Carbon emission reduction and cost–benefit of methane digester systems on hog farms in China

Three different sizes of hog farms were selected to analyze the carbon emissions reduction and the cost–benefit of three methane digester systems. The sizes of the digesters are 2,200, 2,200 and 800 m³, respectively. The sales of slaughter hogs from them are 50,000, 35,000 and 10,000 head, respectively. The carbon emissions reductions were 5,237, 4,017, and 1,334 tons, respectively. The results show that while the methane digester systems have a significant effect on carbon emissions reduction, it is difficult to operate the systems sustainably. If the carbon emissions reduction can be traded at high enough prices in the carbon offset markets, then the systems will be profitable and sustainable. Newly established China's domestic carbon offset market could provide this possibility, but more government support is needed. In addition, this study shows that scale economies make the digester adoption relatively more profitable for larger farms than smaller ones.     

城市道路沉积物氮、磷溶出特性

国内外众多研究表明,城市不透水表面沉积物是雨水径流中污染物的重要来源。以北京市某道路沉积物为研究对象,对城市道路沉积物的粒径分布进行了分析,并通过批量实验,研究了不同粒径道路沉积物中氮、磷营养物及有机物(COD)的溶出特性。实验结果表明,粒径较大的沉积物中氮含量较高,而粒径较小的沉积物中磷含量较高;虽然TP、PO3-4、TN、NO-3、NH+4、COD的溶出浓度、溶出速率变化特征各不相同,但总体趋势是粒径越小氮、磷及COD溶出浓度和溶出速率越大,且最大溶出速率都出现在前5 min。因此,为实现对城市雨水径流污染的有效控制,应采用源头控制措施对小粒径道路沉积物和初期雨水进行有效控制。     

集中式饮用水源地邻苯二甲酸酯类物质分布特征与健康风险评估

以某地区7个集中式饮用水源地为研究对象,采用固相萃取气相色谱-质谱法(SPE-GC-MS)对水体中16种邻苯二甲酸酯的分布特征和溯源进行了研究,并利用健康风险评估模型对水体PAEs进行了健康风险评价。结果表明:邻苯二甲酸二正丁酯、邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯、邻苯二甲酸二异丁酯和邻苯二甲酸二正辛酯在所有PAEs同系物中含量丰富,而所有样品均无邻苯二甲酸二(2-甲氧基)乙酯和邻苯二甲酸二戊酯的检出;二水厂和亨达水务断面Σ_(16)PAEs浓度最高,四水厂和五水厂断面Σ_(16)PAEs浓度最低;水体12种PAEs共提出3个主成分,揭示了91%的影响因子;层次聚类分析表明:7个采样断面聚为2类,分别代表了内河和长江水体。水体中PAEs的致癌风险值和非致癌风险值均远低于参考值,说明研究水体PAEs不会对居民构成致癌风险或其他明显的健康风险,但需加强该地区PAEs使用的规范与监管,强化末端处理,以规避风险。     

基于白碳黑的水化硅酸钙制备及其磷回收特性简

以白碳黑、硅灰、硅藻土和硅胶筛选硅质原料，并与钙质原料电石渣制备了水化硅酸钙。借助XRF、BET、FTIR等表征手段，通过多次重复除磷实验，研究了硅质原料特性对水化硅酸钙回收磷性能的影响。结果表明，白碳黑具有极高的反应活性，因此可作为制备具有磷回收特性的水化硅酸钙的硅质原料。结合XRD等表征发现，白碳黑的有效利用率是影响水化硅酸钙回收磷性能的关键，该利用率取决于白碳黑与电石渣的摩尔配比以及水热反应温度。当电石渣与白碳黑的摩尔比为1.6：1，反应温度为170℃时，白碳黑具有最佳的利用效率。该条件制备的水化硅酸钙可作为晶种，在其表面结晶形成羟基磷灰石，从而达到磷回收的目的，磷回收后固体物质中的磷含量为19.05%。     

Techno-economic and environmental analysis of an integrated standalone hybrid solar hydrogen system to supply CCHP loads of a greenhouse in Iran

The techno-economic and environmental performance of hybrid solar hydrogen energy systems was investigated to provide combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) demands of a standalone greenhouse in Iran to achieve sustainable agriculture based on an optimization procedure. From the environmental point of view, by deploying hybrid energy systems, 83%, to 100% of emissions can be avoided. Also a sensitivity analysis was performed on the hybrid energy systems in order to study the effect of major parameter variation on the systems justification. It was concluded that hybrid solar systems are economically competitive with conventional systems, for high solar intensity locations with high diesel fuel prices and decreased prices for PV and hydrogen storage technology.     

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。     

Gold Mining: Is It Worth Its Weight?

