Removal of phosphate from aqueous solution by zeolite synthesized from fly ash

Fifteen Chinese fly ashes were converted hydrothermally into zeolites, and phosphate immobilization capacity (PIC) of the synthesized zeolites and the corresponding raw fly ashes were determined using an initial phosphate concentration of 1000 mg/L. Results showed that there was a remarkable increase in PIC (from 1.2 to 7.6 times) following the synthesis process. Fractionation of immobilized phosphorus indicated that Fe+Al-P increased most significantly and consistently among all the phosphorus fractions following the conversion of fly ash to zeolite. The PIC and Ca+Mg-P were closely related to Ca content (with r values of 0.9683 and 0.9651, respectively) rather than Mg content (with r values of 0.3920 and 0.3212, respectively). The r values of PIC and Fe+Al-P with Fe content (with r values of 0.4686 and 0.6385, respectively) were higher than those with Al content (with r values of -0.7857 and -0.3770, respectively). Although calcium and iron components were mainly involved in phosphate immobilization, there was no significant change of Ca and Fe content following the conversion of fly ash to zeolite. Increase in dissociated Fe(2)O(3) and specific surface area probably accounted for the enhancement in PIC of synthesized zeolites compared with corresponding fly ashes. The PIC value of zeolites showed a significant correlation with dissociated Fe(2)O(3) (r=0.6186). The specific surface area increased 26.0-89.4 times as a result of the conversion of fly ash to zeolite. The maximum removal of phosphate occurred within different pH ranges for zeolites which were synthesized from high, medium and low calcium fly ashes and this behavior was explained by the reaction of phosphate with calcium and iron components.     

In silico analysis of proteins and microRNAs related to human African trypanosomiasis in tsetse fly

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, causes millions of deaths worldwide. HAT is primarily transmitted by the vector tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans). Early diagnosis remains a key objective for treating this disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNAs that play key roles in vector-borne diseases. To date, the roles of proteins and miRNAs in HAT disease have not been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, we have re-annotated the function of protein-coding genes and identified several miRNAs based on a series of bioinformatics tools. A batch of 81.1 % of tsetse fly proteins could be determined homology in mosquito genome, suggesting their probable similar mechanisms in vector-borne diseases. A set of 11 novel salivary proteins and 14 midgut proteins were observed in the tsetse fly, which could be applied to the development of vaccine candidates for the control of HAT disease. In addition, 35 novel miRNAs were identified, among which 10 miRNAs were found to be unique in tsetse fly. Pathway analysis of these 10 miRNAs indicated that targets of miR-15a-5p were significantly enriched in the HAT-related neurotrophin signaling pathway. Besides, topological analysis of the miRNA-gene network indicated that miR-619-5p and miR-2490-3p targeted several genes that respond to trypanosome infection, including thioester-containing protein Tep1 and heat shock protein Hsp60a. In conclusion, our work helps to elucidate the function of miRNAs in tsetse fly and establishes a foundation for further investigations into the molecular regulatory mechanisms of HAT disease.     

Direct analysis of fly ash materials by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using slurry nebulization

Fly ash samples of cement works were analysed using slurry nebulization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric (ICP-AES). Because of the influence of the experimental factors on the signal intensity, the optimal conditions of the analysis circumstances were determined. Control analyses (wet digestion followed by ICP-AES, and XRF of dry powders (pressed pellets)) were also carried out to compare the results. Based on the result, it was concluded that the slurry nebulization method using slurry standard of same type reference material for calibration can be applied for rapid but less precise (RSD 5–10%) determination of the elements in fly ash.     

Innovative stabilization/solidification processes of fly ash from an incinerator plant of urban solid waste

Fly ash samples from an incineration plant of urban solid waste (USW) were submitted to a stabilization/solidification process based on encapsulation with a polyester resin. With this process, a very limited increase of about 25% in weight and a compressive strength as high as 1200 kg/cm² can be obtained. The efficiency of the process to stabilize/solidify the residues and to reduce the pollutant release was evaluated by performing both mechanical and leaching tests following the IRSA–CNR standard method. The leaching test was based on treating the sample with an acetic acid solution adjusted to pH 5.2 for 24 h under magnetic stirring. Toxic metals (Pb, Cd, and Cu) and organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs, and OCPs) were determined in raw fly ash samples and in the leaching solutions of treated samples. Raw residues showed higher concentrations of trace metals than the regulatory limits, whereas the stabilized/solidified residues showed a concentration of all the pollutants lower than the regulatory limits and a compressive strength much higher than the suggested minimum value. Finally, a critical comparison with conventional stabilization/solidification processes based on the use of Portland cement highlighted that the polyester resin-based process performed much better in terms of the release of both organic and inorganic pollutants, thus substantially lowering the environmental impact of these residues.     

