Improving total nitrogen removal in aeration basin retrofitted with entrapped biomass.

This study presented a method to upgrade existing aeration tanks to remove total nitrogen (TN). Bioplates carrying entrapped biomass were installed in an aeration basin to create anoxic/anaerobic zones where denitrification can proceed. In a reactor that coupled bioplates containing entrapped biomass (equivalent to as high as 7,500 mg/L of biomass) and an activated sludge suspension (at mixed liquor suspended solids of 1,300-2,400 mg/L), nitrification efficiency exceeded 95% for an influent wastewater containing 21-54 mg/L of NH3-N. In all cases amended with alkalinity and with or without added methanol as an electron source, TN removal was between 60 and 70%. The results demonstrated anoxic/oxic or anaerobic/anoxic/oxic processes could be incorporated in a conventional aeration basin, requiring no substantial modifications of the vessel and operation, and thus providing improved treatment in terms of nitrogen removal in the conventional suspended-growth process.

Structure-property relationships in conjugated donor-acceptor molecules based on cyanoanthracene: computational and experimental studies.

[reaction: see text] Two series of pi-conjugated bipolar compounds, namely, 9-phenyl-10-anthronitriles (PAN series) and 9-phenylethynyl-10-anthronitriles (PEAN series), having inherent redox centers have been synthesized and their electronic absorption, fluorescence emission, and electrochemical behavior have been studied. Electrochemiluminescence of these molecules bearing weak, strong, and spin-polarized donors is also studied. The observed electronic properties are explained with the help of results obtained from density functional theory (DFT- B3LYP/6-31G) calculations. The structure-property relationships of all the molecules are discussed.

Synthesis and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of donor-substituted phenylethynylcoumarins.

Two series of donor-bearing phenylethynylcoumarins have been synthesized, and their photophysical properties have been evaluated. Chemiluminescence was observed through the annihilation of their electrogenerated radical ions and was found to be only slightly affected by the presence of various donor groups on the phenyl moiety linked through the C-C triple bond. The overall properties of the two series of compounds are discussed with respect to their structures. The observed electronic absorption properties are explained with the help of computational studies.

Synthesis and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of donor-substituted phenylquinolinylethynes and phenylisoquinolinylethynes: effect of positional isomerism.

In furtherance of our research on the design, synthesis and study of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of new donor substituted phenylquinolinylethynes, we report here more new series with the aim of studying the effect of positional isomerism on their overall photophysical properties with a special focus on ECL. For this study we have chosen 2-, 3-, and 4-(p-substituted phenyl)ethynylquinolines, and 1- and 4-(p-substituted phenyl)ethynylisoquinolines. These ethynes were synthesized in good yields by modified Sonogashira coupling of the corresponding terminal alkyne with the respective haloquinolines. The photophysical properties and ECL were studied in acetonitrile solvent and the various results are discussed.