Guocheng Zhu

Three-dimensional electro-Fenton oxidation of N-heterocyclic compounds with a novel catalytic particle electrode: high activity, wide pH range and catalytic mechanism

A novel three-dimensional (3D) heterogeneous electro-Fenton (EF) system with sludge deserved activated carbon from sewage and iron sludge (SAC-Fe) as catalytic particle electrodes (CPEs) was constructed in this study. Its application in degrading nitrogen-heterocyclic compounds (NHCs) exhibited high catalytic efficiency over a wide applicable pH range from 3.0 to 9.0. SAC-Fe worked as both CPEs and a heterogeneous catalyst in this 3D EF system, enhancing oxidation activity. Degradation pathways of the NHCs (indole, quinoline and pyridine) and reasonable reaction mechanisms involved in this 3D EF were proposed. At pH 3.0, hydroxyl radicals were the dominant participant oxidants, following a Haber–Weiss mechanism. The FeII sites catalyzed the decomposition of electro-generated H2O2 to yield ˙OH. At pH 9.0, the oxidants generated from the decomposition of H2O2 were mainly ˙O2−/HO2˙ and to lesser extent were ˙OH. The formation and decomposition of H2O2 complex with catalytic sites (FeII and FeIII) as well as the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 were involved in the catalytic reactions to generate ˙O2−/HO2˙ and ˙OH. A quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis (QSAR) model was developed to describe the relationship between degradation properties of NHCs and their structures by involving quantum descriptors.

Fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy analysis of landfill leachate DOM in coagulation–flocculation process

ABSTRACT Landfill leachate contains a variety of organic matters, some of which can be excited and emit fluorescence signal. In order to degrade these organic matters, the pretreatment of the leachate is needed, which can improve the degradation performance of post-treatment process. Coagulation–flocculation is one of the important pretreatment processes to treat landfill leachate. Assessing the chemical compositions of landfill leachate is helpful in the understanding of their sources and fates as well as the mechanistic behaviors in the water environment. The present work aimed to use fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) to characterize the chemical fractions of landfill leachate dissolved organic matter (DOM) in conjunction with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Results showed that the DOM of landfill leachate tested in this study was identified resulting from microbial input, which included five typical characteristic peaks and four kinds of PARAFAC fractions. These fractions were mainly composed of hydrophobic macromolecule humic acid-like (HM-HA), hydrophilic intermediate molecular fulvic acid-like (HIM-FA), and hydrophilic small molecule protein-like substances (HSM-PS). HM-HA and HIM-FA were found to be easier to remove than HSM-PS. Further research on HSM-PS removal by coagulation-flocculation still needs to be improved.

Fe(III)/H2O2-Like System for Removal of Azo Dye from Aqueous Solution

Fe(III)/H2O2 system is an effective method for separating the organic compounds from aqueous solution, whereas it is often investigated under lower pH conditions. In order to improve performance of the system, a Fe(III)/H2O2-like system that was composed of iron-based coagulant and H2O2 was developed, which has the combined effect of flocculation and oxidation. The system when used for decolorization of an organic azo dye solution, Procion Red MX-5B, under wider pH range, indicated higher decolorization efficiency. Parameters affecting the decolorization such as coagulant dosage, H2O2 concentration, initial solution pH, temperature, and initial dye concentration were examined in this study. The results indicated that with appropriate coagulant dosage, H2O2 concentration, and pH, it was more effective for the decolorization, especially in a weak alkaline environment (pH = 7-8); the pseudo-first-order kinetics could express the azo dye concentration as a function of the reaction time. This study further illustrated that the azo dye solution was degraded to a degree with 53.22% TOC removal at an initial total TOC concentration of 14.92 mg/L. Overall, the established system in this study was favorable to the decolorization of soluble azo dye.

Spatial Variability and Distribution of the Metals in Surface Runoff in a Nonferrous Metal Mine

The spatial variation and distribution features of the metals tested in the surface runoff in Xikuangshan Bao Daxing miming area were analyzed by combining statistical methods with a geographic information system (GIS). The results showed that the maximum concentrations of those five kinds of the metals (Sb, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd) in the surface runoff of the antimony mining area were lower than the standard value except the concentration of metal Ni. Their concentrations were 497.1, 2.0, 1.8, 22.2, and 22.1 times larger than the standard value, respectively. This metal pollution was mainly concentrated in local areas, which were seriously polluted. The variation coefficient of Sb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd was between 0.4 to 0.6, wherein the Sbs spatial variability coefficient is 50.56%, indicating a strong variability. Variation coefficients of the rest of metals were less than 50%, suggesting a moderate variability. The spatial structure analysis showed that the squared correlation coefficient (R 2) of the models fitting for Sb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd was between 0.721 and 0.976; the ratio of the nugget value (C 0) to the abutment value (C + C 0) was between 0.0767 and 0.559; the semivariogram of Sb, Zn, Ni, and Pb was in agreement with a spherical model, while semivariogram of Cu and Cd was in agreement with Gaussian model, and both had a strong spatial correlation. The trend and spatial distribution indicated that those pollution distributions resulting from Ni, Pb, and Cd are similar, mainly concentrated in both ends of north and south in eastern part. The main reasons for the pollution were attributed to the residents living, transportation, and industrial activities; the Sb distribution was concentrated mainly in the central part, of which the pollution was assigned to the mining and the industrial activity; the pollution distributions of Zn and Cu were similar, mainly concentrated in both ends of north and south as well as in west; the sources of the metals were widely distributed.

Magnetic flocculants synthesized by Fe3O4 coated with cationic polyacrylamide for high turbid water flocculation

AbstractA novel magnetic flocculant (CPAMF) was synthesized by using Fe3O4 coated with cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) for flocculation of high turbid water. The surface morphology and chemical structures of CPAMF were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to verify the crystal structure of CPAMF. The magnetic property of CPAMF was compared with Fe3O4 in this study. The flocculation performance by using flocculants CPAMF was evaluated in high turbid water treatment. The maximum transmittance 92.4% of kaolin suspension was achieved at corresponding optimal flocculation conditions. The result indicated that CPAMF was efficient in high turbid water flocculation. Analysis of FTIR, XRD of flocs, and zeta potential (ZP) of supernatant were accomplished for flocculation mechanism investigation. Because of low recovery factor in reflocculation under the effect of shear force on flocs, the bridging effect was found to be dominant in both acidic and alkaline conditions. Sedimentation experiments under the role of permanent magnet indicated that nano-Fe3O4 could effectively improve the settling property of CPAM. Graphical abstractᅟ