The ability of some Tunisian sand-clays in rural wastewater treatment was investigated in this study. The sand-clays were characterized by studying the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics using X-ray diffrac...The ability of some Tunisian sand-clays in rural wastewater treatment was investigated in this study. The sand-clays were characterized by studying the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics using X-ray diffractometer and atomic absorption spectrophotometer （AAS）, respectively. Performance efficiency studies were conducted to determine the best combination ratio of sand-clay/pebbles. Sand-clay fortified with pebbles in the ratio 3：1 gave the optimum water purification while combination ratio 1：3 gave the least. The fortified sand-clays were used in the treatment of wastewater from rural locality. On the other hand, bacteria play an important role in determining the properties and behavior of clay minerals in natural environments and such interactions have great potential for creating stable biofilms and carbon storage sites in soils, but our knowledge of these interactions are far from complete. The purpose of this study was to understand better the effects of bacteria-generated biofilms on clay interlayer expansion. Mixtures of a colloidal, 2-water smectite clay and Pseudomonas aereginosae in a minimal media suspension evolve into a polysaccharide-rich biofilm aggregate in time-series experiments lasting up to 1 week. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that upon aggregation, the clay undergoes an initial interlayer contraction.展开更多
文摘The ability of some Tunisian sand-clays in rural wastewater treatment was investigated in this study. The sand-clays were characterized by studying the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics using X-ray diffractometer and atomic absorption spectrophotometer （AAS）, respectively. Performance efficiency studies were conducted to determine the best combination ratio of sand-clay/pebbles. Sand-clay fortified with pebbles in the ratio 3：1 gave the optimum water purification while combination ratio 1：3 gave the least. The fortified sand-clays were used in the treatment of wastewater from rural locality. On the other hand, bacteria play an important role in determining the properties and behavior of clay minerals in natural environments and such interactions have great potential for creating stable biofilms and carbon storage sites in soils, but our knowledge of these interactions are far from complete. The purpose of this study was to understand better the effects of bacteria-generated biofilms on clay interlayer expansion. Mixtures of a colloidal, 2-water smectite clay and Pseudomonas aereginosae in a minimal media suspension evolve into a polysaccharide-rich biofilm aggregate in time-series experiments lasting up to 1 week. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that upon aggregation, the clay undergoes an initial interlayer contraction.
