Development and validation of a green and sustainable procedure for the preparation of Perilla frutescens extracts.

A procedure combining supercritical CO2 and ultrasound-assisted (USC-CO2) extraction was developed to obtain rosmarinic acid (RA)-rich extracts from Perilla frutescens. Based on extraction yields and efficiencies, USC-CO2 was considered the best extraction method among the methods studied for obtaining RA from P. frutescens. The constant extraction rate period and the falling extraction rate period for USC-CO2 extraction of P. frutescens were 45 and 96 min long, respectively, and they were significantly shorter than those of traditional SC-CO2 (TSC-CO2) extraction. Furthermore, mass transfer coefficients were derived using the Sovová model for the fluid and solid phases from USC-CO2 extraction, with values of 9.752 × 10-3 and 4.203 × 10-3 min-1, respectively, which were obviously higher than those for TSC-CO2 extraction. Consequently, the theoretical solubilities of RA in the supercritical solvents used in dynamic USC-CO2 and TSC-CO2 extractions were estimated and found to be well correlated using three density-based models.

Biological Inoculant of Salt-Tolerant Bacteria for Plant Growth Stimulation under Different Saline Soil Conditions.

Using salt-tolerant bacteria to protect plants from salt stress is a promising microbiological treatment strategy for saline-alkali soil improvement. Here, we conducted research on the growthpromoting effect of Brevibacterium frigoritolerans on wheat under salt stress, which has rarely been addressed before. The synergistic effect of B. frigoritolerans combined with representative salttolerant bacteria Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus thuringiensis to promote the development of wheat under salt stress was also further studied. Our approach involved two steps: investigation of the plant growth-promoting traits of each strain at six salt stress levels (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%); examination of the effects of the strains (single or in combination) inoculated on wheat in different salt stress conditions (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mM). The experiment of plant growth-promoting traits indicated that among three strains, B. frigoritolerans had the most potential for promoting wheat parameters. In single-strain inoculation, B. frigoritolerans showed the best performance of plant growth promotion. Moreover, a pot experiment proved that the plant growth-promoting potential of co-inoculation with three strains on wheat is better than single-strain inoculation under salt stress condition. Up to now, this is the first report suggesting that B. frigoritolerans has the potential to promote wheat growth under salt stress, especially combined with B. velezensis and B. thuringiensis.

The denitration pathway of p-nitrophenol in the hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation with an Fe(III)-resin catalyst.

The liquid-phase hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation of p-nitrophenol was performed with an Fe(III)-resin catalyst. The conversion and mineralization of p-nitrophenol was effectively achieved at mild reaction conditions with the Fe(III)-resin catalyst. It was found that the oxidant concentration, pH, and temperature dominated the degradation rate of p-nitrophenol. The denitration pathway of p-nitrophenol was proposed, in which the concentration of H(2)O(2) and temperature showed strong influence on the conversion of nitrite to nitrate. To study the factors influencing the denitration of p-nitrophenol, a comparable kinetic study was attempted to know the possible denitration pathway of p-nitrophenol. The results of this investigation indicated that denitration was the possible step occurring with the decomposition of p-nitrophenol.

Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of p-nitrophenol by Fe (III) supported on resin.

Fe(III) supported on resin (Fe(III)-resin) as an effective catalyst for peroxide oxidation was prepared and applied for the degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP). Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) experiments with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant were performed in a batch rector with p-nitrophenol as the model pollutant. Under given conditions (PNP concentration 500 mg/L, H(2)O(2) 0.1 M, 80°C, resin dosage 0.6% g/mL), p-nitrophenol was almost completely removed, corresponding to an 84% of COD removal. It was found that the reaction temperature, oxidant concentration. and initial pH of solution significantly affected both p-nitrophenol conversion and COD removal by oxidation. It can be inferred from the experiments that Fe(III) supported on resin was an effective catalyst in the mineralization of p-nitrophenol. In an acidic environment of oxidation, the leaching test showed that there was only a slight leaching effect on the activity of catalytic oxidation. It was also confirmed by the aging test of catalysts in the oxidation.

Microbial degradation of phenol in a modified three-stage airlift packing-bed reactor.

