Home composting as an alternative treatment option for organic household waste in Denmark: An environmental assessment using life cycle assessment-modelling

An environmental assessment of the management of organic household waste (OHW) was performed from a life cycle perspective by means of the waste-life cycle assessment (LCA) model EASEWASTE. The focus was on home composting of OHW in Denmark and six different home composting units (with different input and different mixing frequencies) were modelled. In addition, incineration and landfilling was modelled as alternatives to home composting. The most important processes contributing to the environmental impact of home composting were identified as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (load) and the avoided emissions in relation to the substitution of fertiliser and peat when compost was used in hobby gardening (saving). The replacement of fertiliser and peat was also identified as one of the most sensible parameters, which could potentially have a significant environmental benefit. Many of the impact categories (especially human toxicity via water (HTw) and soil (HTs)) were affected by the heavy metal contents of the incoming OHW. The concentrations of heavy metals in the compost were below the threshold values for compost used on land and were thus not considered to constitute a problem. The GHG emissions were, on the other hand, dependent on the management of the composting units. The frequently mixed composting units had the highest GHG emissions. The environmental profiles of the home composting scenarios were in the order of −2 to 16 milli person equivalents (mPE) Mg⁻¹ wet waste (ww) for the non-toxic categories and −0.9 to 28 mPE Mg⁻¹ ww for the toxic categories. Home composting performed better than or as good as incineration and landfilling in several of the potential impact categories. One exception was the global warming (GW) category, in which incineration performed better due to the substitution of heat and electricity based on fossil fuels.     

Anaerobic digestion of chicken feather with swine manure or slaughterhouse sludge for biogas production

Biogas production from anaerobic digestion of chicken feathers with swine manure or slaughterhouse sludge was assessed in two separate experiments. Ground feathers without any pre-treatment were added to 42-L digesters inoculated with swine manure or slaughterhouse sludge, representing 37% and 23% of total solids, respectively and incubated at 25 °C in batch mode. Compared to the control without feather addition, total CH₄ production increased by 130% (P < 0.001) and 110% (P = 0.09) in the swine manure and the slaughterhouse sludge digesters, respectively. Mixed liquor NH₄N concentration increased (P < 0.001) from 4.8 and 3.1 g/L at the beginning of the digestion to 6.9 and 3.5 g/L at the end of digestion in the swine manure and the slaughterhouse sludge digesters, respectively. The fraction of proteolytic microorganisms increased (P < 0.001) during the digestion from 12.5% to 14.5% and 11.3% to 13.0% in the swine manure and the slaughterhouse sludge digesters with feather addition, respectively, but decreased in the controls. These results are reflective of feather digestion. Feather addition did not affect CH₄ yields of the swine manure digesters (P = 0.082) and the slaughterhouse sludge digesters (P = 0.21), indicating that feathers can be digested together with swine manure or slaughterhouse sludge without negatively affecting the digestion of swine manure and slaughterhouse sludge.     

脱硫用电石渣的重金属浸出特性及其对环境的影响

针对电厂用脱硫剂电石渣,分析了其基本组成及重金属浸出特性,为电厂脱硫设施的参数设计和环境影响评价提供依据和参考。研究结果表明,脱硫用电石渣主要成分为Ca（OH）2,含量在40%～50%之间;在8种重金属的含量中,只有Cd的含量超出土壤质量三级标准的要求,基本不会对土壤造成污染。浸出毒性试验表明,电石渣及其脱硫产物属于非危险废物,其各种重金属的浸出浓度主要受其本身重金属含量和最终pH的影响,这种影响在Pb、Cu和Cd上表现得较为突出,酸性环境下更有利于他们的浸出;碱性环境下有利于Pb和Ni的浸出。     

锰渣脱硫制硫酸锰技术在电解锰行业的应用

介绍了某电解锰企业锰渣煅烧含高浓度SO₂烟气的资源化处理路线,阐述了氧化锰矿浆烟气脱硫制MnSO₄技术的工艺设计。该烟气脱硫制MnSO₄装置运行稳定,尾气中SO₂质量浓度为32.1~51.9 mg/m³,达到排放设计要求,脱硫装置产生的MnSO₄浆液中Mn²⁺质量浓度为(40±1)g/L,连二硫酸锰质量浓度小于5 g/L,满足电解锰生产要求。     

基于雨量(强)条件的泥石流预测预报研究现状、问题与建议

在对基于雨量(强)条件泥石流预测预报现状综合分析的基础上,提出了目前降雨型泥石流预测预报中存在的问题:①前期降雨对泥石流发生的贡献问题;②前期降雨对泥石流影响的衰减问题;③前期有效降雨天数的确定问题;④前期降雨和短历时降雨的权重衡量问题;⑤基于前期有效雨量的泥石流预测预报模式的确定问题。提出了降雨型泥石流预测预报程式框架和相关建议:①基于雨量(强)条件的泥石流预测预报应同机理研究密切结合;②单沟泥石流临界雨量条件和预测预报应同泥石流类型密切结合;③区域泥石流临界雨量条件和预测预报应同环境地质背景密切结合。     

