Optimization of the recovery of plastics for recycling by density media separation cyclones

Material recovery processes are presented as the optimum option for recycling plastic wastes as a means of recovering hydrocarbon resources. There exist a large variety of automated material recovery processes for recycling of such wastes but each with significant limitations. Of these, the separation based on differences in densities is advocated as the optimum process either for producing recycled products or preparing wastes for subsequent recovery processing.Density separation processes based on cyclone type density media separation (DMS) is presented as an important, potential method for increasing plastics recycling process capacities. It is demonstrated to have the capacity to separate a significantly larger range of particle sizes than those presently processed industrially. The mathematical relationship for the prediction of quality of typical LARCODEMS type density media separations by particle size and density as expressed by the Ecart Probable is presented.A proposed device configuration is presented for density media separation to optimize the recovery and purity of both density fractions produced. It is also suggested that to be economically viable, a large scale of operation is required for industrial plastics recycling operations recovering and producing a number of different plastics with a purity to be used as a substitute for virgin material.     

Evaluating unintended consequences of intentional species introductions and eradications for improved conservation management

Increasingly intensive strategies to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function are being deployed in response to global anthropogenic threats, including intentionally introducing and eradicating species via assisted migration, rewilding, biological control, invasive species eradications, and gene drives. These actions are highly contentious because of their potential for unintended consequences. We conducted a global literature review of these conservation actions to quantify how often unintended outcomes occur and to elucidate their underlying causes. To evaluate conservation outcomes, we developed a community assessment framework for systematically mapping the range of possible interaction types for 111 case studies. Applying this tool, we quantified the number of interaction types considered in each study and documented the nature and strength of intended and unintended outcomes. Intended outcomes were reported in 51% of cases, a combination of intended outcomes and unintended outcomes in 26%, and strictly unintended outcomes in 10%. Hence, unintended outcomes were reported in 36% of all cases evaluated. In evaluating overall conservations outcomes (weighing intended vs. unintended effects), some unintended effects were fairly innocuous relative to the conservation objective, whereas others resulted in serious unintended consequences in recipient communities. Studies that assessed a greater number of community interactions with the target species reported unintended outcomes more often, suggesting that unintended consequences may be underreported due to insufficient vetting. Most reported unintended outcomes arose from direct effects (68%) or simple density-mediated or indirect effects (25%) linked to the target species. Only a few documented cases arose from more complex interaction pathways (7%). Therefore, most unintended outcomes involved simple interactions that could be predicted and mitigated through more formal vetting. Our community assessment framework provides a tool for screening future conservation actions by mapping the recipient community interaction web to identify and mitigate unintended outcomes from intentional species introductions and eradications for conservation.     

Extinction rate of discovered and undiscovered plants in Singapore

Extinction is a key issue in the assessment of global biodiversity. However, many extinction rate measures do not account for species that went extinct before they could be discovered. The highly developed island city–state of Singapore has one of the best-documented tropical floras in the world. This allowed us to estimate the total rate of floristic extinctions in Singapore since 1822 after accounting for sampling effort and crypto extinctions by collating herbaria records. Our database comprised 34,224 specimens from 2076 native species, of which 464 species (22%) were considered nationally extinct. We assumed that undiscovered species had the same annual per-species extinction rates as discovered species and that no undiscovered species remained extant. With classical and Bayesian algorithms, we estimated that 304 (95% confidence interval, 213–414) and 412 (95% credible interval, 313–534) additional species went extinct before they could be discovered, respectively; corresponding total extinction rate estimates were 32% and 35% (range 30–38%). We detected violations of our 2 assumptions that could cause our extinction estimates, particularly the absolute numbers, to be biased downward. Thus, our estimates should be treated as lower bounds. Our results illustrate the possible magnitudes of plant extirpations that can be expected in the tropics as development continues.     

Worldwide effects of non-native species on species–area relationships

Non-native species have invaded most parts of the world, and the invasion process is expected to continue and accelerate. Because many invading non-native species are likely to become permanent inhabitants, future consideration of species-area relationships (SARs) should account for non-native species, either separately or jointly with native species. If non-native species occupy unused niches and space in invaded areas and extinction rate of native species remains low (especially for plants), the resultant SARs (with both native and non-native species) will likely be stronger. We used published and newly compiled data (35 data sets worldwide) to examine how species invasions affect SARs across selected taxonomic groups and diverse ecosystems around the world. We first examined the SARs for native, non-native, and all species. We then investigated with linear regression analyses and paired or unpaired t tests how degree of invasion (proportion of non-native species) affected postinvasion SARs. Postinvasion SARs for all species (native plus non-native) became significantly stronger as degree of invasion increased (r² = 0.31, p = 0.0006), thus, reshaping SARs worldwide. Overall, native species still showed stronger and less variable SARs. Also, slopes for native species were steeper than for non-native species (0.298 vs. 0.153). There were some differences among non-native taxonomic groups in filling new niches (especially for birds) and between islands and mainland ecosystems. We also found evidence that invasions may increase equilibrial diversity. Study of such changing species–area curves may help determine the probability of future invasions and have practical implications for conservation.     

