Determination and impact of volatile organics emitted during rush hours in the ambient air around gasoline stations

This study analyzes the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air around gasoline stations during rush hours and assesses their impact on human health. Results from this study clearly indicate that methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), toluene, and isobutane are the major VOCs emitted from gasoline stations. Moreover, the concentrations of MTBE and toluene in the ambient air near gasoline stations are remarkably higher than those sampled on surrounding roads, revealing that these compounds are mainly released from gasoline stations. The concentration of VOCs near the gasoline stations without vapor recovery systems are approximately 7.3 times higher than those around the gasoline stations having the recovery systems. An impact on individual health and air quality because of gasoline station emissions was done using Integrated Risk Information System and Industrial Source Complex Short Term model.     

均匀设计法优化造纸黑液的湿式氧化法处理工艺

通过均匀设计实验,对造纸黑液进行湿式氧化处理,数据回归得到CODCr、吸光度、浊度的回归方程,各回归方程显著,氧分压对造纸黑液各指标影响最大;研究反应过程中反应温度、氧分压、进水pH值、进水浓度、搅拌强度、反应时间对造纸黑液湿式氧化(WAO)处理的影响,6因素优化的操作条件依次为:180℃、3.0MPa、7.25、5500mg/L、500r/min、60min;在优化的操作条件下,造纸黑液的CODCr、CODCr去除率为1661mg/L、69.8%,吸光度、脱色率为0.63、96.3%,浊度、浊度去除率为661NTU、74.8%.均匀设计法在造纸黑液WAO处理中得到了较好的应用.     

A new polystyrene-latex-based and EPS-containing synthetic sludge

Since the living microorganisms in activated sludge continuously change, it is difficult to conduct controlled experiments and achieve reproducible results for evaluating sludge characteristics. Synthetic sludge, as a chemical surrogate to activated sludge, could be used to investigate the sludge physicochemical properties, and it is desirable to prepare synthetic sludge with similar structure and properties to real activated sludge to explore the flocculation and settlement processes in activated sludge systems. In this work, a high-strength synthetic sludge was prepared with functional polystyrene latex particles as the framework and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to modify its surface. The flocculation and settling characteristics of the microspheres and the prepared synthetic sludge were tested. Compared with other three functional polystyrene latex microspheres, the synthetic sludge prepared with EPS-modified polystyrene latex microspheres showed good settling characteristics and a significantly higher strength. They could be used for studying the physicochemical properties of activated sludge.     

Determination and Impact of Volatile Organics Emitted during Rush Hours in the Ambient Air around Gasoline Stations

Abstract

This study analyzes the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air around gasoline stations during rush hours and assesses their impact on human health. Results from this study clearly indicate that methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), toluene, and isobutane are the major VOCs emitted from gasoline stations. Moreover, the concentrations of MTBE and toluene in the ambient air near gasoline stations are remarkably higher than those sampled on surrounding roads, revealing that these compounds are mainly released from gasoline stations. The concentration of VOCs near the gasoline stations without vapor recovery systems are ～7.3 times higher than those around the gasoline stations having the recovery systems. An impact on individual health and air quality because of gasoline station emissions was done using Integrated Risk Information System and Industrial Source Complex Short Term model.     

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) in surface soil from a background area in China: occurrence, distribution, and congener profiles

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are extremely complex technical mixtures of polychlorinated n-alkanes with carbon chain lengths from C₁₀ to C₁₃ and chlorine content between 49 and 70 %. SCCPs are under consideration for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants. SCCPs have been used extensively in industrial production, but little is known about the pollution level in soil environment in China. In this study, levels and distribution of SCCPs in soil samples from Chongming Island were analyzed. Concentrations of total SCCPs in soil samples ranged from 0.42 to 420 ng?g^?1, with a median of 9.6 ng?g^?1. The ubiquitous occurrence of SCCPs in Chongming Island implied that long-range atmospheric transport and soil–air exchange may be the most important pathways for SCCP contamination in the background area. The localized SCCP contamination could be derived from an unidentified source. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that C₁₃- and C₁₁-congeners were predominant in most soils and C₁₀- and C₁₂-congeners dominated in the remaining soils. Cl₇- and Cl₈-congeners were on the average the most dominant chlorine congeners in nearly all soils. Principal component analysis suggested that the separation of even and odd carbon chain congeners occurred during long-range atmospheric transport and aging in soil in the study area.     

