Chemometric data analysis of pollutants in wastewater—a case study

In this study, chemometric techniques such as cluster analysis (CA), discriminant analysis (DA), principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) were used to analyse the wastewater dataset to identify the factors which affect the composition of sewage of domestic origin, spatial and temporal variations, similarity/dissimilarity among the wastewater characteristics of cis- and trans-drains and discriminating variables. Samples collected from 24 wastewater drains in Lucknow city and from three sites on Gomti river in the month of January/February, May, August and November during the period of 5 years (1994-1999) were characterized for 32 parameters. The multivariate techniques successfully described the similarities/dissimilarities among the sewage drains on the basis of their wastewater characteristics and sources signifying the effect of routine domestic/commercial activities in respective drainage areas. Spatial and seasonal variations in wastewater composition were also determined successfully. CA generated six groups of drains on the basis of similar wastewater characteristic. PCA provided information on seasonal influence and compositional differences in sewage generated by domestic and industrial waste dominated drains and showed that drains influenced by mixed industrial effluents have high organic pollution load. DA rendered six variables (TDS, alkalinity, F, TKN, Cd and Cr) discriminating between cis- and trans-drains. PLS-DA showed dominance of Cd, Cr, NO₃, PO₄ and F in cis-drains wastewater. The results suggest that biological-process based STPs could treat wastewater both from the cis- as well as trans-drains, however, prior removal of toxic metals will be required from the cis-drains sewage. Further, seasonal variations in wastewater composition and pollution load could be the guiding factor for determining the STPs design parameters. The information generated would be useful in selection of process type and in designing of the proposed sewage treatment plants (STPs) for safe disposal of wastewater.     

Influence of drawing and heat treatment on surface free energies of polyethylene terephthalate fibers

The surface free energies of polyethylene terepthalate fibers with different draw ratios were experimentally determined by contact angle measurements inn-alkane/water systems. The dispersive component of the surface free energy increased with increasing draw ratio, whereas the nondispersive one remained almost constant. After heat treatment, the dispersive surface free energy increased, but was reduced above 140°C. The nondispersive component increased by heat treatment at 190°C. The increases in the density and birefringence of the fibres due to the drawing and heat treatment suggested that the increase in the dispersive surface free energy was caused by the increase in the atomic density at the fiber surface due to drawing and heat treatment. ESCA results indicated that the increment in the nondispersive surface free energy due to heat treatment was caused by the addition of functional groups to the fiber surface due to heat treatment.     

Chemical modification of polymer surfaces: a review

The main approaches that have been taken to chemically modify polymer surfaces are introduced and reviewed. These are wet chemical oxidation, plasma treatment, classical organic chemistry, and attachment of polymer chains. The extent to which each of these approaches can produce the specific modifications desired is discussed, and any unwanted effects that commonly occur are cited. Finally, the need for using several methods of surface analysis in concert to obtain adequate surface characterization is described.     

The efficacy and progress in using radiation as a quarantine treatment of tropical fruits—a case study in Hawaii

Most tropical fruits for export must be treated with an approved quarantine treatment. Three and a half decades of research have demonstrated the efficacy of irradiation as a quarantine treatment in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and product quality retention. The USFDA and the USDA-APHIS approved irradiation to disinfest fresh foods/fresh papayas in 1986 and 1989, respectively. In early 1995, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture was granted a special permit from USDA-APHIS allowing untreated Hawaiian fruits to be irradiated on the US mainland. The objectives were to gain experience in commercial irradiation as a quarantine treatment and to gather data on shipping and handling procedures, and on product quality. In April 1995, the first shipment of Hawaiian fruit was irradiated at a minimum quarantine dose of 0.25 kGy in an Isomedix plant near Chicago, and then distributed to supermarkets in Illinois and Ohio. Continuous shipments, irradiation, and marketing of various tropical fruits in the US have shown commercial efficacy, quality retention, and excellent consumer acceptance. A commercial e-beam/converted X-ray facility was installed by Titan Corp. on the Island of Hawaii and was operational by late July 2000. Hawaii has become the first place in the world to use irradiation as a quarantine treatment of fruits.     

Localization of Iα and Iβ phases in algal cellulose revealed by acid treatments

Highly crystalline I-rich type Cladophora cellulose, which had been kept in never-dried condition, was treated in 60wt% sulfuric acid at 100°C, for 1–48h. The cellulose microcrystals thus obtained were analysed by X-ray diffractometry, FT-IR, and transmission electron microscopy. The I component was found to be more degraded than the I component. The cellulose I/I ratios of the samples acid-treated for 0, 24, and 48 h were about 8:2, 6:4, and 4:6, respectively. After the acid treatment, the microcrystals became narrower in width, and very sharp at their ends. These results indicate that the I phase is mostly located at the surface of the microcrystals, which is morphologically more susceptible to the acid treatment.     

