Principles and perspectives

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: With respect to the enormous increase of chemical production in the last decades and the tens of thousands of individual chemicals on the market, the permanent improvement of chemical management is a permanent target to achieve the goals of sustainable consumption and production set by the WSSD in Johannesburg 2002. MAIN FEATURES: Several approaches exist to describe sustainability of chemistry. However, commonly agreed criteria are still missing. There is no doubt that products of modern chemistry help to achieve important goals of sustainability and that significant improvements have occurred regarding direct releases from production sites, but several facts demonstrate that chemistry is far from being sustainable. Still too many chemicals exhibit hazardous characteristics and pose a risk to health and environment. Too many resources are needed to produce chemicals and finished products. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Therefore, a strategy for sustainability of chemistry should be developed which comprises the following main elements: 1. Sustainable chemicals: sustainable chemical management includes a regulatory framework which makes no difference between new and existing chemicals, contains efficient information flow through the supply chain which allows users to handle chemicals safely and offers an authorisation procedure and/or an efficient restriction procedure for substances of high concern. This regulatory scheme should promote the development of inherently safe chemicals. 2. Sustainable chemical production: Sustainable chemical production needs the development and implementation of emerging alternative techniques like selective catalysis, biotechnology in order to release less CO2 and less toxic by-products, to save energy and to achieve higher yields. Information exchange on best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) may help to promote changes towards more sustainability. 3. Sustainable products: An integrated product policy which provides a framework for sustainable products promotes the development of products with a long-term use phase, low resource demand in production and use, low emission of hazardous substances and properties suitable for reuse and recycling. This may be promoted by eco-labelling, chemical leasing concepts and extended information measures to enhance the demand of consumers and various actors in the supply chain for sustainable products. RECOMMENDATION AND PERSPECTIVE: Important tools for the promotion of sustainable chemistry are the abolition of barriers for innovation in legislation and within the chemical industry, more transparency for all users of chemical products, a new focus on sustainability in education and research, and a new way of thinking in terms of sustainability.     

The styrene purification performance of biotrickling filter with toluene-styrene acclimatization under acidic conditions

The obvious disadvantages of biotrickling filters (BTFs) are the long start-up time and low removal efficiency (RE) when treating refractory hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which limits its industrial application. It is worthwhile to investigate how to reduce the start-up period of the BTF for treating hydrophobic VOCs. Here, we present the first study to evaluate the strategy of toluene induction combined with toluene-styrene synchronous acclimatization during start-up in a laboratory-scale BTF inoculated with activated sludge for styrene removal, as well as the effects of styrene inlet concentration (0.279 to 2.659 g·m^?3), empty bed residence time (EBRT) (i.e., 136, 90, 68, 45, 34 sec), humidity (7.7% to 88.9%), and pH (i.e., 4, 3, 2.5, 2) on the performance of the BTF system. The experiments were carried out under acidic conditions (pH 4.5) to make fungi dominant in the BTF. The start-up period for styrene in the BTF was shortened to about 28 days. A maximum elimination capacity (EC_max) of 126 g·m^?3·hr^?1 with an RE of 80% was attained when styrene inlet loading rate (ILR) was below 180 g·m^?3·hr^?1. The highest styrene RE(s) [of BTF] that could be achieved were 95% and 93.4%, respectively, for humidity of 7.7% and at pH 2. A single dominant fungal strain was isolated and identified as Candida palmioleophila strain MA-M11 based on the 26S ribosomal RNA gene. Overall, the styrene induction with the toluene-styrene synchronous acclimatization could markedly reduce the start-up period and enhance the RE of styrene. The BTF dominated by fungi exhibited good performance under low pH and humidity and great potential in treating styrene with higher inlet concentrations.

Implications: The application of the toluene induction combined with toluene-styrene synchronous acclimatization demonstrated to be a promising approach for the highly efficient removal of styrene. The toluene induction can accelerate biofilm formation, and the adaptability of microorganisms to styrene can be improved rapidly by the toluene-styrene synchronous acclimatization. The integrated application of two technologies can shorten the start-up period of biotrickling filters markedly and promote its industrial application.     

