226Ra, 232Th and 40K analysis in soil samples from some areas of Malwa region, Punjab, India using gamma ray spectrometry

The activity concentrations of soil samples collected from thirty different locations of Malwa region of Punjab were determined by using HPGe detector based on high-resolution gamma spectrometry system. The range of activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in the soil from the studied areas varies from 18.37 Bq kg⁻¹ (Sangrur) to 53.11 Bq kg⁻¹ (Sitoguno), 57.28 Bq kg⁻¹ (Dhanola) to 148.28 Bq kg⁻¹ (Sitoguno) and 211.13 Bq kg⁻¹ (Sunam) to 413.27 Bq kg⁻¹ (Virk Khera) with overall mean values of 35 Bq kg⁻¹, 80 Bq kg⁻¹and 317 Bq kg⁻¹ respectively. The absorbed dose rate calculated from activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K ranges between 8.47 and 24.48, 35.68 and 92.38, and 8.74 and 17.11 nGy h⁻¹, respectively. The total absorbed dose in the study area ranges from 58.08 nGy h⁻¹ to 130.85 nGy h⁻¹ with an average value of 79.11 nGy h⁻¹. The calculated values of external hazard index (H_ex) for the soil samples of the study area range from 0.35 to 0.79. Since these values are lower than unity, therefore, according to the Radiation Protection 112 (European Commission. Radiation Protection 112 1999) report, soil from these regions is safe and can be used as a construction material without posing any significant radiological threat to population.     

A review of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and alternative brominated flame retardants in wildlife from China: Levels, trends, and bioaccumulation characteristics

Accelerated industrialization and urbanization, and unregulated disposal of waste of electric and electronic equipment (e-waste) in China have caused environmental pollution of brominated flame retardants (BFRs). This review summarized the levels, trends, and bioaccumulation characteristics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other potential alternative BFRs including hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-dibromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) and decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) in wildlife from China. PBDE levels in wildlife from China were generally higher than those from other parts in Asia, and were comparable to those from Europe but were lower than those from North America. However, wildlife from the e-waste recycling sites in South China and East China contained much higher PBDEs compared to other reports around the world, suggesting the heavy contamination of PBDEs in these regions. The alternative BFRs were also detected in wildlife, revealing that the animals are exposed to these chemicals, in addition to PBDEs. Temporal trends indicated by levels in marine mammals from South China suggested that PBDE levels increased from the beginning of 1990s to 2000s, but decreased from the middle of 2000s, followed by relatively steady levels. In contrast, HBCDs were found to be continuously increasing from 1997 to 2007, indicating the increasing usage of HBCDs in China in recent years. Compared to PBDE profiles found in other parts, aquatic species and birds from China contained relatively higher contributions of BDE-28 and 209, respectively, suggesting the possible different usage pattern of PBDEs. Future works including keeping monitoring at a reasonable scale and frequency to make sure levels near urban centers indicative of population do not increase are needed. Additionally, focus effort on e-waste recycling regions to look for impacts and to determine if regulation/controls are resulting in lower environmental contamination, and incorporation of sentinel species in monitoring efforts are recommended.     

Preparation, characterization and application of CuCrO2/ZnO photocatalysts for the reduction of Cr(VI)

The delafossite CuCrO₂ elaborated by sol-gel from 40 nm diameter colloid is optically active in the visible region. It is characterized physically and photoelectrochemically. The microstructure is fairly homogenous with a mean crystallite size of ca. 2 μm. The optical gap (1.30 eV), determined from the diffuse reflectance, is well suited to the sunlight spectrum. The Mott Schottky plot is characteristic of P-type conductivity with a flat band potential of -0.26 V_SCE. As application, the photoreduction of chromate is successfully achieved in air-equilibrated suspension CuCrO₂/ZnO (1/1). CuCrO₂ is photoactivated by visible light and the electrons in the conduction band (-1.34 V_SCE) are injected to ZnO. In the presence of salicylic acid, a conversion of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) of 57% is obtained under optimal conditions (pH 3 at 25℃, 5×10^-4 mol/L) because of the HCrO₄^- dark adsorption onto ZnO (4HCrO₄^- + 3C₇H₆O₃ + 18O₂ + 16H⁺ → 4Cr³⁺ + 21CO₂ + 19H₂O, ΔG⁰ = -557 kcal/mol). Prolonged illumination is accompanied by a deceleration in the photoactivity owing to the competitive water reduction, an issue of energetic concern. The hetero-system exhibits self sensitization for hydrogen production with an evolution rate of 149 μmol/(hr·g).     

厌氧生物滴滤法脱除冷煤气中硫化氢的研究

水煤气中硫化氢在燃烧时会转变成二氧化硫,对环境产生污染。文章采用厌氧生物滴滤塔法对冷煤气进行脱硫处理。因煤气对氧的严格限制,通过设计生物滴滤塔,经挂膜驯化后在厌氧条件下对浓度在1~5 g/m3左右的硫化氢进行脱除处理,考察滴滤塔运行条件对脱除效果的影响。结果表明,生物挂膜25 d后,生物滴滤塔达到稳定,喷淋液pH值为2.23,ORP值为283 mV,溶解氧为0.4 mg/L,对溶液中硫离子氧化效率达到94%。滴滤塔在液气比0.15,空塔气速0.088 m/s,pH值5.0~7.0,填料高度为82 cm,塔温为25~30℃左右时,达到较优的运行条件,此时该滴滤塔对以CO、CO2、H2和1 940 mg/m3H2S组成的模拟水煤气的脱硫效率达91.2%。     

