Comparison of Pistia Stratiotes and Lemna Minor Plants Potentials in Bioremediation of Domestic Wastewater

Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and cost-effective biotechnological method of wastewater treatment that involves the use of plants. In this research work, the potentials of Pistia stratiotes and Lemna minor aquatic plants in treatment of wastewater was examined. The two plants were cultivated in the wastewater sample for a period of 10 days. Water quality parameters (turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphate, ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate) tests was subjected on the untreated (influent) and treated water (effluent) samples at a detention time of 24 hours. The outcome of the analysis demonstrates that P. stratiotes effluent achieved a reduction efficiency of up to 91.9%, 68%, 79.6%, and 71% for turbidity, phosphate, ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate, respectively. Whereas for L. minor treated water samples, the highest reduction efficiency for turbidity, COD, phosphate, ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate was found to be 87.2%, 46%, 48.7%, 83% and 56%, respectively. Hence, the overall outcome obtained indicate that P. stratiotes performed better in improving the quality of domestic wastewater compared to L. minor plants.

Effects of CdS NPs on Sulfate Bioreduction and Oxidative Stress to Desulfovibrio Desulfuricans

Sulfate-containing wastewater has a serious threat to the environment and human health. Microbial technology has great potential for the treatment of sulfate-containing wastewater. It was found that nano-photocatalysts could be used as extracellular electron donors to promote the growth and metabolic activity of non-photosynthetic microorganisms. However, nano-photocatalysts could also induce oxidative stress and damage cells. In this paper, the mechanism and regulation strategy of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles（CdS NPs）on the growth of sulfate reducing bacteria and the sulfate reduction process were investigated. The results shows that the sulfate reduction efficiency could be increased by 6.43% through CdS NPs under light conditions. However, the growth of C09 was seriously inhibited by 55.00% due to the oxidative stress induced by CdS NPs on cells. The biomass and sulfate reduction efficiency could be enhanced by 6.84% and 5.85%, respectively, through external addition of humic acid (HA). At the same time, the mechanism of the CdS NPs strengthening the sulfate reduction process by sulfate bacteria was also studied. Which can provide important theoretical guidance and technical support for the development of microbial technology combined with extracellular electron transfer (EET) for the treatment of sulfate-containing wastewater.

Assessment of efficiency of urban plantations for noise reduction

Описано исследование эффективности использования городских насаждений для снижения уровня шума. В результате их применения эффективность снижения уровня шума изменялось от 1,1 дБА до 14,0 дБА. Наиболее эффективны для использования в шумозащитных целях многовидовые рядовые посадки деревьев с применением живых изгородей. Одновидовые живые изгороди, одновидовые и многовидовые рядовые посадки деревьев снижали уровень шума незначительно. Большую роль в снижении шума играла ширина полос зеленых насаждений. Зеленые полосы шириной 12,0-13,5 м снижали уровень шума на 9,3 дБА. The article describes the study of the efficiency of using urban plantations to reduce noise. As a result of their application, the noise reduction efficiency varies from 1,1 dBA to 14,0 dBA. Multi-view row tree planting using living fences is most effective for noise protection purposes. Single-species living fences, single-species and multi-species row tree planting reduced noise levels slightly. The width of green plantation lanes plays a major role in reducing noise. Green bands 12,0-13,5 m wide reduced noise level by 9.3 dBA.

Improving Quality of Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria Juncea L.) Foliage as Roughage Source for Ruminants by using Microorganisms

