The mechanism and kinetics of ultrasound-enhanced electrochemical oxidation of phenol on boron-doped diamond and Pt electrodes

The research on ultrasound (US) enhanced electrochemical oxidation of Phenol (Ph) on boron-doped diamond (BDD) and Pt electrodes is studied. The enhancement by US on BDD is much greater than for Pt. With the assistance of US, the degradation rate and current efficiency on BDD are increased by 301% and 100%, respectively, while those on Pt are 51% and 49%. The difference of the enhancement on these two electrodes is caused by the fact that mass transport, adsorption amount and electrode reaction affected by US on BDD are different from those of Pt. The kinetics investigation on intermediates formed during electrochemical degradation show that the variety of intermediates produced on BDD is less than for Pt. In the presence of US, on both electrodes, no change occurred to the amounts of the intermediate species. However, time for intermediates to reach the highest concentration is cut down. This effect for degradation of Ph on BDD is more obvious than for Pt. The present research indicates that BDD is suitable for degradation of Ph by US assisted electrochemical oxidation.     

Alumina as a model support in the formation and dechlorination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans

Alumina was studied as a model matrix for formation and dechlorination reactions of PCDDs and PCDFs. Only small differences in PCDD and PCDF formation were found between de-novo synthesis on alumina and on fly ash. The amounts of PCDDs and PCDFs formed on acidic alumina were much larger than on neutral and alkaline alumina. OCDD and OCDF were rapidly dechlorinated on basic alumina.     

A review of ozone-induced effects on the forests of central Mexico

The first report on oxidant-induced plant damage in the Valley of Mexico was presented over 30 years ago. Ozone is known to occur in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area and elsewhere as the cause of chlorotic mottling on pine needles that are 2 years old or older as observed in 1976 on Pinus hartwegii and Pinus leiophylla. Visible evidences for the negative effects of ozone on the vegetation of central Mexico include foliar injury expressed as chlorotic mottling and premature defoliation on pines, a general decline of sacred fir, visible symptoms on native forest broadleaved species (e.g. Mexican black cherry). Recent investigations have also indicated that indirect effects are occurring such as limited root colonization by symbiotic fungi on ozone-damaged P. hartwegii trees and a negative influence of the pollutant on the natural regeneration of this species. The negative ozone-induced effects on the vegetation will most likely continue to increase.     

Effects of nematicides on population of pratylenchus penetrans and growth of flue‐cured tobacco

Abstract

Field studies were conducted on loamy sand at Tamscu farm, Delhi, Ontario, to compare the spring ridge application of Telone C17 at 73 and 101L/ha, Vorlex at 28 and 84L/ha, Vorlex CP at 50L/ha, and spring rotovated application of oxamyl at 2.24kg/ha respectively for the control of Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) Filip. and Stek., and for effects on the yield and quality of fluecured tobacco. Experiments were conducted on May 9 in an area that had been summer fallowed in previous year. Nematode densities of P. penetrans per kilogram of soil were lower than other treatments and controls with Telone C17 at 73 L/ha treated plots on May 24; with Vorlex at 28 L on June 7; Vorlex at 84 L on May 24 and on June 7; Vorlex CP on June 7, and with oxamyl on Sept. 6. The nematode population counts per gram dry weight of root were lower with Telone C17 at 73 L/ha on June 7, July 5, and at 101 L/ha on July 5; with Vorlex at 28 L/ha on June 7, July 5, and Sept. 6; with Vorlex at 84 L/ha on June 7, June 21, July 5 and Sept. 6, and with Vorlex CP at 50 L/ha on June 7, July 5 and Sept. 6 in the ridged soil. The population was lower with oxamyl on June 21, July 5, and Sept. 6 in the rotovated soils. There was no difference in the agronomic data on yield, indices of grade, crop and maturity, while tobacco plant height and dry weight in the ridged fanning were greater with treatments of Vorlex at 84 L and Vorlex CP at 50 L/ha. The ridged farming had greater yield of tobacco than rotovated farming. Vorlex was the most effective of all nematicides used in the experiment.     

