Maximum Removal Rate Research Articles

Adsorption Removal of Organophosphates from Water by Steel Slag: Modification, Performance, and Energy Site Analysis

Organophosphates are a type of emerging environmental contaminant, which can be removed effectively by adsorption. Here, modified steel slag was examined for its adsorptive performance in the removal of hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP) from water. Compared to acid (55.3%, maximum removal rate) and base (85.5%) modification, high-temperature modification (90.6%) significantly enhanced steel slag’s adsorption capacity for HEDP, surpassing that of unmodified slag (71.2%). Kinetic analyses elucidated a two-phase adsorption process—initial rapid adsorption followed by a slower equilibrium phase. The results of adsorption energy analysis showed that modified steel slag preferentially occupied the sites with higher energy, which promoted the adsorption. After five regeneration cycles, the adsorption properties of the material were not significantly reduced, which indicates that the material has good application potential. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, including SEM-EDS, FTIR, and XPS, were employed to uncover the surface chemistry and structural changes responsible for the enhanced adsorption efficiency. The adsorption mechanism of HEDP on steel slag is a complete process guided by hydrogen bonding interactions, strengthened surface complexation, and optimized ligand exchange. This study advances the sustainable utilization of industrial waste materials and contributes significantly to the development of innovative water treatment technologies.

Innovative strategies for ammonia nitrogen removal in rare earth tailings: An advanced element recycling process using leaching, chemical precipitation and adsorption

Residual ammonium salt in closed rare earth mining sites leads to elevated levels of ammonia nitrogen in the surrounding environment. To mitigate ammonia nitrogen pollution at its source, a cost-effective and environmentally friendly recycling process was proposed. This process involves leaching residual ammonia nitrogen using a magnesium sulfate solution, followed by chemical precipitation for ammonia nitrogen removal. Additionally, nitrogen can be recovered as ammonia gas through the thermal decomposition of precipitates, allowing for further ammonia nitrogen adsorption from the leachate. The residual ammonium salts leaching rate reached 96.38 % with a 0.1 mol/L magnesium sulfate solution at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The chemical precipitation method achieved a maximum nitrogen removal rate of 86.87 %, with an activation energy of 2.6 kJ/mol, indicating a relatively rapid process. At 190 °C, the ammonia nitrogen release rate of precipitates was 82.5 % after 2 h of thermal decomposition. The adsorption process was consistent with pseudo-second-order kinetics models using thermal decomposition products. Overall, the comprehensive removal rate of residual ammonium salts from the closed rare earth mining site was approximately 83.3 % in recycling process, optimizing the utilization of phosphorus, magnesium, and nitrogen and achieving efficient and environmentally friendly nitrogen removal.

Impact of tetracycline on mixotrophic denitrification process under different sulfur to nitrogen ratios

The sulfur-based autotrophic-heterotrophic denitrification, i.e., mixotrophic denitrification, is suitable for the nitrate and antibiotics removal in aquaculture tailwater at a low COD to nitrogen (C/N) ratio. This study focused on the effect of tetracycline (TC) on mixotrophic denitrification under different S/N ratios. Two bioreactors were simultaneously operated with or without dosing tetracycline under different sulfur to nitrogen (S/N) ratios of 3.94, 4.64 and 5.94. The results showed that the removal rate of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) increased from 0.25 to 0.69 mg N L−1 min−1 with the rise of S/N ratio, while TC dosage significantly declined the removal efficiency of TIN. Dissimilatory nitrogen reduction to ammonia (DNRA) bacteria was detected when exposing to TC, indicating that DNRA presented more resistance to TC. The removal efficiency of TC in the denitrification system reached the maximum of 22.87 % at S/N of 4.64. Meanwhile the genus Marinicella was detected at this phase, which was conducive to the degradation of organic pollutants. This study found that TC promoted the accumulation of ammonia nitrogen, and had a great effect on sulfur autotrophic bacteria at S/N of 5.94. The removal of TC mainly depended on microbial co-metabolism, and there was a significant correlation between the reduction of TC concentration and the decrease of sulfur compounds (p < 0.05). 4.64 is the best S/N ratio for the mixotrophic denitrification process, which revealed maximum nitrate and TC removal rates.

