Photocatalytic reduction of nitrate over TiO2 and Ag-modified TiO2

This research work presents the efficiency of the TiO₂ and Ag–TiO₂ thin films prepared by the sol–gel method and coated onto the surface of 304 stainless steel sheets used in the photocatalytic nitrate reduction processes. The Ag–TiO₂ thin films had the weight by weight (w/w) ratio of Ag⁺/TiO₂ of 0.1% as Ag atom. The XRD results showed that the crystalline phase structure of TiO₂ on the Ag–TiO₂ thin films was anatase. The optical band gaps of the TiO₂ and 0.1% Ag–TiO₂ thin films were respectively 3.27 and 2.70 eV, while the surface of the prepared catalysts was hydrophobic with the respective average water contact angles of 94.8° and 118.5° for the TiO₂ and 0.1% Ag–TiO₂ thin films. The net efficiencies of photocatalytic nitrate reduction of TiO₂ and 0.1% Ag–TiO₂ were 41.4% and 70.0%, respectively. The loading of Ag only influenced the nitrate removal efficiency without affecting the stoichiometric ratio of formate to nitrate. The net stoichiometric ratio of formate to nitrate of all experiments was 2.8:1.0, which is close to the stoichiometric ratio of 2.5:1.0 of the nitrate reduction to nitrite and then to nitrogen gas.     

Conversion of ammonia to dinitrogen in wastewater by Nitrosomonas europaea

Because Nitrosomonas europaea contains ammonia-oxidizing enzyme, nitrite reductase, and nitrous oxide reductase, the conversion of ammonia to dinitrogen was tried with different reaction conditions. In aerobic reaction conditions, ammonium was converted to nitrite (NO ₂ ⁻ ), while under oxygen-limiting or oxygen-free conditions, NO ₂ ⁻ -N formed from ammonia oxidation by N. europaea was reduced to N₂O and dinitrogen with 22% conversion. During denitrification, optimal pH for the production of N₂O and dinitrogen was found to be 7.0–8.0. Dinitrogen was not produced in acidic pH<7.0. A low partial oxygen pressure as well as oxygen-free conditions are favorable for high production of dinitrogen.     

Nitrite and Nitric Oxide Interconversion at Mononuclear Copper(II): Insight into the Role of the Red Copper Site in Denitrification

Nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitric oxide (NO) interconversion is crucial for maintaining optimum NO flux in mammalian physiology. Herein we demonstrate that [ L ₂Cu^II(nitrite)]⁺ moieties (in 2 a and 2 b ; where, L = Me₂PzPy and Me₂PzQu ) with distorted octahedral geometry undergo facile reduction to provide tetrahedral [ L ₂Cu^I]⁺ (in 3 a and 3 b ) and NO in the presence of biologically relevant reductants, such as 4-methoxy-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (4-MeO-2,6-DTBP, a tyrosine model) and N-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH, a NAD(P)H model). Interestingly, the reaction of excess NO gas with [ L ₂Cu^II(MeCN)₂]²⁺ (in 1 a ) provides a putative {CuNO}¹⁰ species, which is effective in mediating the nitrosation of various nucleophiles, such as thiol and amine. Generation of the transient {CuNO}¹⁰ species in wet acetonitrile leads to NO₂⁻ as assessed by Griess assay and ¹⁴N/¹⁵N-FTIR analyses. A detailed study reveals that the bidirectional NO_x-reactivity, namely, nitrite reductase (NIR) and NO oxidase (NOO), at a common Cu^II site, is governed by the geometric-preference-driven facile Cu^II/Cu^I redox process. Of broader interest, this study not only highlights potential strategies for the design of copper-based catalysts for nitrite reduction, but also strengthens the previous postulates regarding the involvement of red copper proteins in denitrification.     

Optimisation of dead-end filtration conditions for an immersed anoxic membrane bioreactor

The optimisation of the energy demand in the application of dead-end filtration in an immersed membrane bioreactor applied to groundwater denitrification has been studied. Filtration cycle length was varied at a set flux to control the amount of foulant deposited at the membrane surface. Physical cleans comprising a simultaneous backflush and gas injection were subsequently instigated and the reversibility of the deposit determined by the residual resistance, R_res. Examination of R_res versus flux and cycle length variation indicated an operational envelope where limited fouling occurred. The transition from limited fouling to extensive fouling was indicated by a parameter based on the critical accumulated mass, indicating incipient deposit consolidation. The transition between regions became less severe when the solids retention time was increased from 10 to 25 and 40 days. This was apparently related to a shift in bulk physical characteristics. Nevertheless, low residual fouling was observed during long-term filtration when operating below the critical mass, resulting in a 20× reduction in energy demand over that of constant gas injection.     

稀土氧化物上SO2和NO的催化还原(Ⅲ)──用CO作还原剂的同步脱硫和脱氮

考察了稀土系列氧化物作为CO同步还原SO₂和NO催化剂的活性.结果表明,氧化钐和氧化钕表现了最高的活性,在475℃,SO₂和NO的转化率同时超过95%.实验发现稀土氧硫化物是活性相.通常脱硫活性高的样品同样具有高的脱氮活性,但CeO₂表现了不同的行为,其脱硫活性虽低,但脱氮活性却较高.文中还对同步反应的机理作了探讨,发现COS不仅是还原SO₂的中间物,同时也是还原NO的中间物.结合活性相和反应机理对不同稀土氧化物的活性差异作了讨论.     