Characteristics of single atmospheric particles in a heavily polluted urban area of China: size distributions and mixing states

To investigate the chemical composition, size distribution, and mixing state of aerosol particles on heavy pollution days, single-particle aerosol mass spectrometry was conducted during 9–26 October 2015 in Xi’an, China. The measured particles were classified into six major categories: biomass burning (BB) particles, K-secondary particles, elemental carbon (EC)–related particles, metal-containing particles, dust, and organic carbon (OC) particles. BB and EC-related particles were the dominant types during the study period and mainly originated from biomass burning, vehicle emissions, and coal combustion. According to the ambient air quality index, two typical episodes were defined: clean days (CDs) and polluted days (PDs). Accumulation of BB particles and EC-related particles was the main reason for the pollution in Xi’an. Most types of particle size were larger on PDs than CDs. Each particle type was mixed with secondary species to different degrees on CDs and PDs, indicating that atmospheric aging occurred. The mixing state results demonstrated that the primary tracers were oxidized or vanished and that the amount of secondary species was increased on PDs. This study provides valuable information and a dataset to help control air pollution in the urban areas of Xi’an.

Graphical abstract

     

Fenton-混凝法处理焦化废水的试验研究

对Fenton预氧化-混凝法联用技术处理焦化废水进行了研究,探讨了Fenton氧化阶段H2O2投加量、混凝阶段pH值以及混凝剂投加量等因素对焦化废水COD去除率的影响,确定了最佳处理条件.结果表明,Fenton预氧化-混凝法处理焦化废水取得了良好效果,COD去除率达97.5%,为该工艺实际处理焦化废水提供了实验依据.     

不同深度处理工艺去除污水处理厂出水中氮磷的比较研究

城市污水厂出水直接进入天然水体、或经过深度处理后回用于灌溉、补充景观水体和回灌地下水,均需要进行安全性评价.针对北京市北小河污水处理厂出水经过深度处理后回用于奥运公园的安全性,比较了不同深度处理工艺对营养盐(氮、磷)总量和不同形态的去除效果.研究表明,二级处理本身对氮磷的去除效果十分有限,回用水需经过深度处理.在所研究的生物活性炭吸附、微滤、超滤、反渗透以及上述技术的组合工艺中,使用超滤和反渗透联用的工艺路线对脱氮除磷的效果较为理想,其他工艺对去除氮磷的效果十分有限.     

静电布袋复合式除尘器及其应用

介绍了静电布袋复合式除尘器的结构、材料及除尘原理;布袋除尘器在不同工况下的除尘效率、附加脱硫率、阻力和排放浓度等参数的测试结果;利用布袋除尘器改造静电除尘器时的改造方案、运行中应注意的问题.     

制备方法对MgAl水滑石衍生氧化物负载钯催化剂丙烷完全氧化活性的影响

以沉积沉淀法(DP)、浸渍法(IM)和共沉淀法(CP)制备MgAl水滑石衍生氧化物负载钯催化剂,用ICP、XRD、SEM、TEM、EDS、TPR以及比表面测定等手段对催化剂进行了表征.ICP和XRD数据表明用上述3种方法均可成功制备水滑石为前体载钯催化剂.SEM、TEM、EDS数据表明不同方法制备的样品具有不同的形貌以及钯在其中的分散度.综合各类表征数据可知Pd在催化剂中暴露的活性位是影响其活性的主要因素.     