黄麻纤维活性炭对亚甲基蓝和甲基橙吸附动力学

以黄麻纤维为原料，采用磷酸活化法制备活性炭。研究黄麻纤维活性炭对亚甲基蓝和甲基橙2种染料的吸附行为。结果表明，采用磷酸制备的活性炭，由于表面含有羧基和含磷官能团等酸性基团，能够促进活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附；黄麻纤维活性炭对2种染料的平衡吸附量、初始吸附速率均随着初始浓度的增加而升高；相同条件下，黄麻纤维活性炭对亚甲基蓝的平衡吸附量大于甲基橙；黄麻纤维活性炭对两种染料的吸附行为更符合准二级动力学模型。     

BIOLEFF: three databases on air pollution effects on vegetation

Three databases on air pollution effects on vegetation were developed by storing bibliographic and abstract data for technical literature on the subject in a free-form database program, 'askSam'. Approximately 4 000 journal articles have been computerized in three separate database files: BIOLEFF, LICHENS and METALS. BIOLEFF includes over 2 800 articles on the effects of approximately 25 gaseous and particulate pollutants on over 2 000 species of vascular plants. LICHENS includes almost 400 papers on the effects of gaseous and heavy metal pollutants on over 735 species of lichens and mosses. METALS includes over 465 papers on the effects of heavy metals on over 830 species of vascular plants. The combined databases include articles from about 375 different journals spanning 1905 to the present. Picea abies and Phaseolus vulgaris are the most studied vascular plants in BIOLEFF, while Hypogymnia physodes is the most studied lichen species in LICHENS. Ozone and sulfur dioxide are the most studied gaseous pollutants with about two thirds of the records in BIOLEFF. The combined size of the databases is now about 5.5 megabytes.     

Industrial plastic on the southern beaches of the Arabian Gulf and the western beaches of the Gulf of Oman

The increasing production and use of plastic in the Arabian Gulf combined with shipping and waste disposal practices, have increased the concentration of plastic particles on the sea's surface and beaches. The objective of this investigation was to provide an assessment of the abundance, distribution, potential sources and significance of industrial plastic on the western beaches of the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Gulf and on the eastern beaches on the Gulf of Oman. The abundance of stranded plastic pellets was highly uneven. By early 1992 alarming levels of fresh plastic pellets were noticed on the Arabian Gulf beaches of the UAE. Large numbers of 25 kg sacks of white plastic spherules manufactured by (SABIC) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia were washed ashore. When compared to the west coast on the Arabian Gulf, the east coast on the Gulf of Oman exhibited much lower levels of plastic pellets. When compared to other parts of the world, the beaches of the UAE on the Arabian Gulf are considered to be heavily polluted with industrial plastic.     

Consequences for Protaphorura armata (Collembola: Onychiuridae) following exposure to genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize and non-Bt maize

Studies on the effect of genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops on true soil dwelling non-target arthropods are scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of a 4-week exposure to two Bt maize varieties (Cry1Ab) Cascade and MEB307 on the collembolan Protaphorura armata. For comparison three non-Bt maize varieties, Rivaldo (isogenic to Cascade), Monumental (isogenic to MEB307) and DK242, and two control diets based on baker's yeast (uncontaminated and contaminated with Bt toxin Cry1Ab) were also tested. Due to a lower C:N ratio, individuals reared on yeast performed significantly better in all of the measured endpoints than those reared on maize. P. armata performed equally well when reared on two Bt and three non-Bt maize varieties. Although there were no negative effects of Bt maize in this experiment, we recommend future studies on Bt crops to focus on species interactions in long-term, multi-species experiments.     

The impact of benthic macrofauna for nutrient fluxes from Baltic Sea sediments

This article focuses on the ecological role of benthic macrofauna on nutrient dynamics and benthic-pelagic coupling in the Baltic Sea with relation to eutrophication. Generally, benthic macrofaunal activities have large effects on sediment biogeochemistry and often with stimulatory effects on processes that counteract eutrophication, i.e., denitrification and increased phosphorus retention of the sediment. The degree of faunal impact on such processes varies depending on faunal density and functional group composition. The effect of macrofaunal activities on sediment nutrient dynamics can also result in a higher nitrogen: phosporus ratio of the sediments efflux compared with sediments without macrofauna. Increased internal nutrient loading during eutrophication-induced anoxia is suggested to be caused both by altered sediment biogeochemical processes and through reduced or lost bioturbating macrofauna and thereby a reduced stimulatory effect from their activities on natural purification processes of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.     

