Search results for "POLLUTION"

A magnetic self-contained thermochromic system with convenient temperature range

2019

A new ionic liquid with sugar-based ligand has been prepared and used to coordinate cobalt(II), at low loading, in an ionic liquid solution. The system obtained reveals magnetic switching and marked thermochromism in solution/polymer films over a convenient temperature range (20–60 °C). This system is self-contained, devoid of any volatile substances, and reproducible over multiple thermal cycles. The colour change can be attributed to a change in the coordination geometry from octahedral (pink) at room temperature to tetrahedral (blue) on warming, monitored by 59Co NMR spectroscopy, which was used for the first time to study the change. This material may find applications in stimuli-respon…

UV photocatalytic oxidation of paint solvent compounds in air using an annular TiO2-supported reactor

2010

BACKGROUND: One of the most important industrial sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is related to coating and painting applications. In this sense, photocatalytic oxidation can become an innovative and promising alternative for the remediation of air polluted by VOCs. In this study the UV photodegradation of m-xylene, toluene and n-butyl acetate, as representative compounds of paint solvents, was carried out in an annular reactor using a TiO2–glass wool supported catalyst. RESULTS The removal of each component and their mixture, simulating an industrial emission, was evaluated under different operational conditions. A maximum elimination capacity of 12, 18 and 80 mg C m−3 s−1 was …

Influence of anthropogenic activity on the lead isotope signature of Thau Lake sediments (southern France): origin and temporal evolution

2000

Lead concentrations and isotopic compositions were determined on both bulk sediments deposited in the Thau lake in southern France during the last 200 years, and leachates derived from a series of sequential leachings of the sediments, making it possible to identify the sources, natural (i.e. indigenous lithologic) or anthropogenic, and to quantify the different inputs of Pb. Two distinct inputs of Pb could be distinguished. One of these corresponds to the terrigenous material entering the basin, representative of the local natural Pb ‘background’. Its supply remained steady most of the time with 206Pb/207Pb ratios of 1.200±0.003, except at the time of heavy storms producing voluminous and …

EnzymesIn Vitro as indicators for pesticides: An examination

1992

Pesticides—a serious problem especially for drinking water quality—frequently are potent inhibitors of enzymes in their target organisms. As the established chemical analyses of pesticides are time-consuming, complicated, and expensive, so-called screening methods are urgently needed. For this purpose the sensitivity of 13 different enzymes was tested in vitro by inhibiting their kinetic rates and/or substrate conversions by 16 pesticides (herbicides and fungicides). Because of the stabilization and resulting low sensitivity of enzymes commercially available—especially in test kits—it was necessary to vary the test conditions and to develop special methods for detecting enzymatic inhibition…

Use of biological and sedimentation models for designing Peñíscola WWTP.

2004

This paper presents Peñíscola wastewater treatment plant design. Peñíscola is a tourist city in Castellón (Spain), whose population changes significantly between summer and the rest of the year. The design of the biological and settling treatment units has been confirmed by computer model simulations and provided for biological organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Two different treatment schemes have been proposed in order to optimize the plant performance during both seasonal operations. During low-load season, the plant will be operated under extended aeration conditions, so further sludge stabilization will not be needed. During high-load season, the plant will be operated un…

Mercury Speciation in Floodplain Soils and Sediments along a Contaminated River Transect

1998

A novel mercury-specific sequential extraction procedure (SEP) for the assessment of mercury (Hg) speciation in soils and sediments, with emphasis on studying the interaction between Hg and organic matter (OM), was developed and tested. It was applied to determine Hg speciation in floodplain topsoils and surface sediments along the Hg-contaminated part of the river Elbe, and to simultaneously derive some information on the (re)mobilization potentials for Hg from these matrices. The majority of the total Hg in the ecosystem today is bound in the floodplains, which also still geographically reflect the historic emission record. Most of the Hg in both matrices is bound strongly to OM, suggesti…

Distribution of volatile organic compounds in Sicilian groundwaters analysed by head space-solid phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatograp…

2008

This work presents the results of an assessment of the existence and concentration of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwaters from 14 hydrological basins in Sicily (25,710km (2)). On the basis of hydrological, hydrogeochemical and geological studies, 324 sampling points were selected. All groundwater sampled were collected twice, from October to December 2004 and from February to May 2005, and were analysed to determine the concentration and spatial distribution of the VOCs in the aquifers. The need to analyze a large number of samples in a short space of time so as to obtain quantitative analyses in trace concentration levels spurred us to create a new analytical method, both …

Kinetic studies on the elimination of different substituted phenols by goldfish (Carassius auratus)

1980

Biogenic volatile organoiodine and organobromine hydrocarbons in the Atlantic Ocean from 42°N to 72°S

1997

During the cruise ANT X/1 and 2 of the research vessel Polarstern from November 1991 to March 1992, 39 surface water samples of the Atlantic Ocean from 42°N to 72.5°S were collected and analysed for their concentration of volatile iodinated and brominated hydrocarbons. The concentration of chlorophyll-a was used as an indicator for phytoplankton, which is one of the main producers of iodinated and brominated compounds in the ocean. For determination of chlorophyll-a, fluorescence spectroscopy was applied, whereas the measurement of halogenated volatile hydrocarbons was carried out by a purge and trap system with subsequent gas chromatographic separation and detection by an electron capture …

Comprehensive valorisation of technically relevant organosolv lignins via anodic oxidation

2021

Lignin represents the largest renewable feedstock of aromatic moieties in nature. However, its valorisation towards organic chemicals poses a challenging task. We herein report the selective electrochemical depolymerisation of several technically relevant organosolv lignins to aromatic fine chemicals with a simple two-electrode arrangement using caustic soda as electrolyte. Vanillin, syringaldehyde, the corresponding ketones and guaiacol were obtained with a combined maximum of 7.8 wt% isolated yield. Deeper insight in the process was provided by FT-IR, HSQC NMR and 31P NMR analyses of the lignins.