Application of molecular biological tools for monitoring efficiency of trichloroethylene remediation.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is one of the most ubiquitous halogenated organic compounds of concerns of carcinogens in groundwater in Taiwan. Bioremediation has been recognized as a cost-effective approach in reducing TCE concentration. Five pilot-scale wells were constructed to monitor TCE concentrations in contaminated groundwater.

Prediction of the adsorption capacities for four typical organic pollutants on activated carbons in natural waters.

A new model is developed to predict the competitive adsorption isotherms of atrazine, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol onto activated carbons (ACs) in natural water. Based on the Polanyi-Dubinin (PD) equation, with the limiting pore volume of adsorbent estimated from the pore size distribution data, and the Ideal adsorbed solution theory - equivalent background compound (IAST-EBC) model approximation, the model takes into account both the properties of ACs and the impact of natural organic matters in water. Only one set of isotherm in deionized water and one set in natural water are needed to obtain the parameters for the prediction of adsorption isotherms onto different ACs in natural water.

Prediction of powdered activated carbon doses for 2-MIB removal in drinking water treatment using a simplified HSDM approach.

The addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) is an effective measure to cope with seasonal taste and odor (T&O) problems caused by 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and trans-1, 10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol (geosmin) in drinking water. Some T&O problems are episodic in nature, and generally require rapid responses. This paper proposed a simplified approach for the application of the homogenous surface diffusion model (HSDM) to predict the appropriate PAC doses for the removal of 2-MIB.

Predicting the adsorption of organic pollutants from water onto activated carbons based on the pore size distribution and molecular connectivity index.

A new model approach is developed to predict the adsorption isotherms of low-molecular-weight nonpolar organic compounds (LMWNPOCs) onto activated carbons (ACs). The model is based on the Polanyi-Dubinin (PD) equation, with the limiting pore volume of adsorbent estimated from the pore size distribution (PSD) data, and the adsorption affinity of adsorbate described by the molecular connectivity index (MCI). To obtain the MCI parameters, the model was first tested for the adsorption of 34 LMWNPOCs primarily on F400 AC from 3 reports.

Resolution of Adsorption and Partition Components of Organic Compounds on Black Carbons.

Black carbons (BCs) may sequester non-ionic organic compounds by adsorption and/or partition to varying extents. Up to now, no experimental method has been developed to accurately resolve the combined adsorption and partition capacity of a compound on a BC. In this study, a unique "adsorptive displacement method" is introduced to reliably resolve the adsorption and partition components for a solute-BC system.

Lipid-water partition coefficients and correlations with uptakes by algae of organic compounds.

In view of the scarcity of the lipid-water partition coefficients (Ktw) for organic compounds, the logKtw values for many environmental contaminants were measured using ultra-pure triolein as the model lipid. Classes of compounds studied include alkyl benzenes, halogenated benzenes, short-chain chlorinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides. In addition to logKtw determination, the uptakes of these compounds from water by a dry algal species were measured to evaluate the lipid effect on the algal uptake.

On the use of a freeze-dried versus an air-dried soil humic acid as a surrogate of soil organic matter for contaminant sorption.

The sorption of phenanthrene (PHN) to relatively pure soil humic acids (HAs) was investigated to assess the suitability of the soil HA as a surrogate sorbent for the soil organic matter (SOM). The HAs were prepared in both freeze-dried and air-dried forms. The two forms of HAs from the same source are similar in composition but the freeze-dried HAs exhibit a significantly higher initial surface area (SA) (3.