Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of Kaohsiung Harbour and adjacent coast, Taiwan

Surficial sediment samples collected from Kaohsiung Harbour and its nearby coast were analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbons and parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). According to our results, the average total concentrations of n-alkanes (n-C₁₂ to C₃₅) and aromatics (15 PAHs) were 4.33 µg g^–1 dry weight (ranged 0.46–22.60) and 0.59 µg g^–1 dry weight (ranged 0.09–1.75), respectively. The highest concentrations of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were recorded in stations near the estuaries of Qianzhen River and Love River, respectively. Aliphatic hydrocarbons in the samples indicate that there has been significant non-petrogenic, possibly terrestrial, contribution in the sediment of the open coast of Kaohsiung Harbour and that there has been dominant contribution from petrogenic sources in the sediment of the inner harbour. PAHs, detected in the samples, however, indicated a higher pyrolytic contribution in open-coast samples and a higher petrogenic contribution in the inner harbour. Overall, sediment concentrations of total alkanes in this study were comparable to those found in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong and are higher than those found in Xiamen Harbour, China. Concentrations of total PAHs in inner Kaohsiung Harbour sediments were relatively lower than those found in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong and Xiamen Harbour, China, but comparable to those found in Hsin-ta Harbour, Taiwan and Incheon Harbour, Korea. In comparison with several effect-based sediment quality guidelines, most PAH concentrations found in samples taken from inner harbour stations exceeded the Threshold Effect Level of Florida indicating a slight possibility of adverse effects.     

DNA polymorphism and globin chain analysis in the prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassaemia major in Taiwan

Thirty-six pregnancies in 25 families at risk of β-thalassaemia major received prenatal diagnosis. Chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis was done in 35 pregnancies to obtain fetal cells for DNA linkage study, for which Southern blotting and DNA hybridization were used to detect seven restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) within the β-globin gene cluster: ϵ-HincII, ^Gγ-HindIII, ^Aγ-HindIII, Φβ-HincII, 3′Φβ-HincII, β-AvaII, and 3′β BarnHI. β-Thalassaemia major was diagnosed in seven and excluded in 22 pregnancies. In the remaining six cases, β-thalassaemia major could not be excluded. In these six pregnancies and another one with late booking, ultrasound-guided cordocentesis was performed at the 22nd to 27th week of gestation. Globin chain composition was determined with urea-acetic acid-Triton X-100-12 per cent polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. β-Thalassaemia major was diagnosed in two fetuses and excluded in the other five. Eleven fetuses (in which β-thalassaemia major was excluded) have been delivered and are healthy at more than 5 months old DNA linkage analysis coupled with globin chain electrophoresis provides an effective way for prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassaemia major, although these methods are being replaced by more direct detection techniques using oligonucleotide probes.     

Experimental investigation of a 250-kW turbine organic Rankine cycle system for low-grade waste heat recovery

An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is generally used for converting low-grade heat into electricity. In this study, an extensive literature survey was conducted to identify current research gaps on experimental ORC systems. Specifically, there is limited experimental data and limited details on thermal and expander efficiencies of ORC systems. In order to address these gaps, the objective of this study included developing a turbine ORC with a power output exceeding 50 kW and thermal efficiency exceeding 8% for a heat source temperature < 120°C. The experimental results indicated that the system achieved a net power output of 242.5 kW and a thermal efficiency of 8.3% (the highest value for a turbine ORC system for the heat source temperature below 120°C). Thus, the study addressed the gaps identified in the research area of ORCs.     