Gold (Au) accounts for only 0.004 g/ton of the earth's crust and is the most desired element. With an average annual world production of approximately 2,500 tons, the current methods of Au mining in developing countries cause major environmental issues. These issues vary from deforestation to cyanide and mercury (Hg) contamination. This article presents several cases of environmental catastrophes caused by Au mining in different regions of the world (Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South America). It discusses the currently available processes for the large-scale extraction of metallic Au grains and supports the need for an alternative sustainable process.     

黄河甘宁蒙段表层沉积物中总磷3种提取方法的比较

通过微波消解法、标准测试方法(SMT)和碱熔法分别测定了水系沉积物成分分析标准物质GBW07307a(GSD-7a)中的总磷(TP)含量,并分别采用3种方法对采集于黄河流域甘宁蒙段表层沉积物样品进行TP含量和样品加标回收率的测定。结果表明:测定标准物质的相对误差绝对值:微波消解法碱熔法SMT法;变异系数:微波消解法碱熔法SMT法。同时,微波消解法提取的表层沉积物TP含量的范围为634.3~909.2μg/g;SMT法TP含量的范围为627.1~889.5μg/g;碱熔法TP含量的范围为559.1~784.8μg/g。微波消解法的测定结果相对偏高,SMT法的测定结果相对偏低。样品加标回收率平均值:微波消解法SMT法碱熔法;变异系数:微波消解法碱熔法SMT法。综合测定标准物质中TP含量以及样品加标回收率实验结果的准确度和精密度,对于黄河甘宁蒙段表层沉积物,使用SMT法提取TP较优于微波消解法和碱熔法。     

Observations of Atmospheric Nitrogen and Phosphorus Deposition During the Period of Algal Bloom Formation in Northern Lake Taihu,China

Cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Taihu occurred at the end of April 2007 and had crucial impacts on the livelihood of millions of people living there. Excessive nutrients may promote bloom formation. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition appears to play an important role in algal bloom formation. Bulk deposition and rain water samples were collected respectively from May 1 to November 30, 2007, the period of optimal algal growth, to measure the bulk atmospheric deposition rate, wet deposition rate, and dry deposition rate for total nitrogen (TN; i.e., all species of nitrogen), and total phosphorus (TP; i.e., all species of phosphorus), in northern Lake Taihu, China. The trends of the bulk atmospheric deposition rate for TN and the wet deposition rate for TN showed double peaks during the observation period and distinct influence with plum rains and typhoons. Meanwhile, monthly bulk atmospheric deposition rates for TP showed little influence of annual precipitation. However, excessive rain may lead to high atmospheric N and P deposition rates. In bulk deposition samples, the average percentage of total dissolved nitrogen accounting for TN was 91.2% and changed little with time. However, the average percentage of total dissolved phosphorus accounting for TP was 65.6% and changed substantially with time. Annual bulk atmospheric deposition rates of TN and TP during 2007 in Lake Taihu were estimated to be 2,976 and 84 kg km⁻² a⁻¹, respectively. The results showed decreases of 34.4% and 78.7%, respectively, compared to 2002–2003. Annual bulk deposition load of TN for Lake Taihu was estimated at 6,958 t a⁻¹ in 2007 including 4,642 t a⁻¹ of wet deposition, lower than the values obtained in 2002–2003. This may be due to measures taken to save energy and emission control regulations in the Yangtze River Delta. Nevertheless, high atmospheric N and P deposition loads helped support cyanobacterial blooms in northern Lake Taihu during summer and autumn, the period of favorable algal growth.     

Batch sorption dynamics and equilibrium for the removal of lead ions from aqueous phase using activated carbon developed from coffee residue activated with zinc chloride

Lignocellulosic materials are good precursors for the production of activated carbon. In this work, coffee residue has been used as raw material in the preparation of powder activated carbon by the method of chemical activation with zinc chloride for the sorption of Pb(II) from dilute aqueous solutions.The influence of impregnation ratio (ZnCl₂/coffee residue) on the physical and chemical properties of the prepared carbons was studied in order to optimize this parameter. The optimum experimental condition for preparing predominantly microporous activated carbons with high pore surface area (890 m²/g) and micropore volume (0.772 cm³/g) is an impregnation ratio of 100%. The developed activated carbon shows substantial capability to sorb lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions and for relative impregnation ratios of 75 and 100%, the maximum uptake is practically the same. Thus, 75% represents the optimal impregnation ratio.Batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of the main parameters such as contact time, initial concentration of Pb(II), solution pH, ionic strength and temperature. The maximum uptake of lead(II) at 25 °C was about 63 mg/g of adsorbent at pH 5.8, initial Pb(II) concentration of 10 mg/L, agitation speed of 200 rpm and ionic strength of 0.005 M. The kinetic data were fitted to the models of pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order, and follow closely the pseudo-second order model. Equilibrium sorption isotherms of Pb(II) were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The Freundlich model gives a better fit than the others.Results from this study suggest that activated carbon produced from coffee residue is an effective adsorbent for the removal of lead from aqueous solutions and that ZnCl₂ is a suitable activating agent for the preparation of high-porosity carbons.