Phenol degradation was carried out by using a modified three-stage airlift packing-bed bioreactor. A laboratory-scale airlift packing-bed reactor, with hydrodynamic flexible packing material in the three-stage bioreactor, was constructed and operated for phenol removal from synthetic wastewater. The airlift packing-bed reactor successfully degraded phenol and lowered the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of wastewater. High COD removal was observed, and much lower sludge effluent was obtained in this investigation. This airlift bioreactor showed a superior hydrodynamics performance and broad operating conditions for phenolic material removal. Different operating modes were discussed to obtain the optimal condition for phenol degradation (i.e., hydraulic retention time [HRT] and gas flowrate of airlift). The HRT and feed phenol concentration of wastewater dominated the removal efficiency of phenol and COD. In this bioreactor, surface loading up to 2.84 g phenol/ m2 x d, almost 100% phenol removal, and over 90% COD removal was achieved. The lower operating cost combined with higher phenol-removal efficiency and a low sludge effluent concentration can be achieved by using this reactor for phenol wastewater treatment.

Wet hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation of phenol with FeAC (iron-embedded activated carbon) catalysts.

This investigation aims at exploring the catalytic oxidation activity of iron-embedded activated carbon (FeAC) and the application for the degradation of phenol in the wet hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation (WHPCO). FeAC catalysts were prepared by pre-impregnating iron in coconut shell with various iron loadings in the range of 27.5 to 46.5% before they were activated. The FeAC catalysts were characterised by measuring their surface area, pore distribution, functional groups on the surface, and X-ray diffraction patterns. The effects of iron loading strongly inhibited the pore development of the catalyst but benefited the oxidation activity in WHPCO. It was found that the complete conversion of phenol was observed with all FeAC catalysts in oxidation. High level of chemical oxygen demand (COD) abatement can be achieved within the first 30 minutes of oxidation. The iron embedded in the activated carbon showed good performance in the degradation and mineralisation of phenol during the oxidation due to the active sites as iron oxides formed on the surface of the activated carbon. It was found that the embedding irons were presented in gamma-Fe(2)O(3), alpha-Fe(2)O(3), and alpha-FeCOOH forms on the activated carbon. The aging tests on FeAC catalysts showed less activity loss, and less iron leaching was found after four oxidation runs.

CuO impregnated activated carbon for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol.

This paper presents an original approach to the removal of phenol in synthetic wastewater by catalytic wet peroxide oxidation with copper binding activated carbon (CuAC) catalysts. The characteristics and oxidation performance of CuAC in the wet hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation of phenol were studied in a batch reactor at 80 degrees C. Complete conversion of the oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, was observed with CuAC catalyst in 20 min oxidation, and a highly efficient phenol removal and chemical oxygen demand (COD) abatement were achieved in the first 30 min. The good oxidation performance of CuAC catalyst was contributed to the activity enhancement of copper oxide, which was binding in the carbon matrix. It can be concluded that the efficiency of oxidation dominated by the residual H2O2 in this study. An over 90% COD removal was achieved by using the multiple-step addition in this catalytic oxidation.

Fe (III) supported on resin as effective catalyst for the heterogeneous oxidation of phenol in aqueous solution.

FeIII supported on resin as an effective catalyst for oxidation was prepared and applied for the degradation of aqueous phenol. Phenol was selected as a model pollutant and the catalytic oxidation was carried out in a batch reactor using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. The influent factors on oxidation, such as catalyst dosage, H2O2 concentration, pH, and phenol concentration were examined by considering both phenol conversion and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The FeIII-resin catalyst possesses a high oxidation activity for phenol degradation in aqueous solution. The experimental results of this study show that almost 100% phenol conversion and over 80% COD removal can be achieved with the FeIII-resin catalyst catalytic oxidation system. A series of prepared resin were investigated for improving the oxidation efficiency. It was found that the reaction temperature and initial pH in solution significantly affected both of phenol conversion and COD removal efficiency. The activity of the catalyst significantly decreased at high pH, which was similar to the Fenton-like reaction mechanism. Results in this study indicate that the FeIII-resin catalytic oxidation process is an efficient method for the treatment of phenolic wastewater.