Acid-assisted pretreatment for sweet elephant grass in choline chloride/glycerol DES: Experimental and mechanism study

Sweet elephant grass (SEG), a promising bioenergy grass, possesses considerable potential for bioenergy production. However, research on its pretreatment and utilization remains limited. In this study, small quantities of Brønsted acids were introduced to a deep eutectic solvent (DES) comprising choline chloride (ChCl) and glycerol (Gly) for SEG pretreatment. Under mild conditions (110 °C, 2 h), a maximum lignin removal rate of 90.08 % and a complete hemicellulose removal could be accomplished in the presence of Brønsted acid. Cellulose retention rates consistently above 70 % were obtained in all the cases, and a desirable glucose yield up to 94.07 % was achieved from the resulting cellulose after further enzymatic hydrolysis. The pretreatment mechanism was elucidated through a combination of characterizations and theoretical calculations, which demonstrated effective disruption of lignin and lignin-carbohydrate complex occurred by the CH···π, HO···H, and Cl···H bond interactions between lignin and DES. Furthermore, the scission of β-O-4 bond was promoted by Brønsted acids in DES. This systematic investigation paves the way for unraveling the mechanism of the efficient pretreatment of lignocellulose in acidic DES.

Preparation of Co-Ce@RM catalysts for catalytic ozonation of tetracycline.

In this work, a Co-Ce@RM ozone catalyst was developed using red mud (RM), a by-product of alumina production, as a support material, and its preparation process, catalytic efficiency, and tetracycline (TCN) degradation mechanism were investigated. A comprehensive assessment was carried out using the 3E (environmental, economic, and energy) model. The optimal production conditions for Co-Ce@RM were as follows: The doping ratio of Co and Ce was 1:3, the calcination temperature was 400°C, and the calcination time was 5h, achieving a maximum removal rate of 87.91% of TCN. The catalyst was characterized using different analytical techniques. Under the conditions of 0.4L/min ozone aeration rate, with 9% catalyst loading and solution pH9, the optimal removal rates and chemical oxygen demand by the Co-Ce catalytic ozonation at RM were 94.17% and 75.27%, respectively. Moreover, free radical quenching experiments showed that superoxide radicals (O2 -) and singlet oxygen (1O2) were the main active groups responsible for the degradation of TCN. When characterizing the water quality, it was assumed that TCN undergoes degradation pathways such as demethylation, dehydroxylation, double bond cleavage, and ring-opening reactions under the influence of various active substances. Finally, the 3E evaluation model was deployed to evaluate the Co-Ce@RM catalytic ozonation experiment of TCN wastewater. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The preparation of Co-Ce@RM provides new ideas for resource utilization of red mud. Catalytic ozonation by Co-Ce@RM can produce 1O2 active oxygen groups. The Co-Ce@RM catalyst can maintain a high catalytic activity after 20 cycles. The degradation pathway of the catalytic ozonation of tetracycline was fully analyzed. Catalytic ozone oxidation processes were evaluated by the "3E" (environmental, economic, and energy) model.

Optimization of Material Removal Rate and Wear Rate in EDM Machining of Inconel 625 Using a Novel Nano Al-Ni Composite Electrode: A Response Surface Methodology Approach

