Fire accident investigation of an explosion caused by static electricity in a propylene plant

This study investigated a 2010 fire and explosion that occurred at a polypropylene (PP) and copper-clad laminate high-tech plant in Taiwan. Liquid acetone leakage caused the fire and explosion. One person was killed and five were injured; property damage was estimated at US$20 million. In contrast to conventional plants, high-tech plants have sophisticated instrumentation, highly complex pipelines, and confined spaces. In addition, the floor area in a high-tech plant is large and frequently contains a channel through the ground floor to the second or third floor. This channel design enables the fire compartment to be destroyed. Therefore, the system cannot confine the fire to a specific area, thus hindering fire-relief operations. In this study, the original fire outbreak occurred in the PP processing area on the ground floor. The acetone storage tank was located on the third floor. The investigation conducted at the fire site of the situations of the burning (bursting) loss determined that the acetone liquid leaked and dripped from floor cracks and tunnel oven to the PP processing area. Because the PP manufacturing process rapidly generates static electricity, the flammable liquids made contact with the source of ignition, which caused the explosion and fire. Various procedures, such as those involving the operating environment of production, packaging, and processing in a high-tech plant, are likely to produce static electricity in a workplace. Improved electrostatic management can prevent the loss of property and lives, liquid acetone leakage, and loss of equipment caused by static electricity fire.     

2011年春季沙尘天气影响下上海大气颗粒物及其化学组分的变化特征

于2011年4月28日~5月18日对上海大气中颗粒物的质量浓度及细粒子中的化学组分进行了连续观测,获得了上海受春季沙尘天气影响下大气颗粒物质量浓度和主要化学组分特征.结果表明,沙尘天气中PM10和PM2.5的质量浓度显著高于非沙尘天,最高日均浓度分别达到787.2μg·m-3和139.5μg·m-3,PM2.5/PM10的均值为(32.9±14.6)%(15.6%~85.1%);总水溶性无机离子(TWSⅡ)占PM2.5的质量分数为(27.2±19.2)%(4.8%~80.8%),二次组分SNA(SO2-4、NO-3、NH+4)占TWSⅡ的(76.9±13.9)%(41.9%~94.2%),TWSⅡ和SNA对PM2.5的贡献均小于非沙尘天,而Ca2+的含量比却有明显上升.非沙尘天测得的OC/EC值高于强沙尘天,但低于弱沙尘天.此外分析还得到,沙尘中的高矿尘粒子具有酸性缓冲作用,使得沙尘天颗粒的碱性强于沙尘发生前.非沙尘天SO2-4、NO-3主要以NH4HSO4、(NH4)2SO4和NH4NO3的形式存在,沙尘天还会与其他矿物离子结合.     

In-situ surfactant/surfactant-nutrient mix-enhanced bioremediation of NAPL (fuel)-contaminated sandy soil aquifers

SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Contamination of soils, aquifers and groundwater by nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) pollutants constitutes a major environmental issue of concern, worldwide. The residual (biodegradation-resistant) hydrophobic fuel hydrocarbons entrapped in the soil porous matrix, possess a particular bioremediation challenge due to their becoming virtually immobile, nor desorbable, or water dispersible. Consequently, they are not available as substrates to the micro-organism-based biodegradation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our research involves the development of economically feasible, surfactant/surfactant-nutrient mix (SSNM)-enhanced bioremediation methodologies for sustainable, in situ bioremediation of fuel-contaminated aquifers. This requires, methodologically, (a) the optimization, via in vitro 'flow' (columns) lab experiments and screening processes, of an effective mixture for the intended SSNM-enhanced bioremediation; and (b) the study of the combined effect of the optimized SSNM on the solubilization/mobilization and biodegradation of NAPL (fuel) in in vitro site/aquifer-simulated bioremediation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The essence of our findings: (1) kerosene's maximum enhanced mobilization - f = 3.6, compared with that of deionized water, was achieved with an SSNM having the composition of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LABS): coco-amphodiacetate (containing N): surfactant-nutrient X (containing both N and P) = 0.15: 0.15: 0.05 g/L, respectively; (2) 62-64% of the initial amount of kerosene in the initially saturated soil matrix, 'packed' in a column, has been eluted from it during approximately 30 days, compared with 68% of kerosene biodegradation in 'vessel' settings, in 21 days. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The indigenous microorganisms present in th vadose zones of fuel-contaminated sandy soil aquifers are potentially capable of unassisted removal of approximately 80% of the initially contained fuel (kerosene), during a period of about 42 days; (2) the major effects of the SSNM addition are (a) enhanced mobilization of the bulky NAPL; and (b) enhanced desorbtion/ solubilization/dispersion of the entrapped NAPL which, in turn, facilitate their enhanced biodegradation. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVE: Our findings suggest that pre-optimized, biodegradable SSNM is essential for surfactants-based bioremediation of NAPL-contaminated aquifers, in order to make this in-situ methodology both technologically and economically feasible.     