Characteristics of major dioxin/furan congeners in melted slag of ash from municipal solid waste incinerators

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in slag of fly ash from three municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators were analyzed to observe any changes in characteristics and distribution of their congeners by melting process. Actual concentration and Toxic Equivalent (TEQ) concentration profiles of 17 major congeners of PCDDs/PCDFs for gas, fly ash and melted slag were compared. The distributions of PCDDs/PCDFs in different streams macroscopically showed similarities with the generally known profiles for emission gas from a municipal waste incinerator. The total concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs in off-gas and fly ash have been known to be a function of incineration conditions and of air pollution control device utilization; however, their normalized distributions were independent of such conditions. The concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs in the melted slag of fly ash were not related to the concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs congeners in fly ash but were rather a function of the melting furnace type and operation. The total amount of PCDDs/PCDFs in the melted slag of fly ash contained almost 150–27,000 times less dioxin than that in fly ash, however, the TEQ of dioxin in the slag was reduced by 435–43,500 times, which could enable them to be utilized as recycled construction materials. In normalized TEQ concentration profiles of 17 congeners of PCDDs/PCDFs, the ratio of PCDFs to PCDDs changed from 1.32 to 2.19 by melting, which showed relatively higher portion of furans left in melted slag than those in fly ash. By comparing reduction ratios of different congeners, PCDDs (dioxins) were relatively easier to destruct than PCDFs (furans) during melting process. The most difficult congener to destruct could be octa-chlorinated dibenzofuran (OCDF) among major congeners. For slag cooling methods, dioxin concentration in TEQ of slow cooled slag by air was four times higher than that of fast cooled slag by water. Thus cooling by water is more appropriate with the added beneficial effect of producing granules/particles, which can be utilized as roadbed materials.     

Ammonium tetraphenylborate-naphthalene adsorbent for the preconcentration and trace determination of uranium in standard alloys and synthetic samples using 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol by fourth-derivative spectrophotometry

A solid ion-pair material produced from ammonium tetraphenylborate (ATPB) and naphthalene has been used for the preconcentration of uranium from the large volume of its aqueous complex samples. Uranium reacts with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP) to form a water insoluble, coloured complex. This complex is quantitatively retained on the ATPB-naphthalene adsorbent filled in a column in the pH range 7.0–9.5 and at a flow rate of 2 ml/min. The solid mass from the column is dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and uranium is determined by fourth-derivative spectrophotometry. The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range of 0.13–15.0 g of uranium in 5 ml of the final DMF solution. Seven replicate determinations of 6 g of uranium gave a mean peak height (peak-to-peak signal between 592 nm and 582 nm) of 1.02 with a relative standard deviation of 0.95%. The sensitivity is 0.8419 (d⁴A/d⁴)/(g ml^–1) found from the slope of the calibration curve. The interference of a large number of anions and cations on the estimation of uranium has been studied and the method applied for the determination of uranium in coal fly ash, Zr-base alloy and some synthetic samples corresponding to standard alloys.     

The role of MgO in the binding of SO<Subscript>2 </Subscript>by lime-containing materials

Summary The results of investigation of MgO participation in the binding of SO₂ with lime-containing materials as sorbents are presented. Experiments of SO₂ binding into solid phase using model samples of reactive grade MgO and CaO varying the mole ratio of MgO/CaO from 9:1 to 1:9 were carried out. Besides, dolomite and limestone samples with different MgO/CaO mole ratio (from 1.24 to 0.13) and samples of ashes formed at combustion of Estonian oil shale (containing 35-40% of carbonates) and its semicoke were studied Initial samples, intermediate and final products were subjected to chemical, IR-spectroscopy, X-ray and BET specific surface area analyses. The results of the present study confirmed the active participation of MgO in the binding of SO₂ into the solid phase. In addition to CaSO₄ the formation of Ca,Mg-double sulphate CaMg₃(SO₄)₄ and -MgSO₄ was observed. The presence of CaMg₃(SO₄)₄ was fixed in a large temperature range 400-900°C and that of -MgSO₄ in between 500-700°C. The optimum temperature range for formation and durability of CaMg₃(SO₄)₄ was 700-800°C.     

大型电站煤粉炉自身固硫灰渣的微观晶相分析

研究了电站1 025 t/h煤粉炉燃用Ca/S(摩尔比)=2.02的神木煤自身固硫灰渣的晶相组成,XRD分析表明,入炉煤中无定形的非晶相质量分数高达91.2%,CaCO3晶相质量分数为2.1%。满负荷下飞灰中因高温熔融形成的玻璃态非晶相质量分数高达70.5%,煤灰自身固硫产物CaSO4质量分数为3.4%,CaCO3和CaO质量分数为6.9%,使其仍具有进一步固硫的能力。满负荷下炉底渣中钠长石质量分数高达59.2%,非晶相质量分数为25.7%,未发现CaSO4、CaCO3或CaO晶相。当锅炉负荷降低时,飞灰中非晶相质量分数相应降低,炉底渣中非晶相质量分数升高。     

垃圾焚烧炉飞灰熔融特性及重金属的分布

对垃圾焚烧炉飞灰进行了差热分析及熔融实验,探讨了不同熔融温度对试样的灼烧减量及重金属分布特性的影响。结果表明,飞灰试样在1132℃时熔融,在1252℃～1290℃发生二次熔融。灼烧减量在1200℃达到最低值27.5％; Cr、Ni、Cu在熔融体中的固溶率随着沸点的升高而依次升高。重金属Pb、Cd、As、Hg挥发率均超过95％,挥发性依次为Pb>Cd>As>Hg;飞灰中Zn的氧化物熔融后转化为Zn2SiO4、ZnSiO3和ZnAl2O4等不易挥发的化合物,且Zn在1200℃时挥发率最低仅有66.7％。     

Spectral analysis of rare-earth elements in ash of sapropel and its fractions

Quantitative atomic emission spectral analysis was used to study the rare-earth content in sapropel and the rare-earth distribution over the isolated fractions. The conditions for determination of Ce, Y, and La (analytical lines, arc discharge current, exposure time) were selected empirically. We calculated the metrological characteristics of the proposed technique. We have shown that in Tyurin fractionation, the nonhydrolyzable residue fraction has the highest concentrations of these elements. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 2, pp. 273–276, March–April, 2009.