Waste expanded polystyrene modified with HSO/biodegradable chelating agent for reuse: As a highly efficient adsorbent to remove fluoroquinolone antibiotic from water.

Untreated wastewater containing fluoroquinolone antibiotics poses serious hazards to aquatic species and human health; therefore, treatment of waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a crucial environmental matter. In this study, waste EPS was modified with a HSO/biodegradable chelating agent, [S,S]-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS), and used for highly efficient adsorption of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin. When ciprofloxacin of 25 mg/L was used, the HSO-modified EPS (EPS) adsorbed 60.

Oxidative degradation of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) by UV/persulfate and associated acute toxicity assessment.

Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) is widely used in high-tech industries as a developing agent. Ultraviolet (UV) light-activated persulfate (PS, SO) can be used to generate strongly oxidative sulfate radicals, and it also exhibits the potential to treat TMAH-containing wastewater. This study initially investigated the effect of SO concentration and UV strength on the UV/SO process for the degradation of TMAH in a batch reactor.

Effects of Reductants on Phytoextraction of Chromium (VI) by Ipomoea aquatica.

Reductants are often used to reduce Cr(VI) in chemical treatments, yet the effects of the reductants on Cr(VI) phytoremediation are not fully understood. This study investigates the effects of different reductants on Cr(VI) phytoremediation by Ipomoea aquatica in simulated solution with 3 mg L(-1) of Cr(VI), pH0 of 6, and an incubation time of 5 days. Results indicate that the applications of S2O3(2-), Fe0, and Fe2+ at low doses notably increased root Cr concentrations, which were obviously higher than that those in the control (Cr6+ alone).

Evaluation of acute toxicity and teratogenic effects of disinfectants by Daphnia magna embryo assay.

Three common disinfectants were selected in this study to investigate their toxicity to Daphnia magna. The methods used in this study included the traditional acute toxicity test, new embryo toxicity test, and teratogenic test. The study concluded that the acute toxicity of the three disinfectants to young daphnids and embryos were hypochlorite > formaldehyde > m-cresol.

Study of the endoparasitic fauna of commensal rats and shrews caught in traditional wet markets in Taichung City, Taiwan.

Background: Rats live in close proximity to human populations. Feral rodents are known to transmit diseases and act as reservoir hosts to many zoonotic parasites that pose health risks to humans. The aim of this study is to investigate endoparasitic infections in commensal rats and shrews caught in traditional wet markets in Taichung City, Taiwan.

Effects of UV irradiation on humic acid removal by ozonation, Fenton and Fe⁰/air treatment: THMFP and biotoxicity evaluation.

Effects of UV irradiation on humic acid (HA) removal by Fe(0)/air, ozonation and Fenton oxidation were investigated. The trihalomethane forming potential (THMFP) and toxicity of treated solutions were also evaluated. The experimental conditions were ozone of 21 mg min(-1), H(2)O(2) of 8 × 10(-4)M, Fe(0) of 20 g L(-1), air flow of 5 L min(-1), and UVC of 9 W.

Evaluation of acute toxicity and teratogenic effects of plant growth regulators by Daphnia magna embryo assay.

This study selected common plant growth regulators (Atonik, Cytokinin, Ethephon, Gibberellic acid and Paclobutrazol) to investigate their biological toxicity to the waters of the important biological indicator Daphnia magna. The methods used in this study included traditional neonate acute toxicity test, new Daphnia embryo toxicity test, and teratogenic embryo test. The study concluded that the acute toxicity of the five PGRs to Daphnia neonate had EC(50) value range of 1.

Effects of dissolved oxygen on dye removal by zero-valent iron.

Effects of dissolved oxygen concentrations on dye removal by zero-valent iron (Fe(0)) were investigated. The Vibrio fischeri light inhibition test was employed to evaluate toxicity of decolorized solution. Three dyes, Acid Orange 7 (AO7, monoazo), Reactive Red 120 (RR120, diazo), and Acid Blue 9 (AB9, triphenylmethane), were selected as model dyes.

Treatment and toxicity evaluation of methylene blue using electrochemical oxidation, fly ash adsorption and combined electrochemical oxidation-fly ash adsorption.

Treatment of a basic dye, methylene blue, by electrochemical oxidation, fly ash adsorption, and combined electrochemical oxidation-fly ash adsorption was compared. Methylene blue at 100 mgL(-1) was used in this study. The toxicity was also monitored by the Vibrio fischeri light inhibition test.

Phytoremediation of Cr(III) by Ipomonea aquatica (water spinach) from water in the presence of EDTA and chloride: effects of Cr speciation.

Wastewater is often co-contaminated with chromium, chelating agents, and chloride. Influences of Cr(3+) speciation on Cr phytoremediation by Ipomonea aquatica were investigated. MINEQL+ was employed to estimate Cr speciation.