变温环境对典型石灰土有机碳矿化的影响

采用野外采样和室内培养试验,研究了不同土地利用类型(林地和旱地)下的石灰土表层土壤有机碳(SOC)矿化对变温环境的响应.两种供试土样分别采自贵州省普定县天龙山区域的典型林地和旱地的0~10 cm表层.在培养试验中,依据积温相同的原则,设置变温(范围:15~25℃,变温间隔12 h)和恒温(20℃)两个温度处理,培养时间为56 d.在整个培养期内,旱地石灰土变温处理的SOC累积矿化量(63.32 mg·kg-1)虽略低于恒温处理(63.96 mg·kg-1),但两者之间差异不显著,而森林石灰土变温处理的SOC累积矿化量(169.46 mg·kg-1)则显著低于恒温处理(209.52 mg·kg-1)(P<0.05),这表明不同土地利用类型的石灰土SOC矿化对变温环境的响应不同.受植被和土地利用类型的影响,森林石灰土和旱地石灰土表层的SOC含量和组成差异显著,这可能是导致其SOC矿化对变温环境响应差异的重要原因.另外,各温度处理中,土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)含量与SOC日均矿化量之间均呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),表明制约土壤DOC生成是温度影响土壤有机碳矿化的一个重要途径.在培养过程中,土壤微生物量碳含量不能有效反映恒温和变温下的SOC矿化差异,结合矿化动力学分析可知,同恒温相比,变温虽然不能通过改变微生物数量来影响SOC矿化,但能通过改变微生物群落的总体活性来影响SOC矿化过程.     

水热变化对三峡水库消落带紫色土有机碳矿化的影响

通过野外采样和室内模拟培养试验,研究水热变化对三峡水库消落带紫色土有机碳(SOC)矿化的影响.试验共设3个培养温度(10、20和30℃)和4个水分梯度[40%田间持水量(WHC)、70%WHC、100%WHC和淹水].在66 d培养期内,SOC累积矿化量表现为100%WHC处理下的最大,但与淹水之间差异不显著(P0.05).10℃和20℃时,100%WHC和淹水下的SOC累积矿化量与70%WHC无明显差异,但要显著高于40%WHC,而30℃时100%WHC和淹水下的累积矿化量则要显著高于70%WHC和40%WHC(P0.05),这表明相较于70%WHC的水分处理,高水分(100%WHC和淹水)对SOC矿化无抑制效应甚至在高温(30℃)下有促进作用.在相同水分条件下,消落带紫色土SOC累积矿化量均随培养温度升高而增加.另外,方差分析可知,温度和水分均能显著影响消落带紫色土SOC的累积矿化量,且二者有明显交互效应(P0.05).双库一级矿化动力学模型拟合结果表明,水分和温度通过影响消落带紫色土易分解有机碳含量和难分解有机碳的矿化速率,致使各处理之间SOC累积矿化量存在差异,其中高温条件下水分影响最为突出.随着温度的升高,低水分(40%WHC)下消落带紫色土SOC矿化的温度敏感性显著下降,而在土壤含水量≥70%WHC下则无明显变化.     

Environmental assessment of trace element bioaccumulation in sipunculan from seagrass and wetland sediments

This study is the first measurement of trace elements in sipunculan and their surrounding sediments. The bioaccumulation characteristics of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn) were analyzed and compared in two sipunculan species, Sipuncula nudus and Siphonosoma vastum, which were collected from seagrass beds and wetlands in Taiwan. The sipunculan and sediment samples were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Both sipunculan in the wetlands and seagrass beds had a high Cu bioaccumulation mechanism. Multivariate analysis, principle component analysis, and partial least squares for discriminant analysis of trace element levels and bioaccumulation factors were used to distinguish the element distributions that corresponded to the two habitats (seagrass beds and wetlands). Different levels of certain trace elements in these two sipunculan species may result not only from the environmental factors of various habitats but also from the accumulation characteristics of various species. The As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, and Zn concentrations were markedly lower in sipunculan than in other invertebrates from the adjacent polluted regions. The public health issues regarding the consumption of sipunculan are also discussed.     

造纸废水厌氧处理产沼气发电研究

以浙江某纸业企业利用造纸废水厌氧处理所产沼气发电工程为例,研究造纸废水厌氧处理产沼气发电系统工艺运行的稳定性和经济可行性。结果表明:(1)厌氧内循环(IC)反应器运行稳定,产沼气量基本在3000m3/d左右(测定点压强约为2×105Pa),平均产气率为0.38m3/kg,基本达到产气率设计要求。(2)经处理后沼气中硫化氢质量浓度始终处于20～50mg/m3,平均固体颗粒物质量浓度约为15mg/m3,平均湿度为66%,达到发电系统的要求。(3)运行期间平均日发电量为8600kW.h,回用的蒸汽量平均约为1.1t/d。(4)整个沼气发电系统总收支为6.0万元/a,实现收支平衡且略有盈余。(5)假设以煤炭替换沼气发电,以年发电258万kW.h计算,理论上沼气发电系统每年节省煤炭928.8t,减少2118t二氧化碳排放,节能减排成效显著。