元阳梯田水源区土壤水氢氧同位素特征

稳定同位素技术为土壤水的运移研究提供了一种全新的研究手段.通过对元阳梯田水源区降水及其4种典型植被类型(乔木林、灌木林、荒草地和无林地)下0~100 cm剖面土壤水进行采样和氢氧稳定同位素的分析测定,研究了该区不同深度层次上土壤水的稳定同位素特征.结果表明,元阳梯田水源区的大气降水线方程为δD=6.838 4δ18O-5.692 1(R2=0.878 7,n=20),其斜率和截距均小于全球大气降水线.4种典型植被类型下的土壤水氢氧稳定同位素值均落于当地大气降水线下侧,且其表层土壤剖面上的同位素值波动变化幅度较大.随着土层深度的增加,δ18O值的波动变化越来越小,尤其以80~100 cm土层体现的最为明显.乔木林和荒草地两种林分类型整体上深层土壤水中的δ18O值要偏高于表层土壤,而灌木林和无林地则恰恰相反.     

可见光驱动微生物光电化学池处理剩余污泥同步产氢

氢气是一种理想的清洁能源.太阳能驱动的微生物光电化学池(Microbial photoelectrochemical cell, MPEC)因可同时实现废物处理与自发产氢而受到人们的关注.本文以剩余污泥为底物,构建了一种由无定型硫化钼改性硅纳米线(MoS_3/SiNWs)光阴极和生物阳极组成的MPEC系统,研究了3组MPEC在不同的酸性阴极液pH和外加电压条件下的产氢及污泥减量效果.研究结果表明,MPEC在阴极液pH为1和3的条件下均能在无外加电压下自发产氢;pH=1的MPEC-1实验中平均产氢速率为(0.66±0.02) mL·h~(-1),约是pH=3的MPEC-2实验平均产氢速率的1.5倍,但阴极过酸的条件限制了其实际应用; pH为3、外加0.2 V电压的MPEC-3与MPEC-2相比,产氢周期由15 h增加到40 h,平均产氢速率由(0.44±0.05) mL·h~(-1)提高到(0.52±0.04) mL·h~(-1),污泥TCOD、SCOD、TSS、VSS的降解率分别可达53.96%、70.18%、38.21%和61.76%.可见本文构建的MPEC系统是一种有前景的利用太阳能进行废物处理和资源化的新技术.     

一种新型"Turn-on"荧光探针用于硫化氢可视化检测

硫化氢(H2S)是表征水体污染的重要参数之一,对其进行快速、有效地检测十分重要.荧光检测法由于具有不可比拟的优势得到了广泛的关注.以2-(2'-羟基苯基)苯并咪唑为荧光团,基于H2S的亲核性,设计合成了一种新型检测H2S的荧光探针.该探针与H2S作用后,荧光强度随H2S浓度的增加逐渐增强,颜色由淡黄色变成紫色,因此能够进行可视化检测,可视化检测限为3μmol·L-1.探针的最佳激发/发射波长为320/460 nm,对H2S表现出了良好的选择性和很快的响应速度(5 min),在较宽的p H(6~9)范围内,仍然表现出较好的荧光性能,荧光检测限为6μmol·L-1.该探针为H2S的检测提供了新方法.     

Seasonal variations of Rn concentrations in the air of a tunnel located in Nagano city

The seasonal variation of 222Rn concentrations in the air of tunnels constructed during World War II at Nagano City has been investigated. The determination of 222Rn concentrations in tunnel air was performed using a solid-state nuclear track detector technique. The monthly radon concentrations changed smoothly, decreasing towards winter and increasing towards summer, and it was found that the concentrations strongly correlate with the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the tunnel. In the innermost areas of the tunnel, the maximum concentration was observed in July, its value being about 6500 Bq m (-3). The concentrations of radon in the tunnel air decrease exponentially towards the openings of the tunnel, which indicates that the radon concentration in the tunnel is basically governed by diffusion and mixing of radon gas with air. These observations lead to the conclusion that the seasonal variation of the radon concentration in the tunnel air is mainly caused by a convection current due to a stack effect induced by the temperature difference between the tunnel air and the outside air.     

木材在不同放置角度下火蔓延特性的实验研究

选用厚度为2 mm与3 mm的木材,研究了可碳化固体可燃物在静止氛围中不同角度下的火蔓延特性.研究表明,在不同角度范围内火蔓延经历着熄灭、稳定燃烧、加速燃烧以及快速燃烧等变化过程.对两种厚度的木材火蔓延行为对比分析发现,在自然对流条件下,两种厚度木材的火蔓延极限角度分别为-5°,5°.另外,研究了试样上下表面火焰参数与火蔓延速度之间的关系.在10°＜α＜60°范围内,火蔓延速度计算值与实验值能较好拟合.     

O3/H2O2去除水中硝基苯效果与机理

以硝基苯为目标反应物,对O₃/H₂O₂体系氧化去除水中硝基苯的效果和机理进行了研究,考察了pH值、H₂O₂剂量、自由基抑制剂或促进剂对硝基苯的去除效果的影响.研究发现,在pH≤7时,H₂O₂促进臭氧化去除硝基苯的效果较为明显,当H₂O₂投加量从1.0 mg/L增加到4.0 mg/L时,在氧化5 min内,硝基苯