A near real-time system for continuously monitoring airborne subtilisin-type enzymes in the industrial atmosphere

We describe the development and validation of a portable system comprising an air sampler coupled to an automated flow injection analysis device. The system is able to monitor airborne concentrations of subtilisin-type enzymes in the workplace atmosphere on a continuous basis. Sampling is in two stages: using a sampling head that is designed to mimic human respiration at approx. 1 m s(-1) at a sampling rate of 600 l min(-1). In the second stage, the captured particles are deposited by impaction from the air stream onto the inner surface of a cyclone that is continuously washed with a jet of buffer solution. Deposited particles are then washed into a reservoir from which samples are taken every 5-6 min and injected automatically into a continuous flow injection analysis system. Proteolytic enzyme in the sample passes through a bioreactor maintained at about 40 degrees C. This contains a cellulose solid phase matrix on which is covalently immobilised Texas Red-labelled gelatin as substrate. The passing enzyme partially digests the substrate releasing fluorophore that is detected down stream in a flow cell coupled to a fluorimeter. The system is calibrated using enzyme standards and the intensity of the resulting peaks from the ex-air samples is converted to airborne concentrations using a mathematical model programmed into a PC. The system has a limit of detection of 4.8 ng m(-3) and a dynamic range of 5-60 ng m(-3). The within assay precision (RSD) is 6.3-9.6% over this range. The within batch precision is 20.3% at 20 ng m(-3) and the corresponding between batch value is 19.5%. The system has been run for periods up to 8 h in the laboratory and for up to 4 h at a factory site and the values obtained compared with time-averaged values obtained from a conventional Galley sampler and in-house analysis when reasonable agreement of the results was observed. The stability of the system over 21 days of continuous use with standards injected periodically was studied. Linearity was observed for all the standard plots throughout. At the end of 21 days, after a total exposure equivalent to 2395 ng ml(-1) of Savinase, the signal due to the 5.0 ng ml(-1) standard was still easily detectable.     

Characterization of iron- and manganese-cemented redoximorphic aggregates in wetland soils contaminated with mine wastes

In wetlands, translocation of Fe and Mn from reducing to oxidizing zones creates localized enrichments and depletions of oxide minerals. In zones of enrichment, oxides cement matrix particles together into aggregates. In this paper, we describe the various Fe- and Mn-cemented features present in the 1 to 2-mm size fraction of mine-waste contaminated wetland soils of the Coeur d'Alene (CDA) River Basin in northern Idaho. These aggregates are categorized based on color and morphology. Total Fe and Mn concentrations are also reported. Distribution of the aggregates in soil profiles along an elevation transect with varying water table heights was investigated. Six distinct categories of aggregates were characterized in the 1 to 2-mm size fraction. The two most predominant categories were aggregates cemented by only Fe oxides and aggregates cemented by a mixture of Fe and Mn oxides. Iron-depleted aggregates, Fe and Mn-cemented sand aggregates, and root channel linings were also identified. The remaining aggregates were categorized into a catch-all category that consisted of primarily charcoal particles. The highest Fe content was in the root channel linings, and the highest Mn content was in the Fe/Mn cemented particles. Iron-cemented aggregates were most common in surface horizons at all sites, and root channels were most common in the 30 to 45-cm core at the lowland point, reflecting the presence of deep rooting vegetation at this site. Spatial distributions of other aggregates at the site were not significant.     

Pattern Classification and Recognition of Invertebrate Functional Groups Using Self-Organizing Neural Networks