Treatment of Reactive Black 5 by combined electrocoagulation-granular activated carbon adsorption-microwave regeneration process.

Treatment of an azo dye, Reactive Black 5 (RB5) by combined electrocoagulation-activated carbon adsorption-microwave regeneration process was evaluated. The toxicity was also monitored by the Vibrio fischeri light inhibition test. GAC of 100 g L(-1) sorbed 82% of RB5 (100 mg L(-1)) within 4h.

Enhancement of Rhodamine B removal by low-cost fly ash sorption with Fenton pre-oxidation.

The removal of a basic dye, Rhodamine B (RhB), by fly ash adsorption, Fenton oxidation, and combined Fenton oxidation-fly ash adsorption were evaluated. Even though fly ash is a low cost absorbent, a high dose of fly ash was needed to remove RhB. Only 54% of RhB was removed by 80 g L(-1) fly ash.

Surveillance of endoparasitic infections and the first report of Physaloptera sp. and Sarcocystis spp. in farm rodents and shrews in central Taiwan.

A total of 95 rodents and shrews including 82 Rattus norvegicus, 7 Rattus rattus, and 6 Suncus murinus were trapped from different localities of Taichung, Taiwan. The overall prevalence of parasites was 93.7%.

Degradation of azo and anthraquinone dyes by a low-cost Fe 0/air process.

Degradation of two different kinds of dyes, anthraquinone Reactive Blue 4 (RB4) and azo Reactive Black 5 (RB5), by low-cost zero valent iron (Fe(0)) in a N(2) bubbling system (Fe(0)/N(2) process) and air bubbling system (Fe(0)/air process) was investigated. The operating parameters, including initial solution pH, dye concentration and Fe(0) dose, were also evaluated. The Fe(0)/air process shows a higher decolorization rate compared to the Fe(0)/N(2) process.

Rapid recovery of dilute copper from a simulated Cu-SDS solution with low-cost steel wool cathode reactor.

Copper-surfactant wastewaters are often encountered in electroplating, printed circuit boards manufacturing, and metal finishing industries, as well as in retentates from micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration process. A low-cost three-dimensional steel wool cathode reactor was evaluated for electrolytic recovery of Cu ion from dilute copper solution (0.2mM) in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), octylphenol poly (ethyleneglycol) 9.

Phytoextraction of cadmium by Ipomoea aquatica (water spinach) in hydroponic solution: effects of cadmium speciation.

Phytoextraction is a promising technique to remediate heavy metals from contaminated wastewater. However, the interactions of multi-contaminants are not fully clear. This study employed cadmium, Triton X-100 (TX-100), and EDTA to investigate their interactions on phytotoxicity and Cd phytoextraction of Ipomoea aquatica (water spinach) in simulated wastewater.

Degradation of Reactive Black 5 using combined electrochemical degradation-solar-light/immobilized TiO2 film process and toxicity evaluation.

The combined electrochemical oxidation-solar-light/immobilized TiO2 film process was conducted to degrade an azo dye, Reactive Black 5 (RB5). The toxicity was also monitored by the Vibrio fischeri light inhibition test. The electrochemical oxidation rapidly decolorized RB5 (55, 110 microM) with a supporting electrolyte of 2 gl(-1) NaCl at current density 277Am(-2) and pH 4.

Screening long-time plating effluent qualities by sorbent sorption with XRF analysis.

Long-term monitoring of plating effluent quality traditionally requires dense frequency sampling and analysis for multiple elements are needed. An effective and rapid approach was developed to monitor long-time plating effluent quality. The approach employs the placement of low-cost sorbents (chitosan, zeolite and granular activated carbon) in plating effluents followed by analysis of multiple-element X-ray fluorescence (XRF).

First Thelazia callipaeda infestation report in a dog in Taiwan.

An ocular Thelazia callipaeda infestation was found in a male domestic dog in Taiwan during regular examination. This is the first report of the parasite from pet animal in Taiwan. The infested dog showed normal bodily condition but slight conjunctival congestion.

Demonstration of vector competence of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) for Setaria digitata.

In Taiwan, Setaria digitata infection causes a lumber paralysis in increasing number of cattle. Culex quinquefasciatus is one of the predominant mosquitoes, and it has been suspected that C. quinquefasciatus acts as a vector to Setaria nematodes prevalence but this was not confirmed.

Comparison of RBCA and CalTOX for setting risk-based cleanup levels based on inhalation exposure.

Risk-based corrective action (RBCA) and CalTOX (California EPA) are often used to develop risk-based soil cleanup levels. The determination of the entry parameters, including slope factors, degradation assumption, methodologies, and dispersion models for these two approaches greatly affect the onsite/offsite cleanup levels, risk distribution, and ranking of the influential factors. The subsurface soil-to-ambient air was considered as the only significant exposure pathway in this study.