Fouling distribution in forward osmosis membrane process

Fouling behavior along the length of membrane module was systematically investigated by performing simple modeling and lab-scale experiments of forward osmosis （FO） membrane process. The flux distribution model developed in this study showed a good agreement with experimental results, validating the robustness of the model. This model demonstrated, as expected, that the permeate flux decreased along the membrane channel due to decreasing osmotic pressure differential across the FO membrane. A series of fouling experiments were conducted under the draw and feed solutions at various recoveries simulated by the model. The simulated fouling experiments revealed that higher organic （alginate） fouling and thus more flux decline were observed at the last section of a membrane channel, as foulants in feed solution became more concentrated. Furthermore, the water flux in FO process declined more severely as the recovery increased due to more foulants transported to membrane surface with elevated solute concentrations at higher recovery, which created favorable solution environments for organic adsorption. The fouling reversibility also decreased at the last section of the membrane channel, suggesting that fouling distribution on FO membrane along the module should be carefully examined to improve overall cleaning efficiency. Lastly, it was found that such fouling distribution observed with co-current flow operation became less pronounced in counter- current flow operation of FO membrane process.     

Nitrogen mass balance in a constructed wetland treating piggery wastewater effluent

The nitrogen changes and the nitrogen mass balance in a free water surface flow constructed wetland （CW） using the four-year monitoring data from 2008 to 2012 were estimated. The CW was composed of six cells in series that include the first settling basin （Cell 1）, aeration pond （Cell 2）, deep marsh （Cell 3）, shallow marsh （Cell 4）, deep marsh （Cell 5） and final settling basin （Cell 6）. Analysis revealed that the NH4＋-N concentration decreased because of ammonification which was then followed by nitrification. The NO4＋-N and NO4＋-N were also further reduced by means of microbial activities and plant uptake during photosynthesis. The average nitrogen concentration at the influent was 37,819 kg/year and approximately 45% of that amount exited the CW in the effluent. The denitrification amounted to 34% of the net nitrogen input, whereas the accretion of sediment was only 7%. The biomass uptake of plants was able to retain only 1% of total nitrogen load. In order to improve the nutrient removal by plant uptake, plant coverage in four cells （i.e., Cells 1, 3, 4 and 5） could be increased.     

水稻秸秆生物炭对耕地土壤有机碳及其CO2释放的影响

为探究生物炭自身稳定性及其输入土壤后对于土壤本体有机碳的影响,本研究模拟自然条件,分别将500℃和700℃裂解的水稻秸秆生物炭(RBC500和RBC700)以0%(空白土壤)、3%、6%和100%(纯生物炭)的比例添加至耕地土壤进行室内培养实验,观测总有机碳(TOC)与易氧化态碳(EOC)含量的变化及CO2排放特征.结果表明,与空白土壤处理相比,土壤TOC、EOC含量均随水稻秸秆生物炭添加量的增加而升高;相同添加量条件下,RBC500对土壤TOC与EOC增加的贡献均高于RBC700.各处理土壤TOC含量在前30 d内均降低(最大降幅为15.8%),并于培养后期趋于稳定;土壤EOC含量在培养初30 d内均降低,当生物炭添加比例为3%和6%时,RBC500使土壤的EOC含量降幅分别为72.4%和81.7%,大于RBC700的61.3%和69.8%;培养结束时,添加相同裂解温度生物炭的土壤EOC值相近.培养前期土壤中EOC含量的下降可能与生物炭中易分解组分引起的矿化作用有关.在130 d培养期内,CO2累计排放量大小顺序为:土壤+生物炭混合处理<纯土壤处理<纯生物炭处理,可见,生物炭的土壤处理可以减少土壤CO2的排放,最大减排率可达41.05%.在一个长的时间尺度内,生物炭的土壤处理有利于土壤碳的固定.生物炭施用于土壤可作为碳储存载体.     

东莞石马河流域水化学特征时空差异及来源辨析

石马河流域对东江饮用水源地城镇供水具有重要战略意义.为研究石马河水化学特征,分别于2012年2月、6月和11月采集石马河河水水样共39个,分析测定了水体主离子(K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Cl-、SO2-4和HCO-3)及营养盐(PO3-4、NO-3和NH+4)浓度,探讨了水化学组成的时空差异、控制因素并对其来源进行了初步辨析.结果表明,水化学组成的时空差异显著,不同时期的河水TDS及营养盐平均浓度排序为11月2月6月;河水阴离子以HCO-3为主,2月和11月时,河水阳离子以Na++K+为主,为HCO-3-Na+水,6月时则以Ca2+为主,为HCO-3-Ca2+水;营养盐浓度在空间上的差异主要受人类活动导致N、P废水排放影响,3个时期的石马河出水口处(R7)N∶P为18.4,有利于浮游植物的生长,河道出现了富营养化的现象;Gibbs图显示,2月和11月的河水主离子受蒸发岩溶解的影响较为显著,而蒸发岩和碳酸盐岩风化共同控制6月的水化学组分;海盐沉降对石马河河水物质的贡献率较小;部分Na+、Mg2+、Cl-和SO2-4来自化肥的施用和工业废水的排放;NH+4-N、PO3-4-P和NO-3-N主要分别来源于家禽养殖废水和生活废水.     