Adsorption of air pollutants on the grain surface of Japanese cedar pollen

The contaminants adsorbed on the surface of pollen may affect the development of hay fever, because the patients of the fever are larger in areas with much air pollution than in nonpolluted areas and the fine particles and gases are susceptible to deposit on the nasal cavities and eyes by their transfer on the pollen. Since Japanese cedar pollinosis is the most common hay fever in Japan, we analyzed the air pollutants adsorbed on the surface of dispersed Japanese cedar pollen in the urban and mountainous districts. Fine anthropogenic particles were significantly adsorbed and many elements were concentrated on the surface of the pollen in the urban site of Yokohama, while they were not concentrated on the surface of the pollen collected at a mountainous site. The acid gases are also adsorbed and acidify the surface, and their amounts increase with their concentrations in the ambient air. The high adsorption of nitric acid on the pollen determined by an exposure experiment of nitric acid gas suggests that nitric acid is dissolved in the inner part of the pollen. The adsorption amounts of the gases on the pollen were especially greater than those on other natural particles, humic acid and yellow sand.     

软土地基上生活垃圾卫生填埋场的岩土工程问题与对策

生活垃圾卫生填埋场是处理固体废弃物的有效方法之一.尽管国内外学者对与垃圾填埋场相关的许多问题已经做了大量的研究工作,但是对软土地基上填埋场可能引起的一些岩土工程问题研究不多.针对软土地基上的填埋场,分析了填埋场在建设与运营过程将会遇到的若干岩土工程问题.针对填埋场的沉降、稳定性等问题,提出了将垃圾荷载看作变量对地基沉降进行计算和设计.考虑垃圾体的稳定性,分析由于地基破坏而引起的整体稳定性问题和变形引起的衬里系统的内部稳定性问题,研究地基处理的可行性和适应性,并加强填埋过程中的岩土工程监测工作.     

Equilibrium and kinetic studies on the adsorption of aniline compounds from aqueous phase onto bifunctional polymeric adsorbent with sulfonic groups

In the present study, a hydrophilic bifunctional polymeric resin (LS-2) with sulfonic groups was synthesized, and the adsorption performance of three aniline compounds, aniline, 4-methylaniline, and 4-nitroaniline onto LS-2 was compared with that on the commercial Amberlite XAD-4. The uptake of the aniline compounds on LS-2 is a procedure of coexistence of physisorption and chemisorption and obeys the pseudo-second order rate equation, while the uptake of the compounds on XAD-4 is merely a physical adsorption and follows the pseudo-first order rate equation. All the isothermal data fit well with the Freundlich model, and the values of K(F) of the compounds adsorbing on LS-2 are much higher than those on XAD-4 suggesting the higher adsorbing capacities on LS-2 than those on XAD-4, which may be attributed to the microporous structure and the polar groups on the network of LS-2 resin. Dynamic adsorption and desorption studies for aniline on LS-2 show that the breakthrough adsorption capacity and the total adsorption capacity are 0.96 and 1.24 mmol per milliliter resin, respectively. Nearly 100% regeneration efficiency for the adsorbent was achieved by 5% hydrochloric acid.     

Cu^2＋、Zn^2＋对生物脱氮系统的影响

Cu^2＋和Zn^2＋是污水处理工艺中经常遇到的金属离子。在驯化好的活性污泥系统中，研究了金属离子Cu^2＋和Zn^2＋在0～100mg／L浓度下对活性污泥生物脱氮系统的影响。试验发现Cu^2＋＞5mg／L、Zn^2＋＞30mg／L时，对硝化过程具有明显的抑制作用，在同样浓度的试验条件下cu“对硝化过程的抑制作用比Zn^2＋大。Cu^2＋≤0．5mg／L时对反硝化过程具有一定的促进作用，有助于提高TN的去除效果；Cu^2＋＞0．5mg／L时，对反硝化产生抑制作用，随着浓度的增加，TN去除率逐渐下降。Zn^2＋不影响反硝化过程，仅在大于30mg／L时，对硝化过程产生抑制作用。重金属Cu^2＋对生物脱氮系统的影响明显强于Zn^2＋。     

Kinetics of heterogeneous ozone reactions

Earlier results on ozone destruction on solid surfaces gave apparent first order kinetics. Estimating the reaction kinetics from our data on ozone destruction on various powders (silica-gel, alumina, wood ash, coal ash, Saharan sand, calcite), we found that only calcite and wood ash exhibited such a behaviour. Removal of ozone by other powders used showed two straight lines in ln c-t plot with two different half-lives, t'(1/2) < t'(1/2). Comparing the kinetic constants for ozone removal on silica-gel and that of ozone reactions with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adsorbed in submonolayer coverage on the same powder, the first reaction seems to be more likely in the case of pyrene and particularly fluoranthene. Enhanced ozone destruction on airborne aerosols could be an additional reason for fluoranthene stability in the real atmosphere.     

