美国垃圾填埋场甲烷使用推广计划

介绍了美国垃圾填埋场甲烷使用推广计划的进展状况以及我国目前填埋气体的利用现状.     

建设用地扩张与碳排放效应的库兹涅茨曲线假说及验证

论文基于无锡市1996—2008年的土地利用和能源消耗数据,分析了无锡市13 a间建设用地扩张及碳排放特征,并构建了建设用地比例与碳排放强度之间的库兹涅茨曲线模型,对无锡市建设用地扩张与碳排放效应之间的相关关系进行了实证研究,尝试验证库兹涅茨曲线在建设用地扩张与碳排放强度之间的存在性。结果表明:①建设用地总量在1996—2008年间迅速增长,绝对增长量44 032.97 hm²,且除了农村居民点逐渐下降以外,其余地类均呈逐年增长态势,无锡市1996—2008年间的碳排放基本上也呈现逐年增长趋势,绝对增长量1 936.38×10⁴ t;②建设用地总量与碳排放强度之间呈倒U型曲线关系,即随着建设用地扩张至拐点后,碳排放强度则逐渐下降,且拐点位于建设用地比例1.91%附近,但是目前仅仅刚开始出现拐点的迹象,表明目前无锡市建设用地扩张还未完全达到集约及精明增长的标准,建设用地扩张对碳排放而言仍然具有较强的推动作用,但是可以预见,随着产业结构调整和能源技术的提高,碳排放强度会逐渐进入下降的阶段;③城市用地与碳排放强度之间为三次曲线关系,建制镇用地、农村居民点用地与碳排放强度之间分别为正相关和负相关线性关系,其他建设用地与碳排放强度之间则存在一种不明显的库兹涅茨曲线关系。建设用地地类组成的不同会导致不同形态的库兹涅茨曲线,由于城市用地和建制镇用地对碳排放具有明显的驱动作用,其比例的提高亦会促使库兹涅茨曲线更加陡峭,并延缓库兹涅茨曲线拐点的到来。     

Synthesis, characterization and experimental investigation of Cu-BTC as CO2 adsorbent from flue gas

Porous Cu-BTC material was synthesized by the solvothermal method. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) was used to test the phase purity of the synthesized material and investigate its structural stability under the influence of flue gas components. The thermal stability of the material was determined through thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to study the microstructure of the material. Cu-BTC was demonstrated not only to have high CO₂ adsorption capacity but also good selectivity of CO₂ over N₂ by means of packed bed tests. The adsorption capacity of Cu-BTC for CO₂ was about 69 mL/g at 22°C. The influence of the main flue gas components on the CO₂ capacity of the material were discussed as well.     

Measurement of air exchange rates in different indoor environments using continuous CO2 sensors

A new air exchange rate (AER) monitoring method using continuous CO₂ sensors was developed and validated through both laboratory experiments and field studies. Controlled laboratory simulation tests were conducted in a 1-m³ environmental chamber at different AERs (0.1-10.0 hr^-1). AERs were determined using the decay method based on box model assumptions. Field tests were conducted in classrooms, dormitories, meeting rooms and apartments during 2-5 weekdays using CO₂ sensors coupled with data loggers. Indoor temperature, relative humidity (RH), and CO₂ concentrations were continuously monitored while outdoor parameters combined with on-site climate conditions were recorded. Statistical results indicated that good laboratory performance was achieved: duplicate precision was within 10%, and the measured AERs were 90%-120% of the real AERs. Average AERs were 1.22, 1.37, 1.10, 1.91 and 0.73 hr^-1 in dormitories, air-conditioned classrooms, classrooms with an air circulation cooling system, reading rooms, and meeting rooms, respectively. In an elderly particulate matter exposure study, all the homes had AER values ranging from 0.29 to 3.46 hr??1 in fall, and 0.12 to 1.39 hr^-1 in winter with a median AER of 1.15.     

Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China: Implications for sources and historical changes

The distribution of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd and As) in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary was investigated. The spatial distribution of heavy metals displayed a decreasing pattern from the turbidity maxima to both upstream and downstream of the estuary, which suggested that suspended sediments played an important role in the trace metal distribution in the Pearl River Estuary. In addition, metal concentrations were higher in the west part of the estuary which received most of the pollutants from the Pearl River. In the sediment cores, fluxes of heavy metals were consistent with a predominant anthropogenic input in the period 1970-1990. From the mid-1990s to the 2000s, there was a significant decline in heavy metal pollution. The observed decline has shown the result of pollution control in the Pearl River Delta. However, it is noteworthy that the metal concentrations in the most recent sediment still remained considerably high. Taken together, the enrichment of heavy metals in sediments was largely controlled by anthropogenic pollution.     

