Subspace-based non-blind deconvolution.

In this paper, we develop a novel subspace-based recovery algorithm for non-blind deconvolution (named SND). With considering visual importance difference between image structures and smoothing areas, we propose subspace data fidelity for protecting image structures and suppressing both noise and artifacts. Meanwhile, with exploiting the difference of subspace priors, we put forward differentiation modelings on different subspace priors for improving deblurring performance. Then we utilize the least square integration method to fuse deblurred estimations and to compensate information loss of subspace deblurrings. In addition, we derive an efficient optimization scheme for addressing the proposed objective function by employing the methods of least square and fast Fourier transform. Final experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms several classical and state-of-the-art algorithms in both subjective and objective assessments.

[Influence of the Coagulation Mechanism on the Coagulation Performances Using New Composite Coagulants: Role of the Raw Water Characteristics].

To improve the coagulation performances, new composite coagulants were used to treat different water samples. The results indicate that Ca2+ has no significant effects on the removal efficiency for turbidity in the kaolin system. The residual aluminum decreased from 0.15 mg·L-1 to 0.10 mg·L-1 (AlCl3 was used as coagulant and the coagulant dosage was 0.10 mmol·L-1). The presence of Ca2+ led to the decrease of the amount of negative charges in the HA system and the residual aluminum decreased due to the decrease of the complexation between the HA molecules and Al-based coagulants. When the raw water contained BSA molecules and the coagulant dosage was 0.16 mmol·L-1, the flocs formed by PACl with Ca2+ were larger (~50 µm) than the flocs generated by PACl and the settleability also improved. Under alkaline conditions (pH=8.5), the DOC concentration decreased after coagulation process by~0.2-0.6 mg·L-1 and the residual aluminum decreased by~0.4-0.7 mg·L-1 using composite coagulants. Under acidic conditions (pH=5.5), the concentrations of DOC and residual aluminum did not significantly differ.

[Migration and Transformation of Adsorbed Arsenic Mediated by Sulfate Reducing Bacteria].

In the natural environment, arsenic (As) is mainly adsorbed on iron oxide minerals. The release of adsorbed arsenic from iron oxide minerals to the water is the main source of arsenic pollution. Microbes play a crucial role for this process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio vulgaris DP4 on the transformation and mobilization of As. The experimental results show that the released As concentration of the two systems is 0 µmol·L-1 at 0 h. Compared with the control, DP4 promotes the desorption of As(Ⅴ) before the 84 h incubation process. The released As concentration reaches the maximum value of 12.6 µmol·L-1 at 13 h, accounting for~79% of the initial total adsorbed As (16 µmol·L-1). The maximum released As concentration is~8.4 times higher than that of the control (1.5 µmol·L-1). After 84 hours, the concentration of the released As in the DP4 system is lower than the abiotic control, which suggests that the released As is readsorbed on the solid surface. During the incubation process, the As mobility is significantly correlated with Eh. The XRD results show that the crystallinity of the solid samples in the DP4 system decreases by~50%. In general, a lower crystallinity of the adsorbent indicates a higher adsorption capacity. This may be one important reason for the As readsorption after 84 h. In addition, the SEM shows that goethite is agglomerated by DP4 and the EDS results indicate that goethite is partially transformed to an Fe-S mineral. Based on XANES, arsenic-sulfur minerals were not detected in the solid phase, which further confirms the SEM-EDS results, that is, that Fe-S minerals formed in the solid phase, rather than As2S3 (AsS). The released As was readsorbed on the secondary iron mineral, resulting in a lower dissolved As concentration in the DP4 system than in the abiotic control. Furthermore, 19% As(Ⅲ) was detected in the solid phase while dissolved As(Ⅲ) was not determined during the incubation process. The results suggest that sulfate-reducing bacteria may directly reduce adsorbed As(Ⅴ) to As(Ⅲ).

Efficient Propulsion and Hovering of Bubble-Driven Hollow Micromotors underneath an Air-Liquid Interface.