The electric discharge machine is a novel machining technique. When the tool and the work item do not communicate. Components composed of difficult-to-machine hard materials. In the current experimental inquiry, the process factors that influence the machining concert process and its effectiveness are explored. The response table for each set of machining limitations is used in conjunction with the response surface methodology in the research to determine the appropriate levels of machining factors. The work's machining input parameters are optimized for maximum material removal rate (MRR) and reduce the electrode wear rate (EWR) when electro-discharge machining Inconel 625 using the tool Nano Al-Ni composite electrode. Another analysis of variance is to identify the factors causing the different answers mentioned above. EDAX was also used to investigate the material composition of the workpiece. Machined workpiece surfaces were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy to assess surface accuracy and microstructural characteristics (SEM). The following conclusions may be drawn from this work. The MRR parameter that is most affected is pulse off time. As pulse-off time lengthens, MRR increases. According to the response graph, the greatest MRR value that can be attained under the ideal parameters of Ip = 8A, T-ON = 50μs, and T-OFF= 100μs is 0.0115 g/min. The magnitudes of MRR range from 0.0091 to 0.044 g/min. Impact of T ON and T OFF: Higher EWR is 0.0022 g/min is seen in runs with T ON = 70 μs and T OFF = 100 μs.

Ternary‐Grafted Starch‐Based Hydrogel with Improved Adsorption Capacity for Dyes

AbstractBiomass‐based hydrogels can be used as the adsorbents in sewage water, as they have good adsorption capacity for heavy ions and dyes. A ternary‐grafted starch‐based hydrogel, St1.0/CMC0.5/P(AM3.0‐AA5.0‐AMPS1.0), was prepared using cornstarch (St) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as raw materials, with acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), and 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as graft monomers. Due to the introduction of CMC and AMPS, the number and type of effective adsorption functional groups in the St1.0/CMC0.5/P(AM3.0‐AA5.0‐AMPS1.0) hydrogel increased, leading to an improved adsorption capacity and removal rate for methylene blue (MB). The maximum adsorption capacity and removal rate for MB could be 1624.49 mg/g and 91.8 %, respectively, at 25 °C. According to the adsorption isotherm and adsorption kinetics, the MB adsorption process on the hydrogel occurs according to the Langmuir isotherm model and quasi‐second‐order kinetics via a chemisorption process occurring on the adsorbent monolayer. Moreover, the St1.0/CMC0.5/P(AM3.0‐AA5.0‐AMPS1.0) hydrogel displayed good regeneration performance. The removal rate for MB could still achieve 84.3 % after the hydrogel was reused four times.

A novel sulfur-based fiber carrier fixed-bed reactor for nitrate-contaminated wastewater treatment: Performance, operational characteristics and cold-tolerant mechanism

In the view of the serious prejudice of nitrates, sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification filter (SADF) has been widely used for deep nitrate removal from electron-donor-deficient water. However, it faces many challenges like slow start-up, reliance on backwashing, and poor low-temperature tolerance. For these challenges, a novel sulfur-based fiber carrier fixed bed reactor (SFFR) was developed in this study. It was found that SFFR had great film-forming ability and flow field characteristics, which promoted it to obtain superior denitrification performance, and the maximum nitrogen removal rate of 0.53 kg-N/m3/d. Meanwhile, SFFR shows significant cold tolerance, and alleviating the acidification problem of effluent to a certain extent. To sum up, the SFFR possesses the potential to be widely used in real-world wastewater treatment applications, especially as a promising solution for nitrate removal in cold regions. This study can provide an important reference for the improvement of the elemental sulfur autotrophic denitrification process.

Optimizing the Die-Sink EDM Machinability of AISI 316L Using Ti-6Al-4V-SiCp Electrodes: A Computational Approach