Effects of rare earth elements La and Yb on the morphological and functional development of zebrafish embryos

In recent years, with the wide applications and mineral exploitation of rare earth elements, their potential environmental and health effects have caused increasing public concern. Effect of rare earth elements La and Yb on the morphological and functional development of zebrafish embryos were studied. The embryos were exposed to La³⁺ or Yb³⁺ at 0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mmol/L, respectively. Early life stage parameters such as egg and embryo mortality, gastrula development, tail detachment, eyes, somite formation, circulatory system, pigmentation, malformations, hatching rate, length of larvae and mortality were investigated. The results showed La³⁺ and Yb³⁺ delayed zebrafish embryo and larval development, decreased survival and hatching rates, and caused tail malformation in a concentration-dependent way. Moreover, heavy rare-earth ytterbium led to more severe acute toxicity of zebrafish embryo than light rare-earth lanthanum.     

Diversity of methanotrophs in a simulated modified biocover reactor

A simulated landfill biocover microcosm consisting of a modifying ceramsite material and compost were investigated. Results show that the mixture can improve the material porosity and achieve a stable and highly efficient (100%) methane oxidation over an extended operating period. The diversity of the methanotrophic community in the microcosm was assessed. Type I methanotrophs were enhanced in the microcosm due to the increased air diffusion and distribution, whereas the microbial diversity and population density of type II methanotrophs were not significantly affected. Moreover, the type I methanotrophic community structure significantly varied with the reactor height, whereas that of type II methanotrophic communities did not exhibit a spatial variation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that type I methanotroph-based nested polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) resulted in the detection of eight different populations, most of which are related to Methylobacter sp., whereas that of type II resulted in the detection of nine different populations, most of which are related to Methylocystaceae. Methanotrophic community analysis also indicated that a number of new methanotrophic genera not closely related to any known methanotrophic populations were present.     

Adsorption of mixed cationic-nonionic surfactant and its effect on bentonite structure

The adsorption of cationic-nonionic mixed surfactant onto bentonite and its effect on bentonite structure were investigated. The objective was to improve the understanding of surfactant behavior on clay mineral for its possible use in remediation technologies of soil and groundwater contaminated by toxic organic compounds. The cationic surfactant used was hexadecylpyridinium bromide (HDPB), and the nonionic surfactant was Triton X-100 (TX100). Adsorption of TX100 was enhanced significantly by the addition of HDPB, but this enhancement decreased with an increase in the fraction of the cationic surfactant. Part of HDPB was replaced by TX100 which decreased the adsorption of HDPB. However, the total adsorbed amount of the mixed surfactant was still increased substantially, indicating the synergistic effect between the cationic and nonionic surfactants. The surfactant-modified bentonite was characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric-derivative thermogravimetric/differential thermal analyses. Surfactant intercalation was found to decrease the bentonite specific surface area, pore volume, and surface roughness and irregularities, as calculated by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The co-adsorption of the cationic and nonionic surfactants increased the ordering conformation of the adsorbed surfactants on bentonite, but decreased the thermal stability of the organobentonite system.     

Surface clogging process modeling of suspended solids during urban stormwater aquifer recharge

Aquifer recharge,which uses urban stormwater,is an effective technique to control the negative effects of groundwater overexploitation,while clogging problems in infiltration systems remain the key restricting factor in broadening its practice.Quantitative understanding of the clogging process is still very poor.A laboratory study was conducted to understand surface physical clogging processes,with the primary aim of developing a model for predicting suspended solid clogging processes before aquifer recharge projects start.The experiments investigated the clogging characteristics of different suspended solid sizes in recharge water by using a series of one-dimensional fine quartz sand columns.The results showed that the smaller the suspended particles in recharge water,the farther the distance of movement and the larger the scope of clogging in porous media.Clogging extents in fine sand were 1 cm,for suspended particle size ranging from 0.075 to 0.0385 mm,and 2 cm,for particles less than 0.0385 mm.In addition,clogging development occurred more rapidly for smaller suspended solid particles.It took 48,42,and 36 hr respectively,for large-,medium-,and small-sized particles to reach pre-determined clogging standards.An empirical formula and iteration model for the surface clogging evolution process were derived.The verification results obtained from stormwater recharge into fine sand demonstrated that the model could reflect the real laws of the surface clogging process.     

Characterizing the optimal operation of photocatalytic degradation of BDE-209 by nano-sized TiO2

Brominated flame retardants have been widely used in industry. There is a rapid growing public concern for their availabilities in the environment. Advanced oxidation process (AOP) is a promising and efficient technology which may be used to remove emerging chemicals such as brominated flame retardants. This project aims at investigating optimal operational conditions for the removal of BDE-209 using nano-scaled titanium(IV) oxide. The residual PBDE congeners after photocatalytical degradation of BDE-209 by TiO₂ were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was found that the degradability of BDE-209 by TiO₂ was attributed to its photocatalytic activity but not the small size of the particles. The half-life of removing BDE-209 by TiO₂ was 3.05 days under visible light. Tetra- and penta-BDEs were the major degraded products of BDE-209. Optimum conditions for photocatalytical degradation of BDE-209 was found to be at pH 12 (93% ± 1%), 5, 10, 20 mg/L (93.0% ± 1.70%, 91.6% ± 3.21%, 91.9% ± 0.952%, respectively), respectively of humic acid and in the form of anatase/rutile TiO₂ (82% ± 3%). Hence, the efficiency of removing BDE-209 can be maximized while being cost effective at the said operating conditions.