滦河水体溶解性有机物的综合分级表征及其混凝去除过程

天然水体溶解性有机物(DOM)是微污染物的潜在载体,是消毒副产物的主要前驱物,自身又可能成为微污染物,因此研究其内在特性和去除机理有着重要的基础性科学意义.本研究综合利用化学、物理分级方法(即树脂和超滤分级法),对中国北方典型饮用水源--滦河水体的DOM进行全面分级表征.此水体DOM基本化学分级特征是憎水酸(HoA)、亲水性物质(HiM)含量较高,且具有季节稳定性;其物理分级特征是分子量＜1 kDa及3 kDa～10 kDa的组分含量较高,也表现出一定的时间稳定性.选用工业聚合铝(PAC)研究此DOM的基本混凝特征和内在混凝机理,结果表明,强憎水部分HoA及3 kDa～10 kDa间的有机物较易被去除,而较大分子量范围10 kDa～30 kDa间的有机物去除率较低,说明混凝过程中此DOM的物理性质不起主要作用,而化学性质更为重要.特别对DOM各组分作进一步(结合)分级研究,发现HoA主要在＞10 kDa范围.＜1 kDa的有机物中主要为HiM,但其中还含有HoA和弱憎水酸(WHoA),这使特定条件下部分＜1 kDa有机物被混凝去除成为可能.另外,HoA中按分子量大小仍可分为易去除和难去除部分,但分布不连续,易去除部分在3 kDa～10 kDa和＞30 kDa区间,而其10 kDa～30 kDa部分较难去除,说明可能存在其他结构性影响因素,值得深入研究.     

The Impact of Winter Relocation and Depuration on Norovirus Concentrations in Pacific Oysters Harvested from a Commercial Production Site

Oysters contaminated with norovirus present a significant public health risk when consumed raw. In this study, norovirus genome copy concentrations were determined in Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) harvested from a sewage-impacted production site and then subjected to site-specific management procedures. These procedures consisted of relocation of oysters to an alternative production area during the norovirus high-risk winter periods (November to March) followed by an extended depuration (self-purification) under controlled temperature conditions. Significant differences in norovirus RNA concentrations were demonstrated at each point in the management process. Thirty-one percent of oyster samples from the main harvest area (Site 1) contained norovirus concentrations >?500 genome copies/g and 29% contained norovirus concentrations <?100 genome copies/g. By contrast, no oyster sample from the alternative harvest area (Site 2) or following depuration contained norovirus concentrations >?500 genome copies/g. In addition, 60 and 88% of oysters samples contained norovirus concentrations <?100 genome copies/g in oysters sampled from Site 2 and following depuration, respectively. These data demonstrate that site-specific management processes, supported by norovirus monitoring, can be an effective strategy to reduce, but not eliminate, consumer exposure to norovirus genome copies.     

Assessment of the Virological Quality of Marine and Running Surface Waters in NW Greece: A Case Study

The virological quality of surface marine and running water samples collected from Igoumenitsa gulf and Kalamas river (NW Greece) was assessed from October 2012 to September 2013. Sampling sites were exposed to different land and/or anthropogenic effects. Seawater samples were collected monthly from five sampling stations (new harbor, old harbor, wastewater treatment plant outlet, protected Natura area, Drepano beach). Viral targets included human adenoviruses (hAdVs), as index human viruses, while noroviruses (NoVs) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) were also studied. Kalamas river samples were collected seasonally, from three sampling stations (Soulopoulo, Dam, Sagiada-estuaries), while viral targets included also porcine adenoviruses (pAdVs) and bovine polyoma viruses (bPyVs), as additional index viruses. All water samples were analyzed for standard bacterial indicators, as well. Physicochemical and meteorological data were also collected. Based on the standard bacterial indices, both sea and river water samples did not exceed the limits set according to Directive 2006/7/EU. However, positive samples for hAdVs were found occasionally in all sampling sites in Igoumenitsa gulf (23.3%, 14/60) showing fecal contamination of human origin. Moreover, HAV was detected once, in the sampling site of the old port (at 510 GC/L). Most of the Kalamas water samples were found positive for hAdVs (58.3%, 7/12), while human noroviruses GI (NoVGI) (8.3%, 1/12) and GII (NoVGII) (16.7%, 2/12) were also detected. HAV, pAdVs, and bovine polyomaviruses (bPyVs) were not detected in any of the analyzed samples. No statistically significant correlations were found between classic bacterial indicators and viral targets, nor between viruses and meteorological data. Overall, the present study contributed to the collection of useful data for the biomonitoring of the region, and the assessment of the overall impact of anthropogenic activities. It provided also valuable information for the evaluation of the risk of waterborne viral infections and the protection of public health. It was the first virological study in the area and one of the few in Greece.