Challenges to liberalism: The case of Australian energy policy

This paper considers liberal and nationalist economic policy approaches to the ownership and development of Australian energy resources (oil, gas, coal and uranium). In the two decades prior to 1983, Australia pursued economic policies in relation to its energy resources which could broadly be described as ‘nationalist’. Governments of the day intervened in development decisions in an effort to enhance the ‘national interest’. From 1983, along with the deregulation of the Australian economy as a whole, policy relating to energy resources was liberalised. Development of energy reserves henceforth occurred according to the dictates of the market. This paper argues that recent Australian energy policy initiatives reflect an increase in nationalist influences and a retreat from the liberalisation agenda that dominated energy policy making in the 1980s and 1990s. Three examples are discussed where policy has been influenced by a nationalist framework: (1) the domestic gas reservation policy in Western Australia; (2) Australian government efforts to promote a ‘value adding’ nuclear processing industry and (3) Australian Labor Party policy giving preferential financial incentives for gas to liquids projects. The re-emergence of nationalism in Australia is occurring either because policy makers now favour it as a path to energy security or in some cases because they believe that appeals to nationalism will generate political support.     

Acid Rain in Downtown São Paulo City, Brazil

During the period from July 2002 to June 2004, the chemical characteristics of the rainwater samples collected in downtown São Paulo were investigated. The analysis of 224 wet-only precipitation samples included pH and electrical conductivity, as well as major ions (Na⁺, $ \rm NH^{ + }_{4} During the period from July 2002 to June 2004, the chemical characteristics of the rainwater samples collected in downtown S?o Paulo were investigated. The analysis of 224 wet-only precipitation samples included pH and electrical conductivity, as well as major ions (Na⁺, , K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, , ) and carboxylic acids (acetic, formic and oxalic) using ion chromatography. The volume weighted mean, VWM, of the anions , and Cl⁻ was, respectively, 20.3, 12.1 and 10.7 μmol l⁻¹. Rainwater in S?o Paulo was acidic, with 55% of the samples exhibiting a pH below 5.6. The VWM of the free H⁺ was 6.27 μmol l⁻¹), corresponding to a pH of 5.20. Ammonia (NH₃), determined as (VWM = 32.8 μmol l⁻¹), was the main acidity neutralizing agent. Considering that the H⁺ ion is the only counter ion produced from the non-sea-salt fraction of the dissociated anions, the contribution of each anion to the free acidity potential has the following profile: (31.1%), (26.0%), CH₃COO⁻ (22.0%), Cl⁻ (13.7%), HCOO⁻ (5.4%) and (1.8%). The precipitation chemistry showed seasonal differences, with higher concentrations of ammonium and calcium during autumn and winter (dry period). The marine contribution was not significant, while the direct vehicular emission showed to be relevant in the ionic composition of precipitation.     

上海金山区酸雨分布特征及降水酸度主控因子探讨

依据上海金山区2006-2010年降水监测数据,分析了该地区降水pH年均值、酸度及酸雨频率的分布特征,并对降水化学组成及各离子间的相关性进行了分析。结果表明,2006-2010年金山区降水的酸化及酸化频率较高,pH均值为4.24,酸雨频率为86.4%。降水主要离子为SO42-、NO3-、NH4+、Ca2+和Na+,上述5种离子占降水离子总浓度的87.8%,主要酸性离子SO42-、NO3-与阳离子NH4+、Ca2+和Mg2+均具有较高相关性。通过对降水酸度主控因子的探讨发现,主要致酸物质为SO42-,但NO3-对降水酸度的影响越来越大,碱性物质中和作用中起主导地位的是NH4+,雨水酸化的最主要来源为人为污染源。     

Modelling outflow from a ruptured pipeline transporting compressed volatile liquids

The paper presents a mathematical model for predicting outflow rates from a ruptured pipeline transporting compressed volatile liquids. The main focus of the paper is the methodology used to predict thermodynamic properties of interest. The model is validated using experimental data in the open literature. As the field scale outflow data does not include typical operating conditions the model is further validated at higher pressures and longer pipelines by comparing outflow rates calculated using a commercial pipeline simulation package, PROFES. The mathematical model predictions of mass flow rate and pipeline inventory agree well with the measured data and the more sophisticated pipeline model.

The simple pipeline rupture model is a useful tool for consequence analysis as it has a fast runtime on a standard PC. A further advantage is it is more easily, without having to address all of the numerical issues that arise when using a more sophisticated pipeline model. This allows a safety engineer to focus on the potential hazard rather than driving the model.     

