Shuangshi Dong

Preparation, characterization and performance of a novel visible light responsive spherical activated carbon-supported and Er3+:YFeO3-doped TiO2 photocatalyst

A novel spherical activated carbon (SAC) supported and Er(3+):YFeO(3)-doped TiO(2) visible-light responsive photocatalyst (Er(3+):YFeO(3)/TiO(2)-SAC) was synthesized by a modified sol-gel method with ultrasonic dispersion. It was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS), powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer (DRS). The photocatalytic activity of Er(3+):YFeO(3)/TiO(2)-SAC was evaluated for degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. The effects of calcination temperature and irradiation time on its photocatalytic activity were examined. The experimental results indicated that Er(3+):YFeO(3) could function as an upconversion luminescence agent, enabling photocatalytic degradation of MO by TiO(2) under visible light. The Er(3+):YFeO(3)/TiO(2) calcinated at 700°C showed the highest photocatalytic capability compared to those calcinated at other temperatures. The photocatalytic degradation of MO followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model. Although the photocatalyst showed a good physical stability and could tolerate a shear force up to 25 × 10(-3)N/g, its photocatalytic activity decreased over a four-cycle of reuse in concentrated MO solution, indicating that the decreased activity was ascribed to the fouling of catalyst surface by MO during the degradation process. However, the fouled Er(3+):YFeO(3)/TiO(2)-SAC could be regenerated through water rinsing-calcination or acid rinsing-calcination treatment.

Microbial selection pressure is not a prerequisite for granulation: dynamic granulation and microbial community study in a complete mixing bioreactor.

Microbial selection pressure is traditionally supposed as a prerequisite for aerobic granulation. This work gives a different insight on this issue. Fluorescent microspheres were used to label the flocculent biomass granulation for a period of 47days in a continuous-flow bioreactor. Analysis of the distribution of fluorescent microspheres in granules revealed that the terminal phase of granulation is in a dynamic steady state, where bioflocs detach, collide and aggregate randomly. This revealed that the un-granulated biomass was the result of the dynamic aggregation and breakage, rather than the microbial species unable to be granulated. Furthermore, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profile and UPGMA dendrogram results showed similar microbial communities during the granulation. To sum up, microbial selection pressure was not a prerequisite for aerobic granulation from both of the dynamic granulation steps and molecular biology aspects.

Intimate Coupling of Photocatalysis and Biodegradation for Degrading Phenol Using Different Light Types: Visible Light vs UV Light

Intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) technology is attractive for phenolic wastewater treatment, but has only been investigated using UV light (called UPCB). We examined the intimate coupling of visible-light-induced photocatalysis and biodegradation (VPCB) for the first time. Our catalyst was prepared doping both of Er(3+) and YAlO3 into TiO2 which were supported on macroporous carriers. The macroporous carriers was used to support for the biofilms as well. 99.8% removal efficiency of phenol was achieved in the VPCB, and this was 32.6% higher than that in the UPCB. Mineralization capability of UPCB was even worse, due to less adsorbable intermediates and cell lysis induced soluble microbial products release. The lower phenol degradation in the UPCB was due to the serious detachment of the biofilms, and then the microbes responsible for phenol degradation were insufficient due to disinfection by UV irradiation. In contrast, microbial communities in the carriers were well protected under visible light irradiation and extracellular polymeric substances secretion was enhanced. Thus, we found that the photocatalytic reaction and biodegradation were intimately coupled in the VPCB, resulting in 64.0% removal of dissolved organic carbon. Therefore, we found visible light has some advantages over UV light in the ICPB technology.

Preparation of spherical activated carbon-supported and Er3+:YAlO3-doped TiO2 photocatalyst for methyl orange degradation under visible light

In order to develop the high photocatalytic activity of TiO2 under visible light as that under ultraviolet light and make it easy to be separated from treated liquor, a visible light response and spherical activated carbon (SAC) supported photocatalyst doped with upconversion luminescence agent Er3+:YAlO3 was prepared by immobilizing Er3+:YAlO3/TiO2, which was obtained by combination of Er3+:YAlO3 and TiO2 using sol-gel method, on the surface of SAC. The crystal phase composition, surface structure and element distribution, and light absorption of the new photocatalysts were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectra analysis (FSA). The photocatalytic oxidation activity of the photocatalysts was also evaluated by the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation from a LED lamp (λ>400 nm). The results showed that Er3+:YAlO3 could perform as the upconversion luminescence agent which converts the visible light up to ultraviolet light. The Er3+:YAlO3/TiO2 calcinated at 700 °C revealed the highest photocatalytic activity. The apparent reaction rate constant could reach 0.0197 min−1 under visible light irradiation.