Surfactant dissolution and mobilization of LNAPL contaminants in aquifers

Improper disposal, accidental spills and leaks of non-aqueousphase liquids (NAPL) such as gasoline, fuel oil and creosote result in long-term persistent sources of groundwater pollution.Column and 2-D tanks experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of surfactant-enhanced recovery of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) in groundwater aquifers. These experiments focused on the use of surfactants to promote dissolution and mobilization in addition to evaluating the increase of aqueous phase permeability as residual NAPL is recovered. Further experiments are presented that show the innovative use of surfactants during primary pumping to recover free product canpotentially increase the amount of free product recovered, canpotentially reduce the amount of residual NAPL remaining afterprimary pumping and performs better than the use of surfactantsto mobilize trapped residual NAPL.     

爱尔兰海岸夏季空气颗粒物水溶性离子粒径分布研究

研究了爱尔兰西海岸国际海洋大气研究站夏季（2002年8月12～22日）大西洋气团颗粒物中水溶性无机离子的含量与其粒径关系.海盐成分（Cl^-、SO4^2-、Na^＋、Ca2＋、Mg^2＋、K^＋）含量在粗颗粒物中随粒径呈双峰分布（0.8～30 μm）,但Ca^2＋和K＋受陆域源影响,在亚微米颗粒区间出现另一分布峰（0.1～0.8 μm）.二次颗粒物成分在所有颗粒物中均有检出;NO^3-呈广域宽带分布,其中大部分出现在海盐主峰区（0.8～8 μm,存在Dp 1.4 μm和Dp 4.4 μm两种模态）;nss-SO4^2-（非海盐硫酸根）和NH^4＋呈相关三峰分布（Dp 0.44 μm、Dp 1.4 μm和Dp 4.4 μm）,CH3SO3-也呈相似三峰分布（Dp 0.44 μm、Dp 1.4 μm和Dp 8 μm）,三者在亚微米颗粒区间同位出现主峰.二次颗粒物成分Dp 1.4 μm模态在海岸空气颗粒物研究文献中尚少见报道.讨论了亚微米区间二次颗粒物盐类的化学形态.TSP中nss-SO4^2-、NO^3-、NH^4＋和CH3SO^3-的日均浓度分别为0.279、0.171、0.158和0.041 μg/m^3.     

污染土壤胶体释放特征及其对锌运移的作用

污染土壤样品采自辽宁省某炼锌企业周边农田.通过室内土柱淋溶实验,研究不同pH和离子强度下土壤胶体的释放特征以及对重金属Zn在土壤中运移的作用.结果表明,土壤胶体的释放均呈现先逐渐增强而后渐弱,并趋于稳定.pH和离子强度对土壤胶体的释放有明显的影响,弱酸(pH=6)条件最有利土壤中胶体的释放,其次是中性(pH=7)和碱性(pH=9)条件,在强酸(pH=4)条件下最弱.随离子强度增加,土壤中胶体的释放能力逐渐减弱.淋出液中胶体结合态Zn浓度均超过总Zn浓度的50％,且淋出液中的总Zn浓度与胶体的浓度相关性显著.经SPSS分析,pH=4、6、7和9时,该线性相关系数r分别为0.749、0.948、0.966和0.927,呈极显著相关关系.钙离子强度为0.001、0.01、0.1和0.5mmol/L时,相关系数r分别为0.921、0.895、0.947和0.907,也呈现极显著相关关系.说明土壤地下水中Zn的运移主要受胶体释放的控制.     