Estimating the extent and structure of trade in horticultural orchids via social media

The wildlife trade is a lucrative industry involving thousands of animal and plant species. The increasing use of the internet for both legal and illegal wildlife trade is well documented, but there is evidence that trade may be emerging on new online technologies such as social media. Using the orchid trade as a case study, we conducted the first systematic survey of wildlife trade on an international social‐media website. We focused on themed forums (groups), where people with similar interests can interact by uploading images or text (posts) that are visible to other group members. We used social‐network analysis to examine the ties between 150 of these orchid‐themed groups to determine the structure of the network. We found 4 communities of closely linked groups based around shared language. Most trade occurred in a community that consisted of English‐speaking and Southeast Asian groups. In addition to the network analysis, we randomly sampled 30 groups from the whole network to assess the prevalence of trade in cultivated and wild plants. Of 55,805 posts recorded over 12 weeks, 8.9% contained plants for sale, and 22–46% of these posts pertained to wild‐collected orchids. Although total numbers of posts about trade were relatively small, the large proportion of posts advertising wild orchids for sale supports calls for better monitoring of social media for trade in wild‐collected plants.     

Using the land transformation model to forecast vacant land

Growing or shrinking cities can experience increases in vacant land. As urban populations and boundaries fluctuate, holes can open in once tight urban areas. Many cities chase growth-oriented approaches to dealing with vacancies. It is critical to understand land-use alteration to accurately predict transformations of physical change in order to make better informed decisions about this phenomenon. This research utilizes the land transformation model (LTM), an artificial neural networking mechanism in Geographic Information Systems, to forecast vacant land. Variable influence on vacant land prediction and accuracy of the LTM is assessed by comparing input factors and patterns, using time-series data from 1990 to 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Results indicate that the LTM can be useful in simulating vacant land-use changes but more precise mechanisms are necessary to increase accuracy. This will allow for more proactive decisions to better regulate the process of urban decline and regeneration.     

Review of recycling performance indicators: A study on collection rate in Taiwan

The Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (Taiwan EPA) launched a national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system after integrating eight private recycling organizations in 1998. After that, the environmental performance of the EPR system brought a lot of attention to policy makers. Many studies show positive environmental effects of the EPR system in Taiwan. However, there are controversial questions remained, such as whether the performance indicators used are the right choice to estimate the environmental effects of the recycling policy? Can those estimated results really reflect the performance of the system?This paper would therefore like to more accurately evaluate the performance indicators of the EPR system based on data observed over the past decade in Taiwan. In the process of evaluating the performance indicators, we have found that the collection rates for durable goods are often ignored in countries that pursue a zero waste policy. This may affect the actual recycling outcome and resource direction targeted by producers. However, in order for the collection rate to be adopted as a policy indicator, how to estimate the amounts of retired or waste products during a period is critical. In this paper, we estimate the collection rate for electrical and electronic waste by using the survival analysis and ownership data analysis approaches. We also provide a comparison of both approaches and put forward suggestions for directions in the future in solid waste management.     

SIMULATION AND DECISIONMAKING: THE PLATTE RIVER BASIN IN NEBRASKA1

Substantial conflict exists over water management and allocation in the Platte River Basin of Nebraska. An interdisciplinary computer simulation model, representing the water quantity, water quality, environmental, and economic dimensions of the conflict, was developed in order to analyze the tradeoffs among allocation scenarios. Most importantly, decisionmakers and interest groups were involved in model development. Simulation results for a base case and two scenarios are presented. One scenario favors protection of instream flow for wildlife; the other favors water diversions for agriculture. Impacts of the instream flow scenario, as measured by the amount of land irrigated, groundwater levels, the amount of wildlife habitat for cranes and catfish, and net agricultural benefits did not differ greatly from those of the base case. However, impacts of the diversion scenario were substantial. On the negative side, instream flows and wildlife habitat declined an average of 39 percent; while, on the positive side, groundwater levels and net agricultural benefits each increased 6 percent. The modeling process was successful insofar as it promoted an understanding among the highly diverse interest groups of the systems nature of the Basin. One agreement on a water diversion schedule among three of the parties has been reached, partly as a result of this process. More comprehensive compromises have not yet been forged. Our experience, however, indicates that modeling success at the policymaking level depends more on the extent to which the policymakers understand the model than it does on model sophistication.