离子强度和SO2-4对土壤吸附Al的影响

研究了离子强度和SO4^2-对土壤吸附Al的影响，结果表明：在所研究的pH范围内，随着NaCl支持电解质浓度的提高，土壤对Al的吸附量基本保持不变，并且当pH＜3．9时，即土壤表面净电荷为正时，土壤对Al的吸附量仍然很大，超过最大吸附量的50％，而用CaCl2作支持电解质时，当pH＜4．5时，在溶液中CaCl2浓度最高的情况下，Al的吸附量最小，在其余两种浓度条件下则基本相等；当pH＞4．5时，Al的吸附量几乎不受CaCl2浓度变化的影响。SO4^2-的加入对土壤吸附Al没有影响。这些都说明土壤吸附Al的作用机制主要为专性吸附。     

人工注气及生物产气对孔隙介质中DNAPL运移影响

重非水相液体(DNAPLs)的污染和治理问题是国内外研究热点,由地下水曝气技术注入的人工气体或生物作用等产生的气体必然对DNAPL在地下水系统中的运移及修复产生影响.采用CCD实时监测系统,以TCE为目标污染物,通过3个二维砂箱试验,以饱水条件下DNAPL的运移为对照,研究了人工注气及生物产气对DNAPL在孔隙介质中运移的影响.结果表明:(1)基于CCD相机的透射光监测系统是一种研究二维孔隙介质中多相流迁移规律的有效非侵入式监测方法,应用于实时监测水/NAPL,水/气,水/NAPL/气多相系统中流体渗流过程.(2)人工注气和生物产气两种条件下,气体在多孔介质中的分布特征有差异,前一条件下气体连续分布,后一条件下则以非连续分布的气泡为主.(3)在水/气两相系统中,气体的存在使得DNAPL污染羽的整体形状更加不规则;同时缩短了TCE污染羽前缘整体平均垂向下迁距离;也导致迁移路径上孔隙中TCE的截留量变小.DNAPL的入渗过程受重力影响以垂向渗流为主,垂向渗流时易于驱替孔隙中的水分,然而水平渗流时优先驱替孔隙中的空气.     

Effect of ionic strength on adsorption of As（Ⅲ） and As（Ⅴ） on variable charge soils

The study was to investigate the adsorption behavior of arsenite (As(Ⅲ)) and arsenate (As(Ⅴ)) on two variable charge soils, i.e., Haplic Acrisol and Rhodic Ferralsol at different ionic strengths and pH with batch methods. Results indicated that the amount of As(Ⅲ) adsorbed by these two soils increased with increasing solution pH, whereas it decreased with increasing ionic strength under the acidic condition. This suggested that As(Ⅲ) was mainly adsorbed on soil positive charge sites through electrostatic attraction under the acidic condition. Moreover, intersects of As(Ⅴ) adsorption-pH curves at different ionic strengths (a characteristic pH) are obtained for both soils. It was noted that above this pH, the adsorption of As(Ⅴ) was increased with increasing ionic strength, whereas below it the reverse trend was true. Precisely the intersect pH was 3.6 for Haplic Acrisol and 4.5 for Rhodic Ferralsol, which was near the values of PZSE (soil point of zero salt effect) of these soils. The effects of ionic strength and pH on arsenate adsorption by these soils were interpreted by the adsorption model. The results of zeta potential suggested that the potential in adsorption plane becomes less negative with increasing ionic strength above soil PZSE and decreases with increasing ionic strength below soil PZSE. These results further supported the hypothesis of the adsorption model that the potential in the adsorption plane changes with ionic strength with an opposite trend to surface charge of the soils. Therefore, the change of the potential in the adsorption plane was mainly responsible for the change of arsenate adsorption induced by ionic strength on variable charge soils.     

pH值和离子强度对针铁矿吸附磺胺二甲基嘧啶的影响机制

磺胺二甲基嘧啶作为普遍使用的抗生素代表,可通过动物粪便施肥及药物不规范使用进入到环境中.针铁矿是土壤中分布广泛且活性较高的一种矿物,会对磺胺二甲基嘧啶的环境行为产生一定的影响.为了正确评估磺胺二甲基嘧啶的环境风险,本文考察了溶液pH值、离子强度对针铁矿吸附磺胺二甲基嘧啶的影响.结果表明:磺胺二甲基嘧啶在针铁矿上的吸附具有明显的非线性,且吸附具有明显的滞后现象,吸附等温线可以用Freundlich模型较好的拟合(R~2=0.991);磺胺二甲基嘧啶在针铁矿上的吸附随着pH值的增加先增加后减小,随着离子强度的增加开始有微弱的增加然后保持不变;在酸性和中性条件下,表面络合作用是主导磺胺二甲基嘧啶在针铁矿表面上吸附的主要机制,在碱性条件下静电斥力是主导吸附的主要作用力.因此,在评估抗生素的环境行为时,应该考虑不同的环境条件对针铁矿吸附磺胺二甲基嘧啶的影响.     

己内酰胺-四丁基溴化铵类离子液体吸收SO2效率的研究

采用己内酰胺-四丁基溴化铵为原料,按摩尔配比为2∶1配制成[CPL][TBAB]类离子液体,制备的离子液体与乙醇溶液按体积比为1.5∶1混合以降低其粘度,利用筛板塔进行吸收实验,考察最佳吸收条件及最大吸收效率。结果表明,在实验条件下,最大的吸收效率条件为:离子液体的流量为60 L/h,SO2的流量为0.2 L/min,SO2为30℃,最大吸收效率为47.6%。     

新型绿色溶剂--室温离子液体

室温离子液体是一种具有特殊性质的液体,具有较低的熔点、良好的导电性和可以忽略的蒸气压等优点,已被应用到诸多领域。作为一种高效绿色溶剂,室温离子液体在化学分离、催化、电化学等方面发挥着重要的作用。对离子液体的种类、性质、制备方法及其在绿色化学中的应用进行了介绍。