BiVO_4催化剂的离子液体辅助水热合成及其可见光催化活性

采用溴化1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑([Bmim]Br)离子液体辅助水热合成法制备了光催化剂Bi VO4。以高压氙灯作为可见光源,亚甲基蓝为目标污染物,考察反应温度、p H、反应时间和离子用量等制备条件对Bi VO4的可见光催化活性的影响,确定了最佳制备条件。并采用XRD、SEM和UV-Vis漫反射等分析手段对催化剂的晶相、形貌和光学特性进行了表征。结果表明,在离子液体加入量为2 m L、p H=4、反应温度为180℃、反应时间为4 h的条件下,制得的Bi VO4催化剂的可见光光催化活性最高。制得的Bi VO4为单斜相,呈分散的、大小均匀的片状,在200~500 nm范围有一个较宽的强吸收平台,具有良好的可见光催化活性,在可见光照射下对浓度为5 mg/L的亚甲基蓝的光催化脱色率达97%以上。     

5种吸附剂对水中离子液体的吸附性能

实验研究了蒙脱土、活性白土、人造沸石、活性炭和水滑石5种吸附材料在25℃和50℃下对[Bmim]Cl的吸附过程,结果表明,蒙脱土对离子液体的去除效果最好,温度对活性炭的吸附有一定的影响,而对其他吸附剂的影响不大,说明这些无机矿物发生了离子交换型吸附过程。实验进一步研究了蒙脱土在25℃下对[Bmim]Cl、[Bmim]BF4、[Bmim]PF6、[Bmim]DBP、[Hmim]Cl和[Omim]Cl 6种离子液体的吸附行为,结果表明,对于阳离子相同的离子液体,阴离子对吸附影响不大;对于阴离子相同的离子液体,其饱和吸附量随着阳离子链长的增加而减小。     

甲苯在典型土壤中的迁移性能

采用一维土柱装置模拟非水相液体(NAPLs)在我国两种典型土壤(北京潮土与湖南红壤)中的垂向迁移过程,以甲苯为例研究了其在两种土壤中的迁移性能;采用XRD技术测定土壤的矿物组成。实验结果表明,当潮土和红壤孔隙率均为45%时,甲苯在潮土中的迁移速率和最终迁移距离均显著高于在红壤中。甲苯在潮土中的阻滞系数(Rf=18.9)小于在红壤中(Rf=26.5),表明红壤对甲苯的吸附阻滞作用强于潮土。XRD表征结果显示,红壤中粒径小的黏粒含量较高,具有较多的黏土矿物,对甲苯具有更强的吸附阻滞能力,致使甲苯在红壤中垂向迁移速率小,最终迁移距离较短。     

吸附分离辅助电渗透脱水过程中污泥的特性

电渗透技术对于城市污水厂污泥的深度脱水是非常有效的,但相对较高的能耗制约了它的广泛应用。为此,针对污泥电渗透脱水过程中阴极排水困难引起能耗高的问题,提出了吸附分离辅助电渗透脱水,同时考察了吸附分离辅助电渗透脱水过程中污泥中水分的运动特点、pH的变化以及离子的迁移规律。结果显示,吸附分离可以极大地提高污泥电渗透脱水的效果。且脱水过程中阳极附近污泥的含水率、pH均迅速减小;阴极附近污泥的含水率稍有减少,但pH却迅速增大;而中间层污泥的含水率及pH均没有发生变化。此外,电渗透脱水技术对于污泥中目标离子的去除非常有效,但同时容易导致非目标离子的去除。