Die-sink electric discharge machining (EDM) is essential for shaping complex geometries in hard-to-machine materials. This study aimed to optimize key input parameters, such as the discharge current, gap voltage, pulse-on time, and pulse-off time, to enhance the EDM performance by maximizing the material removal rate while minimizing the surface roughness, residual stress, microhardness, and recast layer thickness. AISI 316L stainless steel was chosen due to its industrial relevance and machining challenges, while a Ti-6Al-4V-SiCp composite electrode was selected for its thermal resistance and low wear. Using Taguchi’s L27 orthogonal array, this study minimized the trial numbers, with analysis of the variance-quantifying parameter contributions. The results showed a maximum material removal rate of 0.405 g/min and minimal values for the surface roughness (1.95 µm), residual stress (1063.74 MPa), microhardness (244.8 Hv), and recast layer thickness (0.47 µm). A second-order model, developed through a response surface methodology, and a feed-forward artificial neural network enhanced the prediction accuracy. Multi-response optimization using desirability function analysis yielded an optimal set of conditions: discharge current of 5.78 amperes, gap voltage of 90 volts, pulse-on time of 100 microseconds, and pulse-off time of 15 microseconds. This setup achieved a material removal rate of 0.13 g/min, with reduced surface roughness (2.46 µm), residual stress (1518.46 MPa), microhardness (259.01 Hv), and recast layer thickness (0.87 µm). Scanning electron microscopy further analyzed the surface morphology and recast layer characteristics, providing insights into the material behavior under EDM. These findings enhance the understanding and optimization of the EDM processes for challenging materials, offering valuable guidance for future research and industrial use.

Removal of Moxifloxacin from Aqueous Solutions Using GO/Cr-MOFs.

The composite material, consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and chromium metal-organic frameworks (Cr-MOFs), was successfully synthesized by using a solvothermal method. The organic ligand employed was 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid, while chromium acetate served as the source of the metal. The resulting material underwent characterization through Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Subsequently, the adsorption capacity of the composite material toward moxifloxacin was evaluated. The results indicated a gradual increase in the moxifloxacin removal rate from GO/Cr-MOFs over time until reaching an equilibrium with a maximum removal rate of 90.4%. Additionally, it was observed that higher temperatures led to a decrease in the adsorption capacity. By incorporating 30 mg of GO/Cr-MOFs into a solution containing 40 ppm of moxifloxacin, the adsorption capacity could be maximized at 222.25 mg/g. Experimental data on MOF adsorption of moxifloxacin were analyzed using pseudo-first-order kinetics (PFO), pseudo-second-order kinetics (PSO), and Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models for theoretical research purposes. Results showed that the PSO model exhibited a better correlation than the PFO model did. Furthermore, experimental data demonstrated good agreement with the Freundlich isothermal model, suggesting its effectiveness in accurately describing the adsorption process. Henceforth, it can be concluded that chemisorption plays a significant role in removing moxifloxacin by GO/Cr-MOFs. The van't Hoff equation analysis revealed an exothermic and spontaneous nature of moxifloxacin adsorption onto GO/Cr-MOFs. Compared to other materials, the GO/Cr-MOF composite exhibited high potential for applications such as drug removal or related fields.

Magnetic seed technology for the efficient removal of nitrogen from wastewater

AbstractNitrogen pollution is a global issue impacting ecosystems, climate change, human health, and the economy. The challenge to reduce nitrogen pollution as a priority highlights the wastewater treatment system an important point of control. Coagulation, a common water treatment process, has a positive impact on the overall treatment process but often struggles to address nitrogen pollution effectively. Our study introduces a novel magnetic seed to enhance coagulation in treating nitrogen pollution, offering a new solution for the global water treatment industry. We focus on the efficiency, mechanistic detail, and recovery potential of a magnetic zirconium tannate in treating real-world wastewater nitrogen under coagulation conditions. Results show that 9 g/L of magnetic zirconium tannate effectively removes ammonia nitrogen, organic nitrogen, and total nitrogen from five different wastewater types. For low-concentration wastewater with ammonia nitrogen below 20 mg/L and organic nitrogen below 5 mg/L, removal rates reach up to 100%. For high-concentration wastewater with ammonia nitrogen below 98 mg/L and organic nitrogen below 86 mg/L, the maximum removal rate is 59% for ammonia nitrogen and 88% for organic nitrogen. Spectral analysis reveals that magnetic zirconium tannate adsorbs nitrogen compounds in water through both hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, achieving excellent treatment outcomes. It can be efficiently recovered without using complex organic eluents and is easily separated from the flocculate. This technology offers non-disruptive supplement for current treatment approaches to meet the global nitrogen pollution challenge head on.