Performance of an internal-loop airlift bioreactor for treatment of hexane-contaminated air

Hexane is a toxic volatile organic compound that is quite abundant in gas emissions from chemical industries and printing press and painting centers, and it is necessary to treat these airstreams before they discharge into the atmosphere. This article presents a treatment for hexane-contaminated air in steady-state conditions using an internal-loop airlift bioreactor inoculated with a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain. Bioprocesses were conducted at 20-mL/min, a load of 1.26 g/m³ of C₆H₁₄, and a temperature of 28°C. The results of hexane removal efficiencies were presented as a function of the inoculum size (approx 0.07 and 0.2 g/L) and cell reuse. Bioprocess monitoring comprises quantification of the biomass, the surface tension of the medium, and the hexane concentration in the fermentation medium as well as in the inlet and outlet airstreams. The steady-state results suggest that the variation in inoculum size from 0.07 to 0.2 g/L promotes hexane abatement from the influent from 65 to 85%, respectively. Total hydrocarbon removal from the waste gas was achieved during experiments conducted using reused cells at an initial microbial concentration of 0.2 g/L.     

碱性水蒸气处理的ZSM-5沸石酸性质及孔结构的影响

 采用XRD，NH3－TPD，比表面积和孔结构测定等研究了在不同温度下用含10％NH3的水蒸气处理时HZSM－5沸石n（Si）／n（Al）＝25）酸性质及孔结构的变化规律．结果表明，随着处理温度的提高，HZSM－5的结构未发生明显的变化；样品的总酸量下降很快，但弱酸分布量相对提高，而强酸分布量相对下降；提高处理温度，样品的比表面积和微孔体积减小，二次孔或中孔体积及外表面积有增大的趋势．     

超声波处理对球形β-Ni(OH)2结构及电化学性能的影响

A method of ultrasonic treatment （UST） was first used to modify the structure and electrochemical performance of nickel hydroxide for the active material of nickel series alkaline batteries. The experimental results showed that UST was an effective method to improve the electrochemical performance of β-Ni（OH）2 such as specific discharge capacity, discharge potential, electrochemical reversibility and oxygen evolution over-potential. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and particle size distribution indicated that the improvement of the performance of β-Ni（OH）2 through UST was attributed to the reduction of the charge-transfer resistance （Rt） and the diffusion impedance （Zw）, which resulted from the decrease of the crystallite and particle size and the increase of interlayer spacing. Diffusion coefficient of proton DH of ultrasonic treated β-Ni（OH）2 gained by CV tests was 1.13 × 10^-11 cm^2/s, and the average discharge specific capacity of ultrasonic treated β-Ni（OH）2 electrode was 301 mAh/g.     

Environmental and economic comparison of waste solvent treatment options

The sustainable development and consumption need more efficient use of natural resources. As a consequence, the use of industrial solvents demands their recovery instead of end-of-pipe treatment. It is not always clear, however, which treatment alternative should be applied. Based on an industrial case study, the environmental and economic evaluation and comparison of the treatment alternatives of a non-ideal solvent mixture containing azeotropes is investigated for determining the preferable option. For the recovery of the industrial solvent mixture, two different separation alternatives are evaluated: a less effective alternative and a novel design based on hybrid separation tools. An end-of-pipe treatment alternative, incineration, is also considered and the split of the solvent mixtures between recovery and incineration is investigated. The environmental evaluation of the alternatives is carried out using ‘Eco-indicator 99 life-cycle impact assessment methodology’. Economic investigation is also accomplished. The economic features clearly favour the total recovery, however, the environmental evaluation detects that if a recovery process of low efficiency is applied, its environmental burden can be similar or even higher than that of the incineration. This motivates engineers to design more effective recovery processes and reconsider the evaluation of process alternatives at environmental decision making.     

微量元素锌在治疗Bell麻痹中的作用

为探讨急性早期应用补锌和综合疗法治疗Bell麻痹 ,将 1 5 8例Bell麻痹患者 ,随机分成两组 :(1 )补锌组 (补锌 +综合疗法 ) ;(2 )对照组 (单纯综合疗法 )。对其进行了观察对比治疗 ,同时检测了所有患者治疗前后自身对照发锌值 ,还对所有患者进行了定位诊断、面神经电反应测试、并对面肌功能进行评分。结果表明 ,对定位诊断其病变在D段、面肌功能评分在 1 1分以下、面神经无电反应患者 ,即使给予早期综合治疗 ,效果仍较差 ,而早期给予补锌加综合治疗效果优于对照组 ,其它段内患者治疗次数和治愈天数也均优于对照组。可见微量元素锌在发挥免疫应答、免疫调控中的重要作用