Bubble-driven micromotors have attracted substantial interest due to their remarkable self-motile and cargo-delivering abilities in biomedical or environmental applications. Here, we developed a hollow micromotor that experiences fast self-propulsion underneath an air-liquid interface by periodic bubble growth and collapse. The collapsing of a single microbubble induces a ∼1 m·s-1 impulsive jetting flow that instantaneously pushes the micromotor forward. Unlike previously reported micromotors propelled by the recoiling of bubbles, cavitation-induced jetting further utilizes the energy stored in the bubble to propel the micromotor and thus enhances the energy conversion efficiency by 3 orders of magnitude. Four different modes of propulsion are, for the first time, identified by quantifying the dependence of propulsion strength on microbubble size. Meanwhile, the vertical component of the jetting flow counteracts the buoyancy of the micromotor-bubble dimer and facilitates counterintuitive hovering underneath the air-liquid interface. This work not only enriches the understanding of the propulsion mechanism of bubble-driven micromotors but also gives insight into the physical aspects of cavitation bubble dynamics near the air-liquid interface on the microscale.

[Effects of Algal Morphology and Al Species Distribution on the Coagulation-Ultrafiltration Process].

In order to ensure drinking water quality, three different Al-based coagulants [Al2(SO4)3(AS), Al13, Al30] were used to treat water laden with different algae [Microcystis aeruginosa(cyanobacteria), Chlorella(green algae), Cyclotella (diatoms)]. Floc size, strength factor, and recovery factor under different conditions were measured to investigate the mechanisms in the coagulation-ultrafiltration process. The results indicated that the main mechanism in the coagulation process using Al13 or Al30 as coagulants was electrostatic patching and the main mechanism using AS was charge neutralization. In the Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlorella systems, when Al13 and Al30 were used as coagulants at low dosage, the coagulants that were adsorbed on the side (which existed on the surfaces of Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlorella cells) would lose their ability to aggregate the algal cells. When AS was used as coagulant, the electric double layer was effectively compressed. The repulsive force between algal particles decreased, and the flocs formed easily. In the Cyclotella system, Al13 and Al30coagulants effectively formed the flocs through electrostatic patch effects. There was a significant correlation between membrane flux and floc size, and the larger flocs formed a looser cake layer on the membrane surface.

[Mechanism of groundwater As(V) removal with ferric flocculation and direct filtration].

The As removal process and mechanism from groundwater using ferric flocculation-direct filtration system was investigated using batch, field pilot tests, extended X-ray absorption fine structure ( EXAFS) spectroscopy, and charge-distribution multisite complexation (CD-MUSIC) model. The results showed that arsenate [As(V)] was the dominant As species in the groundwater with a concentration of 40 µg x L(-1). The treatment system could supply 64 984 L As-safe drinking water (< 10 µg L(-1)) using Fe 1.5 mg x L(-1). Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) demonstrated that the leachate As was 3.4 µg x L(-1), much lower than the EPA regulatory concentration (5 mg x L(-1)). EXAFS and CD-MUSIC model indicated that As(V) was adsorbed onto ferric hydroxide via bidentate binuclear complexes in the pH range of 3 to 9.5, while formation of precipitate with Ca or Mg dominated the As removal at pH > 9.5.

[Surface modification of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane by using the zwitterionic substance].

In order to enhance the hydrophilicity of the membrane and improve the antifouling properties, poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacry-late) (poly(HEMA)) was grafted to the surface of the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane by using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method. After that, ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as the initiator, N, N'-methylene bisacrylamide as a cross-linking agent, a zwitterionic polymer, poly (3-( methacryloylamino) propyl-dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide) (poly(MPDSAH)) were successfully grafted onto the membrane surface by radical polymerization reaction. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and contact angle measuring were employed to analyze the property and the morphology of structures before and after the membrane surface-modification. The grafting density (GD) gradually increased, with the grafting time increasing, the pore size of the membrane became smaller, and the porosity decreased, but the surface hydrophilicity of membrane was significantly enhanced at the same time. The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) tests and filtration experiments were carried out to investigate anti-fouling performances of membrane before and after modification. With the GD increasing, the amount of adsorption on the film surface significantly reduced in the high-concentration BSA solution. The water contact angle (CA) decreased most, from 77. 2 degrees to 41.7 degrees within 5 s to 0, and a flux recovery ratio up to 94. 961% , when the GD reached 288. 340 microg.cm-2. Therefore, the optimal grafting time was 2 h, with the grafting density of 288. 340 microg.cm-2.