Future implications of urban intensification on residential water demand

Over recent decades Auckland, New Zealand, metropolitan area has vastly expanded as a result of rapid population growth and low-density housing developments. In order to manage the uncontrolled low-density urban sprawl, Auckland Council proposed a compact city model through promoting higher density housing developments. In order to understand the implications of this transition on future residential water demand, this study first evaluated water consumption in three major housing types in Auckland including single houses, low-rise and high-rise apartments. Using the geographic information system, the water consumption information, estimated from a large sample of 60,000 dwellings across Auckland, was subsequently integrated with the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan outlining the future housing composition over different areas in Auckland. Through developing different growth scenarios, the study showed that the housing transition from single houses to more intensified multi-unit houses cannot considerably affect the average per capita water consumption in Auckland.     

3种短链脂肪酸对活性污泥储存PHA的影响

采用经乙酸钠驯化培养具有一定聚羟基烷酸酯(PHA)储存能力的活性污泥,考察乙酸、丙酸和丁酸3种短链脂肪酸,以及乙酸、丁酸分别与丙酸按1∶1、1∶2、2∶1比例组合成的6种混合酸作为碳源时对活性污泥中PHA的储存和转化的影响。实验结果表明,在3种短链脂肪酸中,以丁酸为碳源得到活性污泥PHA储存量最高,为40.53 mg/g;在混合酸中,乙酸与丙酸按1∶2组合时,系统PHA储存量最高,为773.4 mg/g。混合酸相对于单一的脂肪酸碳源更有利于活性污泥储存PHA。在混合酸总量一定的条件下,随着丙酸比例的增加,乙酸与丙酸混合比丁酸与丙酸混合更有利于微生物的PHA储存。     

Determination of optimum polymeric coagulant in palm oil mill effluent coagulation using multiple-objective optimisation on the basis of ratio analysis (MOORA)

The main limitation of a conventional palm oil mill effluent (POME) ponding system lies in its inability to completely decolourise effluent. Decolourisation of effluent is aesthetically and environmentally crucial. However, determination of the optimum process parameters is becoming more complex with the increase of the number of coagulants and responses. The primary objective of this study is to determine the optimum polymeric coagulant in the coagulation–flocculation process of palm oil mill effluent by considering all output responses, namely lignin–tannin, low molecular mass coloured compounds (LMMCC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), pH and conductivity. Here, multiple-objective optimisation on the basis of ratio analysis (MOORA) is employed to discretely measure multiple response characteristics of five different types of coagulants as a function of assessment value. The optimum coagulant is determined based on the highest assessment value and was identified as QF25610 (cationic polyacrylamide). On the other hand, the lowest assessment value was represented by AN1800 (anionic polyacrylamide). This study highlights the simplicity of MOORA approach in handling various input and output parameters, and it may be useful in other wastewater treatment processes as well.     

Reproductive toxicity of lead,cadmium, and phthalate exposure in men

Environmental toxicants viz lead or cadmium and phthalate esters (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate [DEHP], dibutyl phthalate [DBP], and diethyl phthalate [DEP]) widely found in different environmental strata are linked to deteriorating male reproductive health. The objective was to assess the relationships between the seminal lead, cadmium, and phthalate (DEHP, DBP, DEP) concentrations at environmental level and serum hormone levels and semen quality in non-occupationally exposed men and specify the effect of individual and combined exposure of toxicants on semen quality. A study of 60 male partners of couples attending the Andrology Laboratory of the Reproductive Biology Department, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India for semen analysis to assess their inability to achieve a pregnancy was selected for the study. The results of univariate and stepwise multiple regression analysis in the unadjusted model showed a significant correlation between lead or cadmium and phthalates DEHP/DBP/DEP and sperm motility, sperm concentration, and DNA damage. After adjusting for potential confounders, an association with lead or DEHP was only observed. The present data shows that lead (Pb) or cadmium (Cd) or phthalates might independently contribute to decline in semen quality and induce DNA damage. Phthalates might influence reproductive hormone testosterone. These findings are significant in light of the fact that men are exposed to a volley of chemicals; however, due to the small sample size, our finding needs to be confirmed in a larger population.     

