (at 11.5 GHz), and τ_f = +8.1 ppm/°C.     

Preparation of ZrO2 beads by an improved micro-droplet spray forming process

Monodisperse ZrO₂ ceramic beads with size larger than 1 mm have been prepared by an improved micro-droplet spray forming process, through which a compressor and a dispenser were employed to produce droplets continuously. Furthermore, the slurry recipe and drying temperature have been optimized to enhance the sphericity and smoothness of the beads. The sintered ZrO₂ ceramic beads present promising mechanical performance, including a relative density of 84.6%, a crush strength of 256.2 ± 36.6 N as well as a Vickers hardness of 1344.4 ± 58.3 HV. Such procedure reveals great potential in mass production of ceramic beads.     

Enhancing flame retardant and antistatic properties of polyamide 6 by a grafted multiwall carbon nanotubes

In order to improve the flame retardancy and antistatic properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) at as low amount of additives as possible, an integrated-functional additive was synthesized by 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The results showed 2 wt% of DOPO-MWCNTs distributed in PA6 formed an electric network and decreased volume resistivity sharply to 3.1 × 10⁸ Ω cm. In other words, it helped PA6 to get to the percolation threshold of semiconductor. By using of 3 wt% DOPO-MWCNTs, the severe dripping in burning of PA6 was almost controlled. The possible reason was also ascribed to the network formed by evenly dispersed DOPO-MWCNTs, which strengthened the char structure and held severe dripping of PA6. As a result, the heat and smoke release were also suppressed obviously. The most important is that CO release was about half cut in CONE test.     

A (4-fluorophenyl)(phenyl)phosphine oxide-modified epoxy resin with improved flame-retardancy,hydrophobicity, and dielectric properties

The compound (4-fluorophenyl)(phenyl) phosphine oxide (4-FPO) was designed, synthesized, and used in the modification of epoxy resin (EP). The 4-FPO-modified EP was prepared by curing the reaction mixture of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 4-FPO in the presence of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). Compared with the unmodified EP, the limiting oxygen index value of the EP/4-FPO-0.6 (4-FPO-modified EP with 0.6 wt% of phosphorus) increased to 31.6%, and the sample achieved UL-94 V-0 rating. The peak of the heat release rate, average of the heat release rate, and total heat release of EP/4-FPO-0.6 were reduced by 39, 24, and 19%, respectively. Mechanism study showed that the quenching effect in the gas and barrier effect in the condensed phase were responsible for the enhanced flame-retardant properties of the 4-FPO-modified EP. The results showed that hydrophobicity and dielectric properties of the modified EP were clearly improved.     

Engineering all-aromatic polyamide surface from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic and the accelerated strategy

Being a new kind of nanomaterials, aromatic polyamide nanofibers (ANF) have been much highlighted in recent studies. We here demonstrate an isopropyl alcohol (IPA) accelerated chemical cleavage on poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) chopped fibers, which provides an efficient preparation method of ANF. The comprehensive study on the processes accelerated by different alcohols revealed that the preparation time of ANF in the mixed medium of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-alcohol (20:1 in volume) was shorten to 45 min and 75 min for methanol (ethanol) and isopropanol, respectively. However, the nanofibers prepared in DMSO-IPA exhibited the minimum in axial and radial dimensions, providing the finest and most uniform diameter of 16 nm. The corresponding ANF films through vacuum assisted filtration also showed the highest tensile strength of 150 MPa, in comparison with those of the ANF films prepared using other alcohols, which were about 110 MPa. Furthermore, ANF/silicon hybrid films were prepared by the ionic ring-opening reaction followed by the alkoxysilane condensation and nanoparticle fabrication. By changing the organo functional groups in the alkoxysilane, the surface of the films were adjustable in a wide contact angle range from 56° (hydrophilic) to 150° (superhydrophobic), suggesting the amendable interfacial properties potential applicable to composite fabrication with most of the resin matrix.     

Sustainability-guided life-cycle design and assessment for bio-based composite foams: Integrate flame retardancy/lightweight in usage and energy utilization after service

Sustainable development strategy has aroused a great interest in biomass resources as alternative raw materials. A kind of biomass-derived poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), has been developed as porous foams to reduce resource exhaustion and meet lightweight demands. For fire-safety in-service, graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized by 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) to combine flame-retardant elements and heat-barrier function. Hence, a very low loading level of P-containing GO as only 5 wt% could reduce peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) of PBS-based foams by 58.5% and 22.3%, respectively. Meanwhile, N-/P-doped mesoporous char with a specific surface area of 136 m²/g, which derived from combustion of flame-retardant foaming PBS, contributes to a potential of energy storage applications in the capacitor or the anode of Li-ion battery with long-term stability. Overall, the sustainability of bio-based polyester could integrate lightweight of foaming, and be extended to utilization after use via facile combustion inspired by flame-retardancy design.     

Fabrication of phytic acid embellished kaolinite and its effect on the flame retardancy and thermal stability of ethylene vinyl acetate composites

A modified kaolinite by grafting with phytic acid (PA-g-Kaol) is fabricated, and it was introduced into ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) with intumescent flame retardancy (IFR) together to improve the flame retardancy of EVA composites. The results show the limiting oxygen index value of EVA/ (18.0 wt% IFR)/ (2.0 wt% PA-g-Kaol) is 30.8%. Meanwhile, there is only one dripping produced in the vertical burning test. What's more, the flame-retardant mechanism is demonstrated by TG-IR, real-time-IR and GC–MS analysis. The results indicate that some pyrolytic products of IFR and PA-g-Kaol, like ammonia and phosphoric acid, catalyze the crosslinking of EVA and flame retardant, the resultant compact char protects the substrate from further burning.     

Spatial distribution of silica fillers in phase-separated rubber blends investigated by three-dimensional elemental mapping

The distribution of nano-sized silica in binary rubber blends is characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tomography combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). 3D distribution of silica is visualized by STEM-EDX tomography with the tilt-series of silicon elemental maps, while the phase-separated morphologies of polyisoprene rubber (IR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) are visualized by STEM-tomography in high-angle-annular-dark field (HAADF) mode. The combination of STEM-EDX and STEM-HAADF tomography enables us to determine the distribution of silica between the two rubber phases quantitatively even with high contents of silica up to 70 phr (weight parts per hundred rubber). It is found that silica is preferentially distributed in the SBR phase, but it is also distributed in the IR phase when the IR fraction in the total rubber components is higher than 40 wt%. The preferential distribution of silica in the SBR phase improves the dispersion of the IR domains. This is the first use of this technique for a multicomponent polymer system, showing the advantage to characterize the complicated multicomponent polymer composite morphologies.