不同原料生物炭对NH4+-N、PO43--P吸附性能的差异性及其成因分析

以芦苇、小麦秸秆和竹子为原料,利用回流式炭化工艺制备3种生物炭。比较三者对NH_4~+-N、PO_4~(3-)-P的吸附性能,并对三者吸附性能差异的成因进行分析。实验结果表明:3种生物炭对PO_4~(3-)-P的吸附效果整体上优于NH_4~+-N,因为3种生物炭的阳离子交换容量CEC值和Zeta电位绝对值的水平均较低,不利于阳离子的吸附;竹炭Z-C对NH_4~+-N的吸附效果最佳,6 h去除率为3.59%,低的N含量、pH及Zeta电位绝对值对NH_4~+-N的吸附有利;芦苇炭LW-C中的O更多地与K、Mg等结合,形成能够与PO_4~(3-)反应生成磷酸盐沉淀或者晶体物质的金属氧化物,从而具有最好的PO_4~(3-)-P的吸附效果,6 h时去除率达16.91%。     

煤气化细渣制备碳硅复合材料吸附去除水中Pb2+

以煤气化细渣为原料制备了高比表面积碳硅复合材料,并利用过硫酸铵对其进行表面改性,用于吸附100.0 mg/L PbCl₂溶液中Pb²⁺。表征结果显示：碳硅复合材料的比表面积为1 347 m²/g,改性后降为474 m²/g;改性后材料表面的羟基、羰基和羧基等含氧基团的含量显著增加。实验结果表明：溶液pH为5时,改性碳硅复合材料对Pb²⁺的平衡吸附量为124 mg/g,Pb²⁺去除率可达98.2%;吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型,以化学吸附为主,伴有物理吸附;吸附过程分为外扩散和内扩散两个阶段,受内扩散控制。     

α-Fe2O3/AC催化剂的制备及光Fenton反应降解双酚A

采用温和的无模板溶液反应合成了α-Fe₂O₃/AC复合催化剂,作为光Fenton降解双酚A反应的催化剂。通过XRD、SEM、FTIR、DRS、BET、XPS等方法对催化剂的形貌和理化特性进行了分析。结果表明：该催化剂晶型良好,为介孔材料,能够有效吸收和利用紫外光和可见光;该催化剂具有较高的催化活性,稳定性良好;在初始双酚A质量浓度为30 mg/L、溶液pH为4、H₂O₂加入量为320 mg/L、反应温度为40 ℃、催化剂加入量为1.33 g/L的条件下,双酚A降解率可达91.4%。     

三江源畜牧业示范区土壤重金属含量特征及评价

为了明确三江源智慧生态畜牧业示范区内土壤重金属元素含量特征及潜在风险,2015年7月在三江源智慧生态畜牧业示范区11个示范村镇进行土壤样品采集,带回实验室分析Pb、Cd、Hg、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni含量。对数据进行统计分析并采用内梅罗综合污染指数和生态危害指数进行风险等级评价。结果显示:部分采样点重金属元素含量高于青海省背景值;Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni主要受土壤母质的影响,Cd受自然和人为因素的双重影响,Hg主要受人为因素影响;内梅罗综合污染指数显示11个点位的指数都小于1,该地未出现污染状况;生态危害指数显示除GMY点位处于轻微风险等级,其余采样点为中等风险等级。总体上示范区内土壤未出现强污染和面源污染状况,但需要加强点源污染的风险防范。     

Development and Testing of a Physically Based Model of Streambank Erosion for Coupling with a Basin‐Scale Hydrologic Model SWAT

A comprehensive streambank erosion model based on excess shear stress has been developed and incorporated in the hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). It takes into account processes such as weathering, vegetative cover, and channel meanders to adjust critical and effective stresses while estimating bank erosion. The streambank erosion model was tested for performance in the Cedar Creek watershed in north‐central Texas where streambank erosion rates are high. A Rapid Geomorphic field assessment (RAP‐M) of the Cedar Creek watershed was done adopting techniques developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the stream segments were categorized into various severity classes. Based on the RAP‐M field assessment, erosion pin sites were established at seven locations within the severely eroding streambanks of the watershed. A Monte Carlo simulation was carried out to assess the sensitivity of different parameters that control streambank erosion such as critical shear stress, erodibility, weathering depth, and weathering duration. The sensitive parameters were adjusted and the model was calibrated based on the bank erosion severity category identified by the RAP‐M field assessment. The average observed erosion rates were in the range 25‐367 mm year^?1. The SWAT model was able to reasonably predict the bank erosion rates within the range of variability observed in the field (R² = 0.90; E = 0.78). Editor's note : This paper is part of the featured series on SWAT Applications for Emerging Hydrologic and Water Quality Challenges. See the February 2017 issue for the introduction and background to the series.