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Bioclogging is a commonly encountered operational issue that lowers hydraulic conductivity and the overall performance of the infiltration systems. In this paper, a novel processing for alleviating bioclogging by filter media surface hydrophobic modification was presented. Two-dimensional porous media cells were used to observe the influence of hydrophobic modification on biofilm growth in the pore structure. Moreover, two continuous-flow columns packed with gravel, one of which half gravel was hydrophobically modified, were operated with artificial wastewater to verify the effect of hydrophobic modification on bioclogging alleviation. The results showed that the biofilm growth in the cell with hydrophobic modification was slow, and the biomass was less and liable to wipe off after hydrophobic treatment. Meanwhile, the hydraulic efficiency of the flow seepage field was also improved after hydrophobic treatment. The column tests results showed that the hydraulic conductivity of the filter bed with hydrophobic modification (Column B) decreased more slowly than that of another without hydrophobic modification (Column A). Column B had the hydraulic conductivity (k) of 0.66 cm/s in the final stage of the experiment, while the k of Column A was 0.14 cm/s. It verified that hydrophobic modification of partial filter media can alleviate the bioclogging problem of the infiltration systems to some extent. The results provide a new idea and potential technical support for solving bioclogging problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling of spent Li-ion batteries (LIBs) is an emerging global concern. Current recycling technologies generally include multiple purification operations and involve the use of lots of chemicals, which compromise their competitiveness in terms of both economic and environmental benefits. Herein, we propose a spray pyrolysis technology-based closed-loop for regenerating single-crystal cathodes from spent LIBs, which could simultaneously achieve the separation of Li and transition metals (TMs) and obtain high-quality precursors for the synthesis of single-crystal cathodes. As an exemplary study, spent LiCoO2 is first converted into chlorides through a chlorination process. More than 95% of Li is selectively leached out by the "spray pyrolysis–water leaching" process. Simultaneously, the Co3O4 leaching residue could be directly used as a precursor for synthesizing high-performance single-crystal LiCoO2, while the gaseous HCl produced in the pyrolysis process could be recycled in the chlorination process. Therefore, this closed-loop of Li, Co, and Cl holds great economic benefits as it gets rid of the complicated purification operations and precursor preparation processes (such as coprecipitation), opening a new avenue for LIBs recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIP) were prepared for selective removal of norfloxacin by effectively utilizing photocatalytic degradation and magnetic separation techniques. The imprinted material with titanium layer and multihole surface showed an excellent photocatalytic property. In this paper, the kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin by MMIP was explored, and the influences of environmental factors, including solution pH, humic acid, common ions and water media on photocatalytic performance of MMIP were elucidated. The results showed that MMIP had good adaptability and could degrade norfloxacin within 60 min, but the degradation rate constant decreased in surface water. Based on the identification of intermediate products, the possible degradation pathways of norfloxacin were analysed, speculating that it might be degraded into small molecules in the form of de-piperazine ring, de-carboxyl group and de-fluorine. Moreover, the mineralization ratio of norfloxacin could reach 84.2% after ultraviolet irradiation for 150 min, and the low cobalt release of MMIP enhanced the security of the material. The results of adsorption and degradation cycle tests showed that MMIP obtained by molecular imprinting technology had excellent performance in sustainable use for micro organic pollutants removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust emission is a common catastrophic weather phenomenon in Northern China. This phenomenon not only causes environmental problems, such as air pollution, but also has an important impact on the global dust cycle and climate change. On the basis of the dust weather observation data of 44 surface meteorological stations in the Tarim Basin from 1989 to 2021, combined with the dust aerosol optical depth (DAOD), dust surface mass concentration (DUSMASS) and wind speed data, this paper analyses the spatial and temporal dust weather characteristics in the Tarim Basin over the past 33 years. Results show that the frequency of dust weather in the Tarim Basin has declined in the past 33 years. Dust weather mainly consisted of floating dust, followed by blowing dust and dust storm. This weather had a significant seasonal change, with more dust in spring and summer and less in autumn and winter. The dust weather was mainly distributed along the south edge of the Tarim Basin and the desert hinterland of Tazhong. The spatial distribution of the dust intensity (DI) index was basically consistent with the dust weather days. Moreover, the DAOD was obviously affected by dust weather and had a significant positive correlation with the number of dust weather days and the DI, suggesting the vertical concentration of dust particles to a certain extent. Wind is also one of the most important factors affecting the release of dust. The frequency of strong wind weather decreases from the northeast to the southwest, which corresponds to the distribution of the DUSMASS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel