Vertical distribution of aerosol optical properties based on aircraft measurements over the Loess Plateau in China

Vertical distributions of aerosol optical properties based on aircraft measurements over the Loess Plateau were measured for the first time during a summertime aircraft campaign, 2013 in Shanxi, China. Data from four flights were analyzed. The vertical distributions of aerosol optical properties including aerosol scattering coefficients (σ_sc), absorption coefficients (σ_ab), Angström exponent (α), single scattering albedo (ω), backscattering ratio (β_sc), aerosol mass scattering proficiency (Q_sc) and aerosol surface scattering proficiency (Q_sc^′) were obtained. The mean statistical values of σ_sc were 77.45 Mm^− 1 (at 450 nm), 50.72 Mm^− 1 (at 550 nm), and 32.02 Mm^− 1 (at 700 nm). The mean value of σ_ab was 7.62 Mm^− 1 (at 550 nm). The mean values of α, β_sc and ω were 1.93, 0.15, and 0.91, respectively. Aerosol concentration decreased with altitude. Most effective diameters (ED) of aerosols were less than 0.8 μm. The vertical profiles of σ_sc,, α, β_sc, Q_sc and Q_sc^′ showed that the aerosol scattering properties at lower levels contributed the most to the total aerosol radiative forcing. Both α and β_sc had relatively large values, suggesting that most aerosols in the observational region were small particles. The mean values of σ_sc, α, β_sc, Q_sc, Q_sc^′, σ_ab and ω at different height ranges showed that most of the parameters decreased with altitude. The forty-eight hour backward trajectories of air masses during the observation days indicated that the majority of aerosols in the lower level contributed the most to the total aerosol loading, and most of these particles originated from local or regional pollution emissions.     

太湖地区近百年Hg污染富集特征研究

通过对太湖梅梁湾沉积物柱样中重金属汞总量的分析测量,并结合210Pb和137Cs计算沉积速率以确定年代,由此探讨了近百年以来Hg的富集特征和Hg的积累过程。结合磁化率与粒度特征,分析其与太湖沉积物中Hg含量的相关关系。结果表明,近百年来太湖沉积物中Hg含量呈持续增长的趋势,但是在20世纪80年代初期以来,沉积物中Hg的含量在逐渐降低,这与流域区域内重度污染工业规模的缩减是息息相关的;磁性矿物含量的增加与重金属污染的输入有关,中值粒径含量与磁化率呈一定的负相关关系,不同粒级的沉积物对于Hg的富集起到不同的作用,其中>32μm的粒级对于Hg的吸附作用随深度的增加而有所加强。     

基于利益相关者理论对环评公众参与方法的研究

针对目前我国环评公众参与工作过程中存在公参范围界定不够清晰、公参主体不够分明、公众参与方法存在技术上的空白等典型性问题。文章基于利益相关者理论,并依据《中华人民共和国环境影响评价法》、《环境影响评价公众参与暂行办法》等相关法律法规要求,确定建设项目环境影响评价的公众参与范围、主体和方法,借助利益相关者理论分析环境影响评价中各相关者的关系,提出切实可行的公众参与方法,为环境影响评价工作的进一步完善提供理论依据与技术支撑。     

露天煤矿开采的生态环境影响评价

露天煤矿开采过程中不可避免地对生态环境造成了影响,从不同方面介绍了露天煤矿开采的生态环境影响,并针对影响提出相应的生态环境减缓措施和整治方案。     

Hg removal from flue gas over different zeolites modified by FeCl3

The elemental mercury removal abilities of three different zeolites (NaA, NaX, HZSM-5) impregnated with iron(III) chloride were studied on a lab-scale fixed-bed reactor. X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption porosimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) analyses were used to investigate the physicochemical properties. Results indicated that the pore structure and active chloride species on the surface of the samples are the key factors for physisorption and oxidation of Hg⁰, respectively. Relatively high surface area and micropore volume are beneficial to efficient mercury adsorption. The active Cl species generated on the surface of the samples were effective oxidants able to convert elemental mercury (Hg⁰) into oxidized mercury (Hg^2 +). The crystallization of NaCl due to the ion exchange effect during the impregnation of NaA and NaX reduced the number of active Cl species on the surface, and restricted the physisorption of Hg⁰. Therefore, the Hg⁰ removal efficiencies of the samples were inhibited. The TPD analysis revealed that the species of mercury on the surface of FeCl₃–HZSM-5 was mainly in the form of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂), while on FeCl₃–NaX and FeCl₃–NaA it was mainly mercuric oxide (HgO).     