Chemical-mechanical synergetic effect of single crystal SiC polishing using Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) magnetic photo-Fenton catalyst

Achieving an atomically smooth surface on single-crystal silicon carbide (SiC) with a high material removal rate (MRR) is challenging. Traditional chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) often uses aggressive slurries that are inefficient and environmentally hazardous. To address these challenges, we synthesized a novel core-shell structure Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) magnetic catalyst and utilized it as a non-homogeneous photo-Fenton catalyst in friction wear tests on SiC wafers within a simulated CMP environment. The catalyst was thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Additionally, we explored the effects of various components, pH levels, H2O2 concentrations, catalyst concentrations, and light intensities on the friction wear of SiC wafers. The results indicate that, under visible light conditions, Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) exhibits a strong Fenton catalytic effect, achieving a maximum material removal rate of 61.076*103μm3/min at a pH of 3, H2O2 concentration of 5 wt%, catalyst concentration of 14 g/L, and light intensity of 500 W. These findings provide valuable theoretical support for visible light assisted catalyzed CMP of SiC.

Effects of different substrate ratios on the enrichment of anammox bacteria at low substrate concentration

Anammox bacteria (AnAOB) can be easily enriched under high temperatures and high substrate concentrations, while the application of the mainstream anammox process in low substrate municipal sewage is still relatively uncommon. Therefore, this study investigated the enrichment of AnAOB under conditions of low ammonia nitrogen and nitrite concentration at 25 °C. Results showed that using inoculated aerobic sludge, four ASBRs (R1, R2, R3 and R4) were successfully initiated with different influent substrate (NO2−-N/NH4+-N) ratios of 1.2, 1.32, 1.4 and 1.5, respectively, with reactor start-up times were 162, 150, 120 and 134 days, respectively. The values of ΔNO2--N/ΔNH4+-N in reactors were stable at 1.17, 1.32, 1.43 and 1.53 respectively. The increase in influent substrate ratios resulted in improved TN removal rates and accelerated consumption of chemical oxygen demand (COD) during the initial start-up stage. The maximum TN removal rates achieved in the four reactors were 76.09%, 79.24%, 82.82% and 82.63%, respectively. The color of sludge gradually changes from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown. Furthermore, the surface of sludge exhibited a porous mineral structure, with crater-like cavities. The dominant anammox species in the system was identified as Candida Brocadia (3.04%). According to qPCR, the abundance of hzsB in the system is 1.65 × 1012 copies/g VSS, confirming the effective enrichment of AnAOB.

Lanthanum ferrite modified filling materials and its enhancement for phosphorus and COD removal: Performance and mechanism

Previous studies have developed numerous adsorption composite materials demonstrating substantial removal efficiencies for phosphorus (P) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). However, most of materials targeted single contaminant and were inconvenient to apply in real water bodies owing to size limitation. In the current study, three composite materials‑lanthanum ferrite-modified Quartz balls/Maifan stones/Honeycomb ceramics-were synthesized using one step co-precipitation method. Structural and morphological changes of pre- and post-adsorption were examined through Scanning Electron Microscope - Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Kinetics, thermodynamics, and isotherm models were simulated for the analysis of P and COD adsorption. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to elucidate the adsorption mechanisms. The results demonstrated that these materials achieved P maximal removal rate of 99.56 % and COD maximal removal rate up to 94.82 %. The second-order kinetic model for P adsorption was more excellent than that of the first-order model, and the intra-particle diffusion model more accurately described the COD adsorption. Both the Langmuir and Freundlich were used to fit the adsorption isotherm data for P and COD. XPS and FTIR revealed that the adsorption mechanisms for P were ligand exchange and chemical precipitation. Whereas the adsorption mechanisms for COD were ligand exchange and physical adsorption. The materials in the actual farmland drainage performed excellent and effectively reduced the concentration of P and COD up to 68.58 % and 53.98 %, respectively. The lanthanum ferrite-modified fillers provide accessible, universal and bifunctional option for controlling agricultural non-point source pollution.