Granulation of activated sludge in a continuous flow airlift reactor by strong drag force

Most aerobic granule cultivation has been based on the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and then the factors that affect aerobic granulations were developed in the SBR. However, little work has been done to cultivate aerobic granules in a continuous-flow bioreactor with simple structure that is realistic for engineering. This work is the first to cultivate aerobic granules in a continuous flow airlift fluidized bed reactor (CAFB) possesses a very simple structure and without settling time and starvation time controlling. The configuration of CAFB was the simplest continuous-flow aerobic granular bioreactor reported by now. The majority of granules could be formatted in the CAFB after 12 days cultivation. The effluent COD concentration maintained at 50 ± 10 mg/L for the variable COD loading rate of 3.5 g COD/L/d and 4.8 g COD/L/d, which confirmed that the CAFB performed good anti-shock abilities. CAFB performed good nitrification ability, however, little denitrification was found under the operating conditions of this study. The shear stress acting on the solid phase were hundreds of times stronger in the CAFB than in the SBR at the same aeration strength. It seems CAFB is very efficient for granulation due to the strong shear-force exertion, which is promising for continuous-flow aerobic granular bioreactor. Protein, positive to the hydrophobicity, was predominant in extracellular polymeric substances in the granules, and favored the granules formation in the CAFB combined with the polysaccharides. However, filamentous bulking always happened in 35 days operation of the CAFB, thus further study on the stability of this bioreactor is urgently necessary.

Role of self-assembly coated Er3+: YAlO3/TiO2 in intimate coupling of visible-light-responsive photocatalysis and biodegradation reactions

Conventionally used ultraviolet light can result in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increasing and biofilm damage in intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB). Visible-light-responsive photocatalysis offers an alternative for achieving ICPB. In this study, composite-cubes were developed using self-assembly to coat a thin and even layer of visible-light-responsive photocatalyst (Er(3+): YAlO3/TiO2) on sponge-type carriers, followed by biofilm cultivation. The degradations of phenol (50 mg L(-1)) were compared for four protocols in circulating beds: adsorption (AD), visible-light-responsive photocatalysis (VPC), biodegradation (B), and intimately coupled visible-light-responsive photocatalysis and biodegradation (VPCB). The phenol and DOC removal efficiencies using VPCB in 16 h were 99.8% and 65.2%, respectively, i.e., higher than those achieved using VPC (71.6% and 50.0%) or B (99.4% and 58.2%). The phenol removal of 96.3% could be obtained even after 3 additional cycles. The 6.17-min intermediate detected by HPLC, continuously accumulated for VPC, appeared at 1-6 h and then was completely removed for VPCB in 10 h. ICPB was further illustrated in that most of the biofilm was protected in the carrier interiors, with less protection on the carrier exterior in VPCB. A self-regulation mechanism that helped photocatalyst exposure to visible-light irradiation was identified, promoting the combined photocatalysis and biodegradation.

Optimization of Chlorella vulgaris and bioflocculant-producing bacteria co-culture: enhancing microalgae harvesting and lipid content

Microalgae are a sustainable bioresource, and the biofuel they produce is widely considered to be an alternative to limited natural fuel resources. However, microalgae harvesting is a bottleneck in the development of technology. Axenic Chlorella vulgaris microalgae exhibit poor harvesting, as expressed by a flocculation efficiency of 0·2%. This work optimized the co‐culture conditions of C. vulgaris and bioflocculant‐producing bacteria in synthetic wastewater using response surface methodology (RSM), thus aiming to enhance C. vulgaris harvesting and lipid content. Three significant process variables— inoculation ratio of bacteria and microalgae, initial glucose concentration, and co‐culture time— were proposed in the RSM model. F‐values (3·98/8·46) and R2 values (0·7817/0·8711) both indicated a reasonable prediction by the RSM model. The results showed that C. vulgaris harvesting efficiency reached 45·0–50·0%, and the lipid content was over 21·0% when co‐cultured with bioflocculant‐producing bacteria under the optimized culture conditions of inoculation ratio of bacteria and microalgae of 0·20–0·25, initial glucose concentration of <1·5 kg m−3 and co‐culture time of 9–14 days. This work provided new insights into microalgae harvesting and cost‐effective microalgal bioproducts, and confirmed the promising prospect of introducing bioflocculant‐producing bacteria into microalgae bioenergy production.

