Photo‐oxidation of cyanide in aqueous solution by the UV/H2O2 process

Photo‐oxidation of cyanide was studied in aqueous solution using a low‐pressure ultra‐violet (UV) lamp along with H₂O₂ as an oxidant. It was observed that by UV alone, cyanide degradation was slow but when H₂O₂ was used with UV, the degradation rate became faster and complete degradation occurred in 40 min. The rate of degradation increased as the lamp wattage was increased. It was also observed that cyanide oxidation is dependent on initial H₂O₂ concentration and the optimum dose of H₂O₂ was found to be 35.3 mmol dm^?3. Photo‐oxidation reactions were carried out at alkaline pH values (10–11) as at acidic pH values, cyanide ions form highly toxic HCN gas which is volatile and difficult to oxidise. By the UV/H₂O₂ process, using a 25 W low‐pressure UV lamp and at alkaline pH of 10.5 with an H₂O₂ dose of 35.3 mmol dm^?3, cyanide (100 mg dm^?3) was completely degraded in 40 min when air was bubbled through the reactor, but when pure oxygen was bubbled the time reduced to 25 min. The cyanide degradation reaction pathway has been established. It was found that cyanide was first oxidised to cyanate and later the cyanate was oxidised to carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The kinetics of cyanide oxidation were found to be pseudo‐first order and the rate constant estimated to be 9.9 × 10^?2min^?1 at 40 °C. The power required for complete degradation of 1 kg of cyanide was found to be 167 kWh (kilowatt hour). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Review on Mixing Characteristics in Solid‐Liquid and Solid‐Liquid‐Gas Reactor Vessels

Mechanically agitated reactors with single and multiple impeller systems are used in the industry for the various three‐phase mixing processes such as crystallization, fermentation, and hydrogenation, etc. The paper reviews the experimental work reported in the literature along with different techniques used for the measurement of the specific quantities such as minimum or critical impeller speed for solid suspension. The work critically surveys the literature and makes specific recommendations for the use of appropriate correlations and conditions to be used for the success of such equipment. This assessment will put all the relevant literature on a common footing and will help to validate work reported earlier.     

Vertical distribution of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in sediment core from Thane Creek area of Mumbai, India

In recent years there has been a growing concern all over the globe about the marine pollution due to persistent organic pollutants. Sediments, which is an important component of marine environment can serve as sorbent or concentrator for various persistent organic pollutants including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). Transport and fate of PCB congeners in sediment depends on their physicochemical characteristics. In this study, the depth profile of accumulated PCBs in Thane Creek sediments of Mumbai, India, was studied. The sediment core samples were collected using a gravity corer, processed and analysed for different PCB congeners. Analysis of PCBs in the sediment samples were carried out using gas chromatography system equipped with electron capture detector. The study on vertical distribution of PCBs in sediment could reflect the geochemical history including changes due to anthropogenic releases into the system. The surface segment shows the downward trend for these compounds, indicating slow phase out of PCBs after ban. The concentration and composition of different homologues varies at different depth. An attempt has also been made to find out the various sources of PCBs which could have contributed to these compounds by performing factor analysis over the observed concentrations of the PCB compounds in the core sediment.     

Effect of cavitation on chemical disinfection efficiency

This study brings out the potential efficacy of hybrid techniques for water disinfection. The techniques studied include hydrodynamic cavitation, acoustic cavitation and treatment with chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and ozone. The hybrid techniques which combine hydrodynamic cavitation, acoustic cavitation and hydrogen peroxide appear to be an attractive alternative to any one technique on its own for the reduction in the heterotropic plate count bacteria as well as indicator microorganisms like the total coliforms, fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci.     

Oxidation of cyanide in aqueous solution by chemical and photochemical process

Cyanide waste is found predominantly in industrial effluents generated from metallurgical operations. The toxicity of cyanide creates serious environmental problems. In this paper, oxidation of cyanide in aqueous solution was investigated using chemical and photochemical process. Chemical oxidation was studied at room temperature using H2O2 as oxidant and Cu2+ as catalyst. Photochemical oxidation was studied in an annular type batch photoreactor of 1l capacity using 25 W low-pressure (81.7% transmission at 254 nm wavelength) ultraviolet (UV) lamp along with H2O2 as oxidant. The effect of Cu2+ catalysis was also studied. It was observed that in absence of UV source, the degradation of cyanide by H2O2 alone was very slow, whereas copper ions accelerated the rate of reaction thereby acting as catalyst. Copper formed a complex with cyanide ion, i.e. tetracyanocuprate which had greater affinity for H2O2. Cyanate hydrolysis was also favoured by copper ions. As Cu2+ ion concentration was increased, rate of degradation also increased. Photochemical oxidation by H2O2 and Cu2+ was found to be the best system for cyanide degradation. CN- (100 mg/l) was degraded to non-detectable level in 9 min at pH 10.0 with optimum H2O2 dose of 35.5 mM and Cu2+ dose of 19 mg/l. Reaction kinetics of cyanide oxidation was found to be pseudo-first order and the rate constant has been determined for different processes.     

Magnetic and dielectric properties of Mg1+x Mnx, Fe2?2x, O4 ferrite system

Ferrites with the general formula Mg_1+xMn_xFe_2–2xO₄(where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9) were prepared by the standard ceramic technique and studied by means of X-ray diffraction, magnetization, a.c. susceptibility and dielectric constant measurements. The X-ray analysis confirmed the single-phase formation of the samples. The lattice parameter is found to increase up to x = 0.3 and thereafter it decreases as x increases. The cation distribution has been studied by X-ray analysis and magnetization. Magnetization results exhibit collinear ferrimagnetic structure for x 0.3 and thereafter structure changes into non-collinear for x > 0.3. Curie temperature (T_C) obtained from a.c. susceptibility data decreases with increasing x. The dielectric constant (), loss tangent (tan ) show strong frequency dependence.     

Decrease in costs for management of lower airway disease in the pediatric intensive care unit

PURPOSE: Hypertensive patients exhibit exaggerated cardiovascular responses to tracheal extubation. This study was undertaken to examine the inhibitory effects of calcium channel blockers, nicardipine and diltiazem, on haemodynamic changes after tracheal extubation. METHODS: Sixty hypertensive patients (ASA physical status II) undergoing elective orthopaedic (upper and lower extremity) surgery received, in a randomized, double-blind manner, 30 micrograms.kg-1 nicardipine, 0.2 mg.kg-1 diltiazem or saline (as a control) (n = 20 of each) i.v. before tracheal extubation. Changes in heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and rate-pressure product (RPP) were measured before and after tracheal extubation. RESULTS: The HR, MAP and RPP increased after tracheal extubation in the control group (P < 0.05). The increases in these haemodynamic variables were attenuated with nicardipine or diltiazem. The inhibitory effects of diltiazem on these cardiovascular responses to tracheal extubation were greater than those of nicardipine (HR; 86 +/- 7 vs 101 +/- 10, RPP; 11,437 +/- 1,575 vs 14,675 +/- 2,874, mean +/- SD, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with nicardipine, administration of diltiazem produced greater attenuating the circulatory responses to tracheal extubation in hypertensive patients.