heterogeneous catalyst named MoS2/MIL-53(Fe, Cu) (MMFC) was prepared by hydrothermal method and applied in a heterogeneous electro-Fenton (hetero-EF) system for lomefloxacin (LOM) degradation in this work. Under the optimal conditions of current density 3 mA/cm2, catalyst dosage 0.100 g/L, and initial pH 6, 93.5% LOM (2 mg/L) removal efficiency was achieved in the MMFC hetero-EF system within 60 min, indicating an obvious improvement compared with the MIL-53(Fe, Cu) hetero-EF system. The good catalytic activity was attributed to more effective active sites of the catalyst and the conversion of Fe(II)/Fe(III) and Cu(I)/Cu(II) promoted by Mo(IV) in MoS2, which could be inferred by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations. The reusability and stability of MMFC were explored based on five cyclic experiments, and the average degradation efficiency reached 73.9%. Furthermore, the hetero-EF system could achieve the total removal of moxifloxacin and tetracycline within 6 min and 40 min, respectively. Quenching experiments revealed that the hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were the main reactive radicals while superoxide radicals (·O2−) and singlet oxygen (1O2) played a certain part in LOM degradation. Finally, the possible mechanism of the hetero-EF process and LOM degradation pathways were proposed, including substitution, elimination, and cleavage of ring structures. Accounting for good catalytic performance, low preparation cost, and satisfactory versatility, the MMFC exhibited good potential to work as a hetero-EF catalyst for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River flushing has been considered as an effective tool for improving water quality in heavily polluted urban rivers. Dissolved oxygen (DO) as the evaluation index of water quality varied with time during and after water flushing. The time intervals between the flushing should be optimized such that the DO concentration remains above 2mg/L in the river. The duration between the flushing was found to be mainly correlated to the water temperature and the saturation level of dissolved oxygen. For the study river, when the temperature was below 15 ℃, there was an exponential relationship between the duration and saturation level of DO. For instance, the estimated duration was 157 hours or about 7 days for the subsequent flushing when the saturation level of DO was 90%. This duration was no more than 2 days when the temperature was above 15 ℃.

Multi-phase electric machines such as five-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) play an important role in the ships electrical propulsion because of the advantages of high performance and high reliability. The decoupled mathematic models of five-phase PMSM in dq coordinate frame are established, and the reason caused to high stator harmonic current in the multi-phase motor is analyzed based on the mathematic models. To suppress the harmonic current, a novel vector control (VC) method based on SVPWM and harmonic current closed loop control is proposed. Based on the proposed algorithm, a five-phase PMSM vector control system is established with MATLAB, the performance is simulated and analyzed. The results show that, the stator harmonic current is much little than that of the traditional control method.

The gas in soft cohesive sediments tends to transport through fractures or cracks, and the study on fracture toughness of soft soil is an important component of the research on gas migration. A method for measuring fracture toughness of soft sediments is proposed in this paper. The gas injection tests on soft soil at constant flow rate were conducted, and the fracture toughness of soft soil could be calculated combined with the theory of linear elastic fracture mechanics based on the gas pressure and the orifice diameter. Through direct observation of the bubble growth in Laponite RD transparent soil, the law of gas pressure variation and the mechanism of bubble fracture growth in soft soil were further verified. The methods and instruments proposed in this paper are convenient and easy for operating, which are suitable for measuring fracture toughness of soft soil in laboratory. The fracture toughness of soft soil obtained by the method presented in this paper is consistent with the measurements of the in-situ soft clay proposed in the literature, which suggests that the fracture toughness measurement method of soft soil proposed in this paper is reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of gas migration in saturated soil is of great theoretical and practical significance in marine science and engineering. The transport of gas bubbles in soil and its effects on soil physical and mechanical properties can be further studied. Gas injection and permeability tests were conducted using a self-developed oedometer with gas injection and water infiltration. Before the gas injection test, the remolded saturated soil was consolidated in an oedometer device to an effective vertical stress of 100 kPa. Gas injection tests were then performed to investigate the transport mechanism of bubbles in saturated soil and the changes in water permeability after gas injection. The results show that it is difficult for gas to migrate through capillary invasion and fracturing from the pore scale owing to the high gas entry pressure in fine-grained sediments. Hence, initial gas migration mechanism in pore scale is elastic-plastic expansion. The scale of cavities expands from micron to millimeter during gas injection, and gas pressure for fracturing reduces with the expansion of cavities. The fracturing initiated in millimeter scale and gas invades further into the soil. Interconnections of cavities and cracks resulting in an increasing of drainage rate and coefficient of permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]