Performance characteristics of a fan filter unit (FFU) in mitigating particulate matter levels in a naturally ventilated classroom during haze conditions.

The performance of a low-cost fan filter unit (FFU) in mitigating hazardous particulate matter (PM) levels in a naturally ventilated school classroom is presented. The FFU can be considered as a simplified mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning system without heating and cooling functions. The FFU improves indoor air quality through introduction of cleaned outdoor air to flush out internally generated heat and moisture and reducing infiltration by maintaining indoor pressurization.

Food waste-to-energy conversion technologies: current status and future directions.

Food waste represents a significantly fraction of municipal solid waste. Proper management and recycling of huge volumes of food waste are required to reduce its environmental burdens and to minimize risks to human health. Food waste is indeed an untapped resource with great potential for energy production.

Heterogeneous catalyst-assisted thermochemical conversion of food waste biomass into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.

A novel thermochemical conversion route has been developed that yields 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from food waste biomass (FWB) in the presence of a heterogeneous catalysts (zirconium phosphate (ZrP)). The ZrP catalyst was prepared by precipitation followed by calcination at 400 (ZrP-400) and 600 °C (ZrP-600) and was characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS, N2 sorption and NH3-TPD. The optimized reaction conditions were identified to maximize HMF yield by varying the type of catalyst, the catalyst loading and the reaction time.

Hydrothermal conversion of urban food waste to chars for removal of textile dyes from contaminated waters.

Hydrothermal carbonization of urban food waste was carried out to prepare hydrochars for removal of Acridine Orange and Rhodamine 6G dyes from contaminated water. The chemical composition and microstructure properties of the synthesized hydrochars were investigated in details. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that hydrochars with lower degree of carbonization were more efficient in adsorption of dyes.

Enzyme-assisted hydrothermal treatment of food waste for co-production of hydrochar and bio-oil.

Food waste was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis prior to hydrothermal treatment to produce hydrochars and bio-oil. Pre-treatment of food waste with an enzyme ratio of 1:2:1 (carbohydrase:protease:lipase) proved to be effective in converting food waste to the two products with improved yields. The carbon contents and calorific values ranged from 43.

Chemical, structural and combustion characteristics of carbonaceous products obtained by hydrothermal carbonization of palm empty fruit bunches.

A carbon-rich solid product, denoted as hydrochar, was synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of palm oil empty fruit bunch (EFB), at different pre-treatment temperatures of 150, 250 and 350 °C. The conversion of the raw biomass to its hydrochar occurred via dehydration and decarboxylation processes. The hydrochar produced at 350 °C had the maximum energy-density (>27 MJ kg(-1)) with 68.

Dechlorination of chlorinated hydrocarbons by bimetallic Ni/Fe immobilized on polyethylene glycol-grafted microfiltration membranes under anoxic conditions.

In this study, the dechlorination of chlorinated hydrocarbons including trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CT) by bimetallic Ni/Fe nanoparticles immobilized on four different membranes was investigated under anoxic conditions. Effects of several parameters including the nature of membrane, initial concentration, pH value, and reaction temperature on the dechlorination efficiency were examined. The scanning electron microscopic images showed that the Ni/Fe nanoparticles were successfully immobilized inside the four membranes using polyethylene glycol as the cross-linker.

Synergistic effect of nickel ions on the coupled dechlorination of trichloroethylene and 2,4-dichlorophenol by Fe/TiO₂ nanocomposites in the presence of UV light under anoxic conditions.

The coupled removal of priority pollutants by nanocomposite materials has recently been receiving much attention. In this study, trichloroethylene (TCE) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) in aqueous solutions were simultaneously removed by Fe/TiO₂ nanocomposites under anoxic conditions in the presence of nickel ions and UV light at 365 nm. Both TCE and DCP were effectively dechlorinated by Fe/TiO₂ nanocomposites, and the pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(obs)) for TCE and DCP dechlorination were (1.

Biodegradation of malachite green by Brevibacillus laterosporus MTCC 2298.

Brevibacillus laterosporus MTCC 2298 was screened for the decolorization of eight triphenylmethane dyes. Decolorization of malachite green was found to be fastest (87% within 3 hours, at the concentration 0.1 g/L) among the screened dyes.

Dechlorination of trichloroethylene by Ni/Fe nanoparticles immobilized in PEG/PVDF and PEG/nylon 66 membranes.

The highly reactive bimetallic Fe/Ni nanoparticles immobilized in nylon 66 and PVDF membranes were synthesized and characterized for dechlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE) under anoxic conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) elemental maps showed that the distribution of Fe in nylon 66 membrane was uniform and the intensity of Ni layer was higher than that in PVDF membrane. The particle sizes of bimetallic Fe/Ni in PVDF and nylon 66 membranes were 81+/-12 and 55+/-14 nm with the Ni layers of 12+/-3 and 15+/-2 nm, respectively.

Biodegradation of hazardous triphenylmethane dye methyl violet by Rhizobium radiobacter (MTCC 8161).

Rhizobium radiobacter MTCC 8161 completely decolorized methyl violet (10 mg l(-1)) within 8 h both at static and shaking conditions. The decolorization time increased with increasing dye concentration. The effect of different carbon and nitrogen sources on the decolorization of methyl violet was studied.

Diesel and kerosene degradation by Pseudomonas desmolyticum NCIM 2112 and Nocardia hydrocarbonoxydans NCIM 2386.

Pseudomonas desmolyticum NCIM 2112 (Pd 2112) and Nocardia hydrocarbonoxydans NCIM 2386 (Nh 2386) demonstrated an ability to degrade diesel and kerosene. Triton X-100 had enhanced the diesel degradation process by reducing the time required for the maximum utilization of total petroleum hydrocarbon. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum of degraded diesel indicates the presence of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, C=C aromatic nuclei, and substituted benzenes.