Gamma ray irradiation for sludge solubilization and biological nitrogen removal

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of gamma ray irradiation on the solubilization of waste sewage sludge. The recovery of an organic carbon source from sewage sludge by gamma ray irradiation was also studied. The gamma ray irradiation showed effective sludge solubilization efficiencies. Both soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) increased by gamma ray irradiation. The feasibility of the solubilized sludge carbon source for a biological nitrogen removal was also investigated. A modified continuous bioreactor (MLE process) for a denitrification was operated for 20 days by using synthetic wastewater. It can be concluded that the gamma ray irradiation was useful for the solubilization of sludge and the recovery of carbon source from the waste sewage sludge for biological nitrogen removal.     

N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Production by Nitrifying Biomass Under Anoxic and Aerobic Conditions

The capacity of nitrifying biomass, grown in biofilms or in suspension, to reduce NO₂ ^- and NO₃ ⁻ under anoxic conditions was tested in batch experiments. The estimated reduction rates were 5 and 25 mg N per gram volatile suspended solids (VSS) per day for nitrate and nitrite, respectively, in the case of the nitrifying biofilms. Activity tests carried out with successive feedings indicated that no acclimation of the biomass to the tested conditions occurred, as the obtained reduction rates remained almost constant. Another series of activity assays was carried out with nitrifying suspended biomass, and the reduction rates for nitrate and nitrite were 30.4 and 48.9 mg N per gram VSS per day, respectively. N₂O and N₂ were the final gaseous products, and their percentages depended on the source of nitrogen feed. The specific production of nitrous oxide during nitrification was investigated during continuous experiments in a biofilm airlift suspension reactor. Specific production rates up to 46 mg N₂O–N per gram VSS per day were measured. The percentage of N₂O produced represented up to 34.4% of the ammonia oxidized. Nitrite accumulation, low dissolved oxygen concentrations, and the presence of organic matter favored the production of nitrous oxide. N₂O gas was not detected during the oxidation of nitrite even when organic matter was present. To prevent N₂O gas production in nitrifying systems, the operation at low dissolved oxygen concentrations, nitrite presence, or organic matter content should be avoided.     

生物滞留系统间隙水DOM三维荧光光谱特征分析

为探明不同淹没区填料对生物滞留系统的净水效果的影响,采用三维荧光光谱研究间隙水溶解性有机物的组成成分和时间分布特征。三维荧光光谱显示,海绵铁环境间隙水中主要有机组分为微生物代谢产物(Ⅳ),火山岩与碎砖块中为类腐殖质(Ⅲ+Ⅴ);碎石块类腐殖质(Ⅴ)、简单芳香类蛋白(Ⅰ+Ⅱ)和微生物代谢产物(Ⅳ);48 h后海绵铁和碎砖块相关联的水生环境中DOM的荧光峰削弱,而火山岩和碎石块相关联水生环境中DOM的荧光峰增强。出水的类腐殖质组分(Ⅲ+Ⅴ)荧光积分体积均有降低(平均58.04%),芳香类蛋白组分(Ⅰ+Ⅱ)均有上升(平均65.36%)。海绵铁去除溶解性有机物效果最好(84.52%),火山岩(77.25%)和碎砖块(77.90%)较好,碎石块(29.20%)最差。间隙水中有机物主要来源于微生物的代谢活动(HIX＜4)。与类腐殖质相反,芳香类蛋白易被微生物利用,对微生物代谢活动和硝态氮反硝化有促进作用。生物滞留系统在设计时宜采用碎砖块和海绵铁填料,外加碳源宜选用易被微生物利用的有机物。     

催化脱硝技术研究进展—催化剂的种类、制备方法及催化活性

随着工业及城市交通的发展,其所排放的NO和NO_2逐渐增多,由此导致的光化学烟雾、酸雨等大气污染问题愈加严重,与此同时,人类的身体健康也同样受到了威胁.据此, NO_x的消除成为当下的一个重要研究方向.目前NO_x的去除方法主要为选择性催化还原(SCR)去除方法,该法具有高效率的NO_x去除效果、高温度区间,较低的SO_2转化率等特点.催化剂在SCR反应中起着关键和核心作用, NO_x脱除效率的高低取决于催化剂的催化效率,如何提高催化剂的催化效率一直是研究者不断努力的目标.催化剂由载体和活性组分两大部分构成,载体的物质种类、活性组分的组成物质以及二者间的相互作用,是影响催化效率的主要因素.载体物质目前常用的主要是Al_2O_3、 SiO_2和TiO_2等金属氧化物,而活性组分则主要为Pd、 Pt、 Mn、 Ce、 V和W等,但目前应用较为广泛的活性组分主要为Mn、 Ce、 V和W等.研究开发新的载体物质及活性组分对催化脱硝技术的进步具有十分重要的意义.     

C-S coupling with nitro group as leaving group via simple inorganic salt catalysis

An efficient and practical synthetic protocol to synthesize nonsymmetrical aryl thioethers by nucleophilic aromatic substitution(S_NAr)reaction of nitroarenes by thiols with potassium phosphate as the catalyst is described.Various moderate to strong electron-withdrawing functional groups are tolerated by the system to provide thioethers in a good to excellent yields.We also showed that the present method allows access to 3 drug examples in a short reaction time.Finally,mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction may form the classic Meisenheimer complex through a two-step additionelimination mechanism.