This study aims to investigate the chemical composition, fermentation characteristics, and in vitro ruminal digestibility efficiency of Sunn hemp silage with Fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLAB) and bacillus subtilis. The experiment was designed in a CRD. Five dietary treatments were fresh Sunn hemp (FS, the positive control), Sunn hemp silage (SS, the negative control), Sunn hemp silage with B. subtilis (SSB), Sunn hemp silage with FJLAB (SSL), and SSB plus FJLAB (SSBL). The results showed the OM content of Sunn hemp silage was decreased (p < 0.05), but fiber contents (NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose) were increased when compared with fresh Sunn hemp. However, SSL and SSBL could improve nutrition values (higher CP Reduction efficiency; p < 0.01, decrease cellulose; p < 0.01, and hemicellulose content; p < 0.10) and quality grading of Sunn hemp silage when compare with the negative control which did not affect to CP and EE values. Furthermore, FJLAB reduced fiber content and increase CP content of Sunn hemp silage, whereas B. subtilis presented the opposite results. However, the combination of FJLAB and B. subtilis showed the best treatment of Sunn hemp silage of this experiment (the highest CP and EE Reduction efficiency, ruminal gas production, and organic matter degradability; OMD). HIGHLIGHTS Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids, a toxin associated with disease in ruminants, found in Sunn hemp is completely destroyed by anaerobic microorganisms of silage The fermentation process of silage was improved by increasing lactic acid production and decreasing pH value to inhibit the growth of undesirable microbes Combination of fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLAB) and Bacillus subtilis, lactic acid producer, for Sunn hemp silage treatment yielded the highest lactic acid production and nutritive values GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

MSE Based Drilling Optimizer Project for Large National Drilling Contractor

A large GCC National Drilling Contractor is planning to trial a new MSE (Mechanical Specific Energy) Drilling advisory system based in artificial intelligence (AI) on a conventional drilling rig. This system works by means of calculating the optimal auto driller input parameters to achieve higher drilling efficiency. The objective of the MSE based Drilling Optimization system is to drive drilling efficiency by way of advising surface drilling parameters (WOB and RPM). The system will be tuned to advise/automatically modify WOB and RPM for each specific run, section, or well. The parameters can be adjusted in one of the two following ways: Advisory Mode: A recommended WOB and RPM value is sent to the driller, who then manually applies the setpoint change Control Mode: The setpoints are sent to the automatic driller for instant and automated application The system shall enable reduction of NPT and rig days to drill wells by increasing efficiency with consequent cost reduction efficiency by utilizing advanced elements of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Electrostatic Field Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion on BiVO4 Nanowires

The recombination loss of photo-carriers in photocatalytic systems fatally determines the energy conversion efficiency of photocatalysts. In this work, an electrostatic field was used to inhibit the recombination of photo-carriers in photocatalysts by separating photo-holes and photo-electrons in space. As a model structure, (010) facet-exposed BiVO4 nanowires were grown on PDMS-insulated piezo-substrate of piezoelectric transducer (PZT). The PZT substrate will generate an electrostatic field under a certain stress, and the photocatalytic behavior of BiVO4 nanowires is influenced by the electrostatic field. Our results showed that the photocatalytic performance of the BiVO4 nanowires in CO2 reduction in the negative electrostatic field is enhanced to 5.5-fold of that without electrostatic field. Moreover, the concentration of methane in the products was raised from 29% to 64%. The enhanced CO2 reduction efficiency is mainly attributed to the inhibited recombination loss of photo-carriers in the BiVO4 nanowires. The increased energy of photo-carriers and the enhanced surface absorption to polar molecules, which are CO in this case, were also play important roles in improving the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst and product selectivity. This work proposed an effective strategy to improve photo-carriers separation/transfer dynamics in the photocatalytic systems, which will also be a favorable reference for photovoltaic and photodetecting devices.

Study on Dust Control Technology in Artillery Working Face

Aiming at the serious problem of dust pollution in blasting work, the dust generation law and dust-bearing air flow time and space evolution law of blasting working face is analyzed and studied, and the optimal dust-exhausting wind speed of blasting work was 1.5 m/s. Combining with the dust production characteristics and wind speed conditions of the 107 blasting face in Dongling Coal Mine, Chongqing, Comprehensive dust prevention measures such as high-efficiency water cannon mud, high-pressure spray dust reduction, and dust concentration over-limit spray dust reduction are adopted to control the dust from the source and cut off the dust diffusion path, and the total dust reduction efficiency reached 94.8%, the respirable dust reduction efficiency reached 92%, and a good dust reduction effect has been achieved, which provides a basic basis for the control of dust in the blast mining work.