Can a low-carbon development path achieve win-win development: evidence from China’s low-carbon pilot policy

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Low-carbon pilot (LCP) policy aims to not only achieve economic development but also address climate change problems in China. With a...     

Evaluating national hydrogen refueling infrastructure requirement and economic competitiveness of fuel cell electric long-haul trucks

This study explored the national hydrogen refueling infrastructure requirement along major United States (US) interstate highway corridors to support the deployment of fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) for the national long-haul trucking fleet. Given the long-haul trucking shipment demand in 2025 projected by the Freight Analysis Framework, locations and capacities of hydrogen stations were identified for inter-zone freight flows, and the total daily refueling demand was estimated for intra-zone flows for each FAF zone. Based on the infrastructure deployment results, we conducted an economic feasibility analysis of FCETs by evaluating the total ownership cost. We found that when the FCET penetration is relatively high (e.g., 10% penetration), FCETs become more competitive in terms of fuel cost and idling cost and could be economic viable if the incremental vehicle cost is reduced to meet the near-term FCET technology cost targets and the liquefaction cost is reduced to an optimal case. We also observed that the station cost depends on regional factors, particularly regional demand, which is used to determine station capacity. Thus, one possible strategy for station roll-out is to have early investment in target regions where station costs are expected to be relatively low such as the Pacific and West South Central regions.

     

沈阳市农村生活污水处理设施有机废弃物归趋

采用实地观察法、文献调查法对沈阳市农村生活污水处理设施基本状况进行研究分析。结果显示:沈阳市已建成农村生活污水处理设施297处,有机废弃物产生量(干重)约为:剩余污泥637 t/a、湿地植物废弃物169 t/a。     

黄河流域生态环境保护投资分析及优化建议

以黄河流域生态环保投资为研究对象,统计并分析近年来全社会和中央财政投入情况,从时间、空间和领域3个维度分析变化趋势,发现存在投资总量不足、效益跨区域外部性、地方投入渠道受制约等问题。从政府、企业、社会和金融机构4个主体层次分别提出相应的对策建议,以期为保障黄河流域生态环保资金投入提供支撑。     

深圳市综合水质指数研究及其在水资源资产评估上的应用

自然资源资产评估技术是开展自然资源资产负债表实践和实行环境责任离任审计的重要技术支撑。水资源作为一项重要自然资源,如何有效评估水资源资产是不可回避的问题。论文以深圳市为研究区域,一是采用综合污染指数法和主成分分析法,以总氮、氨氮、总磷、化学需氧量、生化需氧量、固体悬浮物为指标参数构建了深圳市综合水质指数以评价水资源综合水质。二是以该综合水质评估模型为基础,通过采用治污成本法分析综合水质与治污成本间的关系,从而构建深圳市景观水和饮用水资源的价值量评估模型。论文还以深圳市大鹏新区为试点开展了水资源价值量评估,评估结果显示,2015年大鹏新区景观水和饮用水资源的价值量分别为3.60亿、0.35亿元。     

Effect of TiO2 nanoparticle aggregation on marine microalgae Isochrysis galbana

TiO_2 nanoparticles(NPs) could adversely impact aquatic ecosystems. However, the aggregation of these NPs could attenuate this effect. In this work, the biological effects of TiO_2 NPs on a marine microalgae Isochrysis galbana were investigated. The aggregation kinetics of TiO_2 NPs under different conditions was also investigated to determine and understand these effects. Results showed that, though TiO_2 NPs had no obvious impact on the size and reproducibility of algal cells under testing conditions, they caused a negative effect on algal chlorophyll, which led to a reduction in photosynthesis. Furthermore, fast aggregation of TiO_2 NPs occurred under all conditions, especially at the pH close to the p Hzpc. Increasing ionic strength and NP concentration also enhanced the aggregation rate.The aggregation and the following sedimentation of TiO_2 NPs reduced their adverse effects on I. galbana.     

Mercury flows in large-scale gold production and implications for Hg pollution control

Large-scale gold production(LSGP) is one of the five convention-related atmospheric mercury(Hg) emission sources in the Minamata Convention on Mercury. However, field experiments on Hg flows of the whole process of LSGP are limited. To identify the atmospheric Hg emission points and understand Hg emission characteristics of LSGP, Hg flows in two gold smelters were studied. Overall atmospheric Hg emissions accounted for 10%–17% of total Hg outputs and the Hg emission factors for all processes were 7.6–9.6 kg/ton. There were three dominant atmospheric Hg emission points in the studied gold smelters, including the exhaust gas of the roasting process, exhaust gas from the environmental fog collection stack and exhaust gas from the converter of the refining process. Atmospheric Hg emissions from the roasting process only accounted for 16%–29% of total emissions and the rest were emitted from the refining process. The overall Hg speciation profile(gaseous elemental Hg/gaseous oxidized Hg/particulate-bound Hg) for LSGP was 34.1/57.1/8.8. The dominant Hg output byproducts included waste acid, sulfuric acid and cyanide leaching residue. Total Hg outputs from these three byproducts were 80% in smelter A and 84% in smelter B. Our study indicated that previous atmospheric Hg emissions from large-scale gold production might have been overestimated.Hg emission control in LSGP is not especially urgent in China compared to other significant emission sources(e.g., cement plants). Instead, LSGP is a potential Hg release source due to the high Hg output proportions to acid and sludge.