Peanut shell biochar for Rhodamine B removal: Efficiency, desorption, and reusability

A high-performance and affordable peanut shell-derived biochar was employed for the efficient removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solutions. The properties of peanut shell biochar (PSB) were investigated through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurements. The FTIR analysis revealed numerous active sites and functional groups for the binding of dye molecules, while the BET surface area was determined to be 351.11 m2g-1. Four different isotherms and kinetic models were applied to determine the equilibrium adsorption of RhB, and the results indicated that the Freundlich isotherm was the most appropriate model. A maximum dye removal rate of 94.0% occurred at a pH of 3 with an adsorbent dose of 0.325 g L−1. The prepared adsorbent showed excellent sorbent behaviour and can be reused multiple times after regeneration, with the surface area decreasing from 351.11 m2g-1 to 140.13 m2g-1 after the third cycle. The negative Gibbs free energy ΔGo at all applied temperatures suggested that spontaneous adsorption occurred and RhB adsorption on the PSB was found exothermic, as evidenced by the negative value of ΔHo. The regenerated PSB can be utilized as an efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective sorbent for the removal of dyes at temperatures lower than ambient temperature, providing both technical and financial advantages for sustainable environmental management.

Sulfur-driven microbial fuel cells denitrification system for targeted treatment of nitrate-containing groundwater: Performance and mechanism

Sulfur (S0)-driven autotrophic denitrification system has obvious advantages in economy and performance in treating the low carbon/nitrogen groundwater. However, the by-products produced from S0 oxidation will cause disturbance to the water quality. In this study, a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell was driven by S0 (S0-MFC) to separate the S0 and nitrate, the electrons generated by the oxidation of S0 in the anodic chamber transferred to the cathode for nitrate reduction. Under the action of the anode microorganisms, the S0 was directly oxidized to sulfate. The maximum nitrate removal rate (NRR) in the cathodic chamber was 2.31 ± 0.03 mg N/L/h, and the anode electron utilization rate could reached to 19.69 %. Electrochemical results showed that flavin and c-type cytochrome could acted as electron mediators promote the electron transfer processes. The presence of loop current contributed to the enhancement of microbial metabolic activity, thus improving the stability of sludge and NRR. The denitrifiers (Thiobacillus and Denitratisoma) and sulfur autotrophs (Desulfocapsa and Acidithiobacillus) played an important role in the high NRR. A low-cost and pollution-free method for removing nitrate from groundwater was realized in this study.

Analysis and optimization of machining parameters of AZ91 alloy nanocomposite with the Influences of nano ZrO2 through vacuum diecast process

The magnesium alloy composite is a vital material for automotive applications due to its features like high stiffness, superior damping resistance, high strength, and lightweight. Here, the motto of research is to establish the AZ91 alloy nanocomposite with the exposures of 0, 1, 3, and 5 volume percentages (vol%) of nano zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) particles (50nm) through fluid stir metallurgy route associated with 1x105 Pa vacuum die cast process. Exposures on structural morphology, hardness, and impact toughness of composite are analyzed and identified as the nano AZ91 alloy composite enclosed with 5vol% is homogenous particle dispersion, enhanced hardness (97.6HV), and optimum toughness of 21.2J/mm2. However, composite faces machining difficulties due to the hard abrasive particles with higher hardness, resulting in tool wear. This experiment predicts the optimum mill parameters during the end mill operation of magnesium alloy nanocomposite (AZ91/5vol%) by using a tungsten carbide coated end mill cutter to attain the maximum metal removal rate with low surface roughness and tool wear analyzed via the general linear model (GLM) ANOVA approach. The input conditions for end milling operation vary, like feed rate (0.1 -0.4mm/rev), depth of cut (0.05 -0.2mm), and spindle speed (250-1000rpm). During the ANOVA GLM approach, the L16 design experiment is fixed for further interaction analysis. The results predicted by the depth to cut and feed rate were dominant and played a major role in deciding the tool wear, surface roughness, and MRR.