Genomic analyses of metal resistance genes in three plant growth promoting bacteria of legume plants in Northwest mine tailings, China

To better understand the diversity of metal resistance genetic determinant from microbes that survived atmetal tailings in northwest of China, a highly elevated level of heavymetal containing region, genomic analyses was conducted using genome sequence of three native metal-resistant plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). It shows that: Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 contains metal transporters from P-type ATPase, CDF (Cation Diffusion Facilitator), HupE/UreJ and CHR (chromate ion transporter) family involved in copper, zinc, nickel as well as chromate resistance and homeostasis. Meanwhile, the putative CopA/CueO system is expected to mediate copper resistance in Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 while ZntA transporter, assisted with putative CzcD, determines zinc tolerance in Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286. The greenhouse experiment provides the consistent evidence of the plant growth promoting effects of these microbes on their hosts by nitrogen fixation and/or indoleacetic acid (IAA) secretion, indicating a potential in-site phytoremediation usage in themining tailing regions of China.     

Effects of fluoride on the removal of cadmium and phosphate by aluminum coagulation

This study focuses on the effects of pH and fluoride at different molar ratios of fluoride to Al (R_F:Al) on the removal of cadmium (Cd²⁺) and phosphate by Al coagulation. Fluoride at R_F:Al ≥ 3:1 inhibits the removal of Cd over wide Al dose ranges from 5 to 10 mg/L as Al. The removal of phosphate decreases significantly at high R_F:Al of 10:1 whereas at lowered R_F:Al (i.e., ≤ 6:1), an adverse effect is observed only at insufficient Al doses below 2 mg/L. Fluoride shows inhibitive effects towards the removal of Cd at pH 7 and 8 and that of phosphate at pH 6. Fluoride decreases the ζ-potential in both systems, and the decreasing extent is positively correlated to the elevated R_F:Al. The Al fluoride interactions include the formation of Al–F complexes and the adsorption of fluoride onto Al(OH)₃ precipitates, i.e., the formation of Al(OH)_nF_m. Al–F complex formation inhibits Al hydrolysis and increases residual Al levels, and a more significant increase was observed at lower pH. Al–F complexes at high R_F:Al complicate the coagulation behavior of Al towards both negative and positive ionic species. Moreover, fluoride at low R_F:Al shows little effect on Al coagulation behavior towards Cd^2 + and phosphate, and the spent defluoridation adsorbent, i.e., aluminum (Al) hydro(oxide) with adsorbed fluoride at R_F:Al of below 0.1:1, may be reclaimed as a coagulant after being dissolved.     

Pretreatment of cyanided tailings by catalytic ozonation with Mn2+/O3

The increasing amount of cyanided tailings produced as a by-product has gained significant attention in recent years because of the rapid development of the gold industry and extensive exploitation of gold mineral resources. The effective use of these secondary resources is becoming an important and urgent problem for all environmental protection staff. Manganese-catalyzed ozonation for the pre-oxidation of cyanided tailings was studied and the effects of Mn²⁺ dosage, initial sulfuric acid concentration, ozone volume flow, temperature and agitation speed on pretreatment were examined. The optimum reaction conditions were observed to be: ore pulp density 2.5%, agitation speed 700 r/min, temperature 60 ℃, Mn²⁺ dosage 40 g/L, ozone volume flow 80 L/hr, initial sulfuric acid concentration 1 mol/L, and reaction time 6 hr. Under these conditions, the leaching rate of Fe and weight loss could reach 94.85% and 48.89% respectively. The leaching process of cyanided tailings by Mn²⁺/O³ was analyzed, and it was found that the leaching of pyrite depends on synergetic oxidation by high-valent manganese and O³, in which the former played an important part.     

Synthesis of novel CeO2-BiVO4/FAC composites with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic properties

To utilize visible light more effectively in photocatalytic reactions, a fly ash cenosphere （FAC）-supported CeO2-BiV04 （CeO2-BiVO4/FAC） composite photocatalyst was prepared by modified metalorganic decomposition and impregnation methods. The physical and photophysical properties of the composite have been characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscope （SEM） and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDX）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, and UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectra. The XRD patterns exhibited characteristic diffraction peaks of both BiVO4 and Ce02 crystalline phases. The XPS results showed that Ce was present as both Ce4＋ and Ce3＋ oxidation states in Ce02 and dispersed on the surface of BiV04 to constitute a p-n heterojunction composite. The absorption threshold of the CeO2-BiVO4/FAC composite shifted to a longer wavelength in the UV-Vis absorption spectrum compared to the pure Ce02 and pure BiV04. The composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for Methylene Blue （MB） degradation under visible light irradiation. It was found that the 7.5 wt.% CeO2-BiVO4/FAC composite showed the highest photocatalytic activity for MB dye wastewater treatment.