淡水环境中短链氯化石蜡的预测无效应浓度及生态风险评估

短链氯化石蜡(short-chain chlorinated paraffins, SCCPs)是《斯德哥尔摩公约》增列的一类持久性有机污染物。搜集筛选出SCCPs对8种淡水生物的慢性毒性数据,构建了物种敏感度分布曲线(SSD),推导出SCCPs的淡水预测无效应浓度(PNECwater)为0.425μg·L~(-1),淡水沉积物预测无效应浓度(PNECsed)为992.5μg·kg-1。搜集了国内外部分淡水河流水体及沉积物中SCCPs环境暴露数据,运用商值法,评估SCCPs的生态风险。结果表明,长江中游和白洋淀水体风险商范围为2.6～154.4和3.7～132.5,处于高风险;国外河流SCCPs污染水平较低,北美地区与日本淡水河流SCCPs风险商小于1,处于低风险。长江中游沉积物的SCCPs的风险商高达400.6,呈现显著风险,欧洲工业区域淡水沉积物中SCCPs存在潜在风险。本研究为SCCPs水质标准制定与环境风险管理提供参考依据。     

污水海洋处置工程多喷口浮射流近区稀释扩散规律研究

结合上海市污水治理二期工程稀释扩散物理模型试验，首次通过量纲分析的方法，对上升管上布置多个喷口时污水的近区稀释扩散规律进行了研究，得出了上升管布置不同喷口个数时的近区稀释度计算公式，所得公式具有一定的适用性，这对于我国较浅水域扩散器的设计具有重要的指导意义。     

黄河三角洲附近海域浮游植物多样性

以文献资料和定性调查结果，综合分析了黄河三角洲附近海域浮游植物物物种多样性；以１９９６年定量调查资料，研究了浮游植物多样度以及与均度、单纯度之间的关系。结果表明：该海域共鉴定出浮游植物７２种，占本海域已记录浮游植物１１６种（变种）的６２％，分占中国海和渤海已记录种类的５％和１９％；浮游植物多样度在０．１９～２．１０之间，均度在０．２７～０．９７之间，单纯度在０．１４～０．９１之间；多样度与均度呈显     

未来十年国内精密锻造技术展望——第一届全国精密锻造学术研讨会综述

通过对第一届全国精密锻造学术研讨会概况的介绍 ,就目前国内精密锻造的发展态势进行了总结 ,并对未来十年精密成形技术作了展望。数值模拟和物理模拟同等重要 ,文中对闭塞锻造等成形新工艺在汽车零件制造中的应用寄予厚望     

临近空间环境对飞艇蒙皮织物材料力学性能的影响研究

目的研究飞艇蒙皮材料在临近空间环境下的力学特性。方法根据临近空间环境的特征参数,制定空间环境地面模拟实验方案,包括高低温、紫外环境和臭氧环境下地面模拟实验方案。然后以聚氨酯涂覆Nylon织物为例,研究临近空间环境对飞艇蒙皮材料力学特性的影响,并通过红外红外光谱和原子力显微镜研究其影响机理。结果与未经高低温循环相比,弹性模量增加了11%,拉伸强度的最大变化不超过5%;经过48～240h紫外线辐照后,弹性模量提高了22%～34%,拉伸强度几乎没有变化;通过臭氧老化后,材料弹性模量的增加幅值约为6%,拉伸强度逐渐降低。结论紫外辐射对于聚氨酯涂覆Nylon织物材料弹性模量的提升效应大于高低温和臭氧老化,但对其强度的影响明显小于高低温和臭氧老化,臭氧老化对材料强度影响大于高低温和紫外辐射。     

金属矿山掘进巷道新型通风除尘系统研究与应用

为了减少掘进巷道的粉尘危害,以某金属矿掘进工作面为研究对象,经过现场调研和理论分析,研究开发了1种适合掘进巷道的新型通风除尘系统。介绍了新型通风除尘系统的结构和工作原理,并将该通风除尘系统应用于掘进巷道的粉尘治理,对该系统在掘进巷道的应用效果进行现场测定。研究结果表明:该通风除尘系统将压风筒布置在巷道中心位置的顶部,抽风筒布置在巷道两侧的呼吸带高度,使得掘进工作面的风流位置控制在1.5 m之下,保障了作业人员的职业健康。系统的湿式除尘风机对掘进巷道粉尘除尘效率达到了91%以上,彻底解决了掘进巷道粉尘污染问题。同时该系统能够实现按需通风除尘,净化后的风流可以循环利用,节能效果显著,在金属矿山掘进巷道生产系统具有较好的应用前景。