Roles of an easily biodegradable co-substrate in enhancing tetracycline treatment in an intimately coupled photocatalytic-biological reactor

Intimately coupled photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) was realized in a macroporous carrier in which a photocatalyst was present on the outer surface, while a biofilm accumulated inside the carrier. In ICPB, photocatalysis products are rapidly biodegraded by a protected biofilm, leading to mineralization of the refractory organics, such as antibiotics. However, mineralization in ICPB could be compromised if the photocatalysis products remain refractory or are inhibitory. To address this, we attempted to increase metabolic activity by providing a readily biodegradable co-substrate (acetate) that could act as a source of energy and electrons to improve biotransformation and mineralization of the refractory antibiotic tetracycline (TCH). When we added acetate during ICPB of TCH, TCH removal increased by ∼5%, mineralization increased by ∼20%, and almost all photocatalysis products disappeared. Acetate addition also led to an increase in active biomass, an increase in the biomasss respiratory activity, and evolution of the microbial community to having more members able to biodegrade photocatalysis and biotransformation intermediates. Thus, providing an easily biodegradable co-substrate was an effective means for enhancing TCH removal and mineralization with the ICPB technology.

Abatement efficiency and controlling strategy of a cylindrical and a conical fluidized bed flocculator

The aggregation efficiency of colloidal kaolin particles by the turbulence caused by random movement of silica gel beads in a cylindrical (CFB) and an 8 degrees conical fluidized bed (TFB) was studied in this paper, focusing on the control strategies of these novel processes. The abatement efficiencies as a function of the Camp number, velocity gradient (G) and flocculation time (T) were exploited. In general, the abatement efficiency tended to be improved with the increase of Camp number (in the study range of this work: Camp number lower than 8058 and 5639 in CFB and TFB, respectively). However, the efficiency was relatively low and sensitive to the Camp number as G was more than 186 s⁻¹ in CFB and 178 s⁻¹ in TFB, respectively. Whereas, increasing flocculation time clearly contributed to the improvement of the abatement efficiency, which is considered to be an effective strategy to enhance the treatment ability. Velocity gradient and flocculation time could be controlled by means of superficial liquid velocity and properties of packing particles. It should be noted that the backmixing in the TFB caused formed flocs to break and thus lower abatement efficiencies were found in the TFB than those in the CFB.

Construction of Er3+:YAlO3/RGO/TiO2 Hybrid Electrode With Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Performance in Methylene Blue Degradation Under Visible Light

Much attention has been paid on doping TiO2 to narrow its band gap to promote the absorption of visible light and restrain the recombination of electron–hole pairs to improve its efficiency in photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) under visible‐light irradiation. However, the oxidation potential energy of photo‐induced holes for the modified catalysts by visible‐light excitation is lower than that without modification by UV excitation. In this work, we synthesized a co‐coupled TiO2 electrode (denoted ERT) with the Er3+:YAlO3 and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), achieving the synergetic effect of visible‐light‐to‐UV up‐conversion and response and great electron transfer ability. The effects of external bias voltage, electrolyte concentration and pH on the PEC activity were studied with the methylene blue (MB) as the target pollutant. The results indicated that PEC by the ERT electrode showed the highest MB removal compared with those by the electrodes coupled with RGO or Er3+:YAlO3 alone. In addition, the kinetic rate constant of the PEC process using the ERT electrode was higher than the sum of those of the photocatalytic and electrocatalytic processes. The optimal conditions for PEC by the ERT electrode were an external bias voltage of 1.0 V, 0.1 mol L−1 Na2SO4 and pH = 10.