Investigating the impacts of treated effluent discharge on coastal water health (Visakhapatnam,SW coast of Bay of Bengal,India)

The present study investigated the impacts of treated effluent discharge on physicochemical and biological properties of coastal waters from three pharmaceuticals situated along the coast of Visakhapatnam (SW Bay of Bengal). Seawater samples were collected (during the months of December 2013, March 2014 and April 2014) from different sampling locations (Chippada (CHP), Tikkavanipalem (TKP) and Nakkapalli (NKP)) at 0- and 30-m depths within 2-km radius (0.5 km = inner, 1 km = middle and 2 km?=?outer sampling circles) from the marine outfall points. Physicochemical and biological parameters, which differed significantly within the stations, were likely to be influenced by strong seasonality rather than local discharge. Dissolved oxygen variability was tightly coupled with both physical and biological processes. Phytoplankton cell density and total chlorophyll (TChla) concentrations were significantly correlated with dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations. CHP (December) represented a diatom bloom condition where the highest concentrations of diatom cells, total chlorophyll (TChla), dissolved oxygen coupled with lower zooplankton abundance and low nutrient levels were noticed. The centric diatom, Chaetoceros sp. (>?50%) dominated the phytoplankton community. TKP (March) represented a post-diatom bloom phase with the dominance of Pseudo-nitzschia seriata; zooplankton abundance and nutrient concentrations were minimum. Conversely, NKP (April) represented a warm well-stratified heterotrophic period with maximum zooplankton and minimum phytoplankton density. Dinoflagellate abundance increased at this station. Relatively higher water temperature, salinity, inorganic nutrients coupled with very low concentrations of dissolved oxygen, TChla and pH were observed at this station. Copepods dominated the zooplankton communities in all stations and showed their highest abundance in the innermost sampling circles. Treated effluent discharge did not seem to have any significant impact at these discharge points.     

Effect of pH and alum dosage on the efficiency of microalgae harvesting via flocculation technique

Microalgae biomass is well known as a potential sustainable product for bio-based industry, which has reported encountering numerous difficulties during biomass harvesting and recovering. This study examined the effect of pH (5–12) and alum dosage (30–180 mg/L) for microalgae Botryococcus sp. harvested via flocculation technique. The optimum pH condition for Botryococcus sp. harvesting was measured to be 9.2, and the alum dosage was 100 mg/L. Both optimum values successfully harvested up to 95% microalgae biomass. This study revealed that flocculation efficiencies for alum are highly dependent on the range of pH and coagulant dosage that were applied during the process. Use of flocculation technique with alum as a coagulant represents a convenient technique for Botryococcus sp. biomass harvesting and is recommended for use in both small- and large-scale biomass industries.     

我国北方风沙灾害加剧的成因及其发展趋势

综合分析了我国风沙灾害加剧的原因，并从我国北方沙漠、沙地形成演变的地理格局，探讨了我国沙化过程的中、长期发展趋势。本文认为，我国近年风沙灾害的加剧是在气候趋于干燥化背景下，人类大面积发展沙区生产的结果，但是，目前的流沙分布范围仍不及末次冰期极盛时期。未来我国风沙灾害的发展主要取决于气候增温背景下降水的时空分布、沙区的风化变化与地表土地的利用格局。     

Groundwater monitoring plans at small-scale sites--an innovative spatial and temporal methodology

An innovative methodology for improving existing groundwater monitoring plans at small-scale sites is presented. The methodology consists of three stand-alone methods: a spatial redundancy reduction method, a well-siting method for adding new sampling locations, and a sampling frequency determination method. The spatial redundancy reduction method eliminates redundant wells through an optimization process that minimizes the errors in plume delineation and the average plume concentration estimation. The well-siting method locates possible new sampling points for an inadequately delineated plume via regression analysis of plume centerline concentrations and estimation of plume dispersivity values. The sampling frequency determination method recommends the future frequency of sampling for each sampling location based on the direction, magnitude, and uncertainty of the concentration trend derived from representative historical concentration data. Although the methodology is designed for small-scale sites, it can be easily adopted for large-scale site applications. The proposed methodology is applied to a small petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated site with a network of 12 monitoring wells to demonstrate its effectiveness and validity.     

Physico-chemical removal of iron from semi-aerobic landfill leachate by limestone filter

Limestone has been proven effective in removing metals from water and wastewater. A literature review indicated that limestone is capable of removing heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Fe and Mn are through a batch process or by filtration technique. The removal capability is reported at up to 90%. However, to date most of the studies have been focused on synthetic wastewater. The present study attempts to investigate the suitability of limestone to attenuate total iron (Fe) from semi aerobic leachate at Pulau Burung Landfill Site in Penang, Malaysia. Iron was found in significant quantities at the landfill site. The study also aims to establish the Fe isotherm and breakthrough time of the proposed limestone filter for post-treatment to the migrating landfill leachate before its release to the environment. The Fe isotherms were established using a batch equilibrium test, while the breakthrough characteristics were determined using continuous flow permeating through a limestone column. The latter was used in order to simulate the continuous flow of leachate that would occur in the proposed limestone filter. The limestone media used in the experiment contain more than 90% CaCO3 with particle sizes ranging from 2 to 4 mm. Four filter columns (each 150 mm in diameter and 1000 mm depth) were installed at the landfill site. Metal loadings were kept below 0.5 kg /m3 day and the experiment was run continuously for 30 days. Initial results indicated that 90% of Fe can be removed from the leachate based on retention time of 57.8 min and surface loading of 12.2 m3/m2 day. For the batch study on the Fe isotherm, the results indicated that limestone is potentially useful as an alternative leachate treatment system at a relatively low cost.     

N-2运行方式在宁夏电力通信业务中的应用

针对220 kV及以上线路保护、安稳等重要业务通道路由于关联性增加,无法满足运行要求的问题,对现有N-1通信网络运行方式进行分析,提出N-2通信网络路由运行方式安排,以确保安稳及保护等重要业务通道迂回路径的合理性。应用结果表明:N-2运行方式有效降低了宁夏电网安稳及保护通道运行风险,符合目前网络安全稳定运行要求。     

北京市园林植物吸附PM_(10)与SO_2总量及其健康效益

PM10和SO2是目前城市主要的大气污染物,严重危害居民健康。城市园林植物通过叶片和枝干表面能有效吸附大气污染物。采用大气污染物干沉降通量模型和暴露-反应关系模型定量评估了2003年北京市园林植物吸附PM10与SO2总量及其健康效益。北京市园林植物2003年吸附PM1030,415,563～38,019,454kg和SO23,057,173～3,821,466kg,导致减少死亡312～390人,呼吸系统入院286～357.5人,折合经济价值约为280,265,180～350,331,475元,约占国民生产总值的0.7‰～1.0‰。     

Assessment of the stabilization of heavy metal contaminants in soils using chemical leaching and an earthworm bioassay

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Soil stabilization is a remedial technique that reduces the exposure of the soil environment to soil contaminants. Its efficacy can be assessed by...