Catalytic oxidation of pentachlorophenol in contaminated soil suspensions by Fe+3-resin/H2O2.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a wood preserving agent that is commonly found in contaminated soils at wood treatment sites. The catalytic properties of Fe+3-resin for the oxidation of PCP in aqueous solution and soil suspension with H2O2 were tested. Batch tests in aqueous solution were performed at various dosages of catalyst and H2O2, and reaction temperatures. The results showed that the oxidation of PCP in aqueous solution depends on the dose of H2O2 and the temperature. Essentially complete oxidation of 100 mgl(-1) PCP was obtained with 0.5% Fe+3-resin catalyst, 0.1 M H2O2 and at a reaction temperature of 80 degrees C. The oxidation of PCP achieved in three different soil suspensions was more than 94% within 30-50 min. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the same Fe+3-resin could be reused for at least six cycles of PCP oxidation in soil solutions without loss in efficiency unless the pH of the reaction falls below 5. It was proposed that the loss in used Fe+3-resin catalyst activity could be related to the leaching of Fe+3 at low pH.

Methane emission from fields with three various rice straw treatments in Taiwan paddy soils.

Flooded rice fields are one of the major biogenic methane sources. In this study, the effects of straw residual treatments on methane emission from paddy fields were discussed. The experimental field was located at Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station in Chia-Yi county (23 degrees 25'08''N, 120degrees16'26''E) of southern Taiwan throughout the first and the second crop seasons in 2000. The seasonal methane fluxes in the first crop season with rice stubble removed, rice straw burned and rice straw incorporated were 4.41, 3.78 and 5.27 g CH4 m(-2), and the values were 32.8, 38.9 and 75.1 g CH4 m(-2) in the second crop season, respectively. In comparison of three management methods of rice straw residue, the incorporation of rice straw residue should show a significant tendency for enhancing methane emission in the second crop season. Moreover, stubble removed and straw burned treatments significantly reduced CH4 emissions by 28 approximately 56% emissions compared to straw incorporated plot. Concerning for air quality had led to legislation restricting rice straw burning, removing of rice stubble might be an appropriate methane mitigation strategy in Taiwan paddy soils.

Methane emission from fields with differences in nitrogen fertilizers and rice varieties in Taiwan paddy soils.

Flooded rice fields are one of the major biogenic methane sources. In this study, methane emission rates were measured after transplanting in paddy fields with application of two kinds of nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, NH4+-N and potassium nitrate, NO3(-)-N) and with two kinds of rice varieties (Japonica and Indica). The experiment was conducted in fields located at Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station in Chia-Yi county (23 degrees 25'08"N, 120 degrees 16'26"E) of southern Taiwan throughout the first and the second crop seasons in 1999. The seasonal methane flux in the first crop season with NH4+-N and NO3(-)-N ranged from 2.48 to 2.78 and from 8.65 to 9.22 g CH4 m(-2); and the values ranged 24.6-34.2 and 36.4-52.6 g CH4 m(-2) in the second crop season, respectively. In the first crop season, there were significantly increased 3.1-3.7-fold in methane emission fluxes due to plantation of Indica rice. In comparison of two rice varieties, the Indica rice variety showed a tendency for larger methane emission than the Japonica rice variety in the second crop season. Moreover, ammonium sulfate treatment significantly reduced CH4 emissions by 37-85% emissions compared to potassium nitrate plots. It was concluded that the CH4 emission was markedly dependent on the type of nitrogen fertilizer and rice variety in Taiwan paddy soils.

The effect of metal ions on humic acid removal and permeation properties in an ultrafiltration system.

With a view to improving the removal of humic acid from aqueous solution, the effect of metal ion addition on the separation of humic acid from water in an utrafiltration (UF) system was investigated. The valence of the metal ion and the molar ratio of humic acid to metal ion strongly affected the permeation flux during ultrafiltration. It was found that the ionic strength, dissociation constant and operating pressure were not major factors affecting the separation performance of the ultrafiltration process. As well as indicating that a suitable ratio of humic acid to metal ion and valence of metal ion were the key factors in improving separation efficiency. The results also showed that separation of humic acid depended on the level of formation of humic acid-metal ion complexes, and on the degree of fouling on the membrane surface.