Identification and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air particulate matter of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In an effort to assess the occurrence and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the ambient air of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, PM₁₀ samples were collected during December 2010. Diagnostic PAH concentration ratios were used as a tool to identify and characterize the PAH sources. The results reflect high PM₁₀ and PAH concentrations (particulate matter (PM)?=?270–1,270 μg/m³). The corresponding average PAH concentrations were in the range of 18?±?8 to 1,003?±?597 ng/m³ and the total concentrations (total PAHs (TPAHs) of 17 compounds) varied from 1,383 to 13,470 ng/m³ with an average of 5,871?±?2,830 ng/m³. The detection and quantification limits were 1–3 and 1–10 ng/ml, respectively, with a recovery range of 42–80 %. The ratio of the sum of the concentrations of the nine major non-alkylated compounds to the total (CPAHs/TPAHs) was 0.87?±?0.10, and other ratios were determined to apportion the PM sources. The PAHs found are characteristic for emissions from traffic with diesel being a predominant source.     

罐底含油泥热解动力学参数计算方法的优选

在化学反应设计中反应动力学是较重要的因素。为得到更合理的污泥热解动力学参数计算方法,利用热重分析仪,在氮气气氛下对罐底含油污泥的热解特性进行研究。根据热重实验数据,分别采用Coats-Redfern法、Kissinger法、FWO法和Popescu法计算污泥热解动力学参数,并获取罐底泥热解制油的主要阶段(第2阶段)的反应活化能E、频率因子A并分析各种方法反应机理。通过对比不同计算方法得到动力学参数及拟合曲线与实验曲线的相关性,确定了最佳罐底含油污泥热解动力学参数计算方法。研究表明,Popescu法得到罐底泥的热解过程符合Jander方程,活化能E为101.43 kJ/mol,与FWO法得到的91.20 kJ/mol相近,且预测曲线与实验曲线有较好的相关性(0.9816),说明Popescu法计算罐底泥热解动力学参数更合适。     

DO浓度对间歇曝气单级自养脱氮系统N2O排放的影响

以单级自养脱氮系统为研究对象,采用有效容积为15 L的SBBR反应器,系统进水NH+4-N浓度约为360 mg/L,控制温度为(30±2)℃,采用间歇曝气方式运行,曝气段DO浓度从2.4~2.6 mg/L逐渐下降到0.9~1.1 mg/L,研究了单级自养脱氮系统的脱氮性能与N2O排放情况。结果表明,反应器曝气段DO浓度从2.4~2.6 mg/L下降到0.9~1.1mg/L,系统TN去除率均达到80%,但在相同运行时间内的TN去除率依次降低,NH+4-N平均反应速率从0.19 mg/(L·min)降低至0.05 mg/(L·min),NO-3-N累计产生量稳定于14.9~16.5 mg/L,NO-2-N浓度在反应器内未产生明显的积累。随着曝气段DO浓度的下降,最大N2O释放速率逐渐降低,N2O累计释放量从73.8 mg下降到61.0 mg,N2O转化率介于2.4%~2.9%。     

炼油废水污泥脱水工艺条件的优化

采用化学除油降黏—污泥调理—离心脱水工艺处理某炼油厂废水处理系统的混合污泥，并对工艺条件进行优化。实验结果表明，最佳的工艺条件为：化学除油降黏阶段处理体系的pH=4，反应温度35 ℃，H₂O₂加入量 2 g/L，m（H₂O₂）∶ m（Fe²⁺）=4，反应时间 60 min；污泥调理反应阶段的CaO加入量7.0 g/L；离心脱水阶段在分离因数为1 558时脱水5 min。在此条件下，得到的泥饼的含水率为70.0%~75.0%（w），含油率小于2%（w），污泥比阻约为3.0×10⁷ s²/g。     

基于MODIS数据的安徽区域日蒸散量估算与分析

蒸散的估算在区域能量平衡和水资源研究中具有重要意义，遥感技术发展促进了区域蒸散的研究。利用安徽省气象资料、MODIS数据产品及GIS背景信息，基于SEBAL模型，按1 km空间分辨率进行了面尺度的安徽省日蒸散量估算，并在GIS空间分析模块的支持下对不同土地覆盖类型的日蒸散量进行统计分析。结果表明：遥感估算的蒸散量与利用Penman Monteith公式计算的蒸散量比较，两者之间具有较好的相关性，遥感蒸散估算值整体偏小，不同土地利用类型的日蒸散量间差异显著。遥感蒸散估算方法在安徽省具有一定的实用性，需优化模型参数，以提高其进一步技术推广的前景