The Influence of Traffic Noise on Vertebrate Road Crossing Through Underpasses

Noise produces multiple effects on ecosystems and it influences habitat use by vertebrates near roads. Thus, it may reduce the effectiveness of mitigation measures installed on roads to alleviate population fragmentation. This study analyses the effects of noise on the use by vertebrates of 19 underpasses at a motorway. It employs generalised linear models to test the effect of three noise indicators at the underpasses and in their vicinity on the crossing frequency of eight animal species. The results show that the road crossings are subjected to high and variable noise levels. Nevertheless, there is no consistent response to noise by vertebrates. This suggests that wildlife use of underpasses is determined more by habitat characteristics than by the levels of noise tolerated. The conclusion is that noise abatement measures on roads in areas of faunal sensitivity should focus on general noise reduction rather than on making individual crossing places quieter.     

Accumulation and egestion of dietary copper and cadmium by the grasshopper Locusta migratoria R & F (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Copper and cadmium budgets were studied for a model insect herbivore/host plant system comprising the oligophagous leaf-chewing grasshopper (Locusta migratoria) feeding on Zea mays (Gramineae). Fifth instar larvae were fed, for between 5 and 20 days, on maize foliage contaminated with either copper, cadmium or on control foliage containing no excess metal. Male and female locusts fed on copper-treated maize retained 45 and 42% of ingested copper respectively, figures not significantly different from the 41 and 33% retained on untreated maize. Remaining copper was egested with the faeces. Locusts fed on copper-treated maize showed an increase of 27% in body copper burden compared with those on the control diet: the increase was independent of time on the diet. Female locusts retained 33% and males 21% of ingested cadmium. Faecal cadmium levels were elevated, and accumulation in both sexes was proportional to time on the Cd-enriched diet. For both copper and cadmium, some ingested metal probably passed directly through the locust gut, bound to undigested food material. Results suggest that grasshoppers may effectively regulate excess dietary copper, but are unable efficiently to regulate cadmium.     

Furnace Sorbent Injection

Abstract

This paper summarizes information on the spatial and temporal variability of selected air toxics pollutants collected on a national basis primarily for a period encompassing 1990–2003. Spatial information on pollutant concentrations is characterized in terms of within-city and between-city variability. Temporal information is summarized as diurnal and seasonal variability and in multiyear trends. The information on variability is presented in the framework of a larger need for systematic documentation of information on air toxics pollutants to assess progress in air pollution control programs.     

农田氮素流失模型的构建与应用

农田氮素流失一直是困扰农业生产发展和影响生态平衡的一个重要问题，当前世界各国致力于研究提高氮肥利用率和减少氮素损失的方法与途径，但是仍没有一个普遍适用的模型能定量化地阐明氮素流失的规律与特征。综述近年来国内外在农田氮素流失方面的定量方法与模型构建等研究成果，同时提出该领域亟待解决的问题。     

New insights into pesticide photoprotection

Photolysis may be a significant route of pesticide dissipation on crops, leading to an increase of pesticide use. Spraying strong absorbing compounds (photoprotector) along with pesticide is an attractive strategy to prevent the photodegradation phenomenon. The aim of this study is to get a better understanding of the parameters governing the photoprotection efficiency. Experiments were conducted using formulated sulcotrione as a pesticide and a grape wine extract as a photoprotector. These compounds were irradiated using simulated solar light as dried deposits on carnauba wax films or on disks of tobacco leaves and analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet (UV), spectroscopy, and microscopy. It is shown that photolysis is faster on leaves than on carnauba wax and that the photoprotection effect of grape wine extract is more efficient on leaves than on wax. Images recorded by microscopy bring evidence that deposits are very different on the two supports both in the absence and in the presence of the photoprotector. The grape wine extract plays a double role; it is antioxidant and UV screen. Photoprotection by the grape wine extract is a complex mixing of UV screen and antioxidant effects. The UV screen effect can be rationalized by considering the rate of light absorption by sulcotrione. Our results demonstrate that the rates of sulcotrione phototransformation are mainly governed by the repartition of the deposit on the solid support.     

Protectiveness of Gore-Tex and PVC spray suits in orchard pesticide spraying

An experimental Gore-Tex spray suit and a commercial polyvinylchloride suit were equally protective in orchard spraying with a fungicide. No pesticide was detected on patches inside the suits at six upper body sites, though outside deposition was substantial and variable. Body sites and spray replications were significant sources of variation in depositions. Contrasts between certain body sites indicated that more deposition occurred on the chest than on the back and that more occurred on the shoulders than on the upper arms.