Machining of Ox-Ox (Al2O3/Al2O3) ceramics matrix composites by ultrafast laser

High-performance Ox-Ox ceramics material composites (CMC) are a strategic building block in the aerospace industry and high-temperature applications. The ceramics material composites are hard to machine due to high hardness, fracture toughness, and heterogeneous structures. Furthermore, it is prone to brittle fracture during the machining process. In this study, we successfully demonstrate ultrafast laser machining technology to machine Ox-Ox CMCs. A picosecond laser has been used to machine slots to understand the impact of laser process parameters on the material removal mechanism by performing deep machining. Different scan rates and a number of over-scans have been employed to understand the material removal mechanism, which is dominated by laser ablation and aided by melting due to the residual surface temperature. The maximum material removal rate of 21.75 mm3/min has been achieved for the scan rate of 300 mm/s. This can be related to the reduction in the ablation threshold and the critical balance between the material removal mechanism by ablation and melting. It was found that, the surface roughness of the cut surface has decreased due to melting and solidification. The cross-sectional examination reveals two distinct surface structures, which are entirely resolidified and thermally eroded regions.

Preparation of porous plate from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash and its application in a biofilm batch reactor

AbstractThe reutilization of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash is a prominent area of research. This study focused on creating fly ash porous plate filler (FAPPF) by using techniques, such as water extraction, milling, component adjustment, and sintering. The produced FAPPF was then used to cultivate a biofilm for wastewater treatment. The key parameters included a two‐stage water extraction process with a 5:1 liquid‐to‐solid ratio; milling for 1, 2, and 4 h; component adjustment using waste glass powder, milled fly ash, palygorskite powder, and peanut shell powder at a 7:1:1:1 mass ratio; and sintering temperatures ranging from 700 to 1000°C. For the biofilm cultivation and treatment, this study employed semisimulated sewage in a sequencing biofilm batch reactor system. The results revealed the FAPPF had no heavy metal leaching, with a porosity of 48.53%–54.68%. Approximately 90% of its composition was derived from waste materials. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy microanalysis revealed an internally stable liquid‐phase sintering structure. Finally, a mature biofilm developed in 21 days, achieving maximum removal rates of 95.48% for chemical oxygen demand and 78.4% for ammonia nitrogen. This article confirms the sustainable recycling potential of MSWI fly ash.

Simultaneous removal of heavy metals and electricity generation from wastewater in constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are environmentally friendly and cost-effective methods for wastewater treatment. Recently, there have been innumerable efforts to integrate CWs with microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to enhance the removal of pollutants while generating electricity. Constructed Wetland-Microbial Fuel Cells (CW-MFCs) are engineered systems incorporating physical, chemical, and biological processes for wastewater treatment. However, the application of CW-MFCs to remove multiple heavy metals from wastewater is still an active area of research. The present study explores for the first time the utilization of different types of CW-MFCs, including CW-MFC-planted, CW-MFC-unplanted, and CW-sand-filter for simultaneous removal of different concentrations of organic pollutants and multiple heavy metals such as zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) from wastewater while generating electricity. The study employed nine CW-MFC microcosms, some of which were planted with Phragmites australis. The initial concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd were maintained at 2, 10, and 30 mg/l, respectively, while initial COD concentrations were 120, 500, and 1000 mg/l. Remarkably, the maximum removal rates achieved were 98.83 %, 95.74 %, 92.91 %, and 90.75 % for Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd, respectively, and the maximum removal rate of COD was 97.96 % at 10 mg/l of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and 500 mg/l of COD in CW-MFC-planted. The attained highest voltage, current, and power densities reached 687 mV, 4000 mA/m3, and 785.86 mW/m3, respectively, in CW-MFC-planted. This study demonstrates the significant impact of CW-MFC-planted systems on wastewater treatment and electricity generation.