Self-organizing neural networks can be used to mimic non-linear systems. The main objective of this study is to make pattern classification and recognition on sampling information using two self-organizing neural network models. Invertebrate functional groups sampled in the irrigated rice field were classified and recognized using one-dimensional self-organizing map and self-organizing competitive learning neural networks. Comparisons between neural network models, distance (similarity) measures, and number of neurons were conducted. The results showed that self-organizing map and self-organizing competitive learning neural network models were effective in pattern classification and recognition of sampling information. Overall the performance of one-dimensional self-organizing map neural network was better than self-organizing competitive learning neural network. The number of neurons could determine the number of classes in the classification. Different neural network models with various distance (similarity) measures yielded similar classifications. Some differences, dependent upon the specific network structure, would be found. The pattern of an unrecognized functional group was recognized with the self-organizing neural network. A relative consistent classification indicated that the following invertebrate functional groups, terrestrial blood sucker; terrestrial flyer; tourist (nonpredatory species with no known functional role other than as prey in ecosystem); gall former; collector (gather, deposit feeder); predator and parasitoid; leaf miner; idiobiont (acarine ectoparasitoid), were classified into the same group, and the following invertebrate functional groups, external plant feeder; terrestrial crawler, walker, jumper or hunter; neustonic (water surface) swimmer (semi-aquatic), were classified into another group. It was concluded that reliable conclusions could be drawn from comparisons of different neural network models that use different distance (similarity) measures. Results with the larger consistency will be more reliable.     

压力式接触氧化法同步硝化反硝化脱氮性能研究

研究了压力式接触氧化法的脱氮性能,分析了容积负荷、溶解氧和停留时间等因素对反应器脱氮效果的影响.研究表明,压力式接触氧化法具有明显的同步硝化反硝化现象,当HRT=1.8 h时,DO高达5.4 mg/L,可获得90%以上的反硝化率.当HRT=1.8 h,溶解氧4～5 mg/L,容积负荷为10～12 kg COD/(m3·d)时,氨氮去除率80%左右,总氮去除率达70%～80%.     

Modification of ferrite–manganese oxide sorbent by doping with cerium oxide

Fe–Mn oxide and Ce-doped Fe–Mn oxide sorbents were studied on the structural and desulfurization behavior in COS removal from syngas. The effects of cerium oxide on the Fe–Mn oxides have been investigated by XRD, BET, TPR, XPS and TEM methods. Analysis data show that the Ce-doped sorbent has larger specific surface area and better particles’ dispersion compared with non-modified Fe–Mn sorbent. The addition of Ce improves the reduction performance of Fe–Mn species. The desulfurization experiments show that the desulfurization activity of sorbent can be increased because of the promotion of the structural and redox properties by ceria doped. The Ce-doped sorbent can reduce COS from 15,000 ppmv to less than 0.1 ppmv at 325 °C and a space velocity of 1000 h⁻¹.     

用次磷酸钠废渣制备饲料级磷酸三钙

采用高温煅烧工艺，以工业生产次磷酸钠的废渣为原料，制备饲料级磷酸三钙，并对最佳工艺条件进行探讨。最佳工艺条件：煅烧温度600℃、煅烧时间20min。制得的饲料级磷酸三钙中磷的质量分数为16％～18％，符合Q／YHY01—2003《饲料级磷酸三钙》产品质量企业标准。     

湿度传感器在防护性能检测中动态湿度的测量方法

1引言 防护装备在核、生、化环境下起着防放射性灰尘、防生物细菌和防化学毒剂的作用。防护装备的防护性能检测准确与否。直接影响着防护装备产品的质量乃至使用者的生命安全。防护装备的防护性能受湿度的影响很大，以前，在防护装备的防护性能检测过程中是利用干、湿球温度计来检测测试管路中的湿度。     

Implications of urine-to-feces ratio in the thermophilic anaerobic digestion of swine waste.

Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of swine manure represents a potential waste treatment technology to address environmental concerns, such as odor emissions and removal of pathogenic microorganisms. However, there are concerns relative to the stability of this process when swine manure is the sole substrate. In this study, the potential of biogas production from swine manure as the sole substrate under thermophilic (50 degrees C) conditions was investigated in the laboratory, to determine whether separation of urine and feces as part of the waste collection process would benefit anaerobic digestion. Effluent from a continuously stirred tank reactor was used as the inoculum for batch tests, in which the substrate contained three different concentrations of urine (urine-free, as-excreted urine-to-feces ratio and double the as-excreted urine-to-feces ratio). Inocula were acclimated to these same urine-to-feces ratios to determine methane production. Results show that both urine-free and as-excreted substrates were not inhibitory to anaerobic inocula. Anaerobic microorganisms can be readily acclimated to substrate with double the as-excreted urine concentration, which contained nitrogen concentrations up to 7.20 g/L. Cumulative methane production reached similar levels in the batch tests, regardless of the substrate urine concentration.