选择性排泥改善颗粒污泥亚硝化性能的研究

通过好氧颗粒污泥反应器160d的运行,考察了选择性分离颗粒污泥对改善短程硝化工艺长期稳定运行的有效性.反应器整个运行过程分3个阶段,在第一阶段污泥停留时间(SRT)仅通过出水中携带的污泥自行调控,SRT极高,造成颗粒污泥的解体以及短程硝化性能的恶化.阶段2和阶段3中通过排出颗粒污泥床顶部污泥,控制SRT分别为(45±5),(30±5)d,氨氧化细菌(AOB)活性有明显提升.NO2--N比累积速率由阶段1运行时的7.44mg/(g·h)上升至阶段2时的8.08mg/(g·h)和阶段3时的9.14mg/(g·h);相反,NO3--N比产生速率从3.01mg/(g·h)下降至SRT为(30±5)d时的1.54mg/(g·h);阶段3出水中亚硝化率达80%以上.以上结果表明,通过选择性分离颗粒污泥控制SRT是实现短程硝化颗粒污泥工艺长期稳定运行的一种有效调控策略.另外,分析认为反应器高径比越大以及引入与NOB竞争亚硝酸盐基质的微生物均有利于该策略的实施.     

The chemosensory ability of the predatory leech Whitmania laevis (Arhynchobdellida: Haemopidae) for prey searching

Although prey-detecting and searching abilities of predatory leeches of rhynchobdellid or the Erpobdelliformes of arhynchobdellid species have been studied in the past, hirudiniformes leeches are rarely mentioned. In this study, we investigated the chemosensory ability for prey-detecting and searching in Whitmania laevis, a hirudiniformes species that mainly preys on freshwater snails, and examined if such ability aided in their prey selection. Five sympatric snail species, i.e., apple snail Pomacea canaliculata, thiarid snail Thiara tuberculata, viviparid snail Sinotaia quadrata, ear pond snail Radix auricularia swinhoei and tadpole snail Physa acuta were used as prey. Our results showed that W. laevis has the chemosensory ability to detect the waterborne odors of snails. However, they follow the snails by their mucus trails, and not by the odor that the snails leave in the water. Of these five snail species, W. laevis only followed the trails of the thiarid snails, ear pond snails and tadpole snails, and did not show a different response to the trails produced by snails of different sizes. Our results suggest that W. laevis can use waterborne odors to detect the existence of prey. They rely on mucus trails to follow their preferred prey, but do not distinguish between snails of a preferred size by their mucus trails. In addition, when following the trail of a preferred snail, W. laevis exhibits a newly described searching behavior, i.e., head tapping, and may use it to locate a snail trail and increase its probability of finding the trail-laying snail nearby.     

A new polystyrene-latex-based and EPS-containing synthetic sludge

Since the living microorganisms in activated sludge continuously change, it is difficult to conduct controlled experiments and achieve reproducible results for evaluating sludge characteristics. Synthetic sludge, as a chemical surrogate to activated sludge, could be used to investigate the sludge physicochemical properties, and it is desirable to prepare synthetic sludge with similar structure and properties to real activated sludge to explore the flocculation and settlement processes in activated sludge systems. In this work, a high-strength synthetic sludge was prepared with functional polystyrene latex particles as the framework and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to modify its surface. The flocculation and settling characteristics of the microspheres and the prepared synthetic sludge were tested. Compared with other three functional polystyrene latex microspheres, the synthetic sludge prepared with EPS-modified polystyrene latex microspheres showed good settling characteristics and a significantly higher strength. They could be used for studying the physicochemical properties of activated sludge.     

选择性排泥改善颗粒污泥亚硝化性能的研究

通过好氧颗粒污泥反应器160d的运行,考察了选择性分离颗粒污泥对改善短程硝化工艺长期稳定运行的有效性.反应器整个运行过程分3个阶段,在第一阶段污泥停留时间(SRT)仅通过出水中携带的污泥自行调控,SRT极高,造成颗粒污泥的解体以及短程硝化性能的恶化.阶段2和阶段3中通过排出颗粒污泥床顶部污泥,控制SRT分别为(45±5),(30±5)d,氨氧化细菌(AOB)活性有明显提升.NO2--N比累积速率由阶段1运行时的7.44mg/(g·h)上升至阶段2时的8.08mg/(g·h)和阶段3时的9.14mg/(g·h);相反,NO3--N比产生速率从3.01mg/(g·h)下降至SRT为(30±5)d时的1.54mg/(g·h);阶段3出水中亚硝化率达80%以上.以上结果表明,通过选择性分离颗粒污泥控制SRT是实现短程硝化颗粒污泥工艺长期稳定运行的一种有效调控策略.另外,分析认为反应器高径比越大以及引入与NOB竞争亚硝酸盐基质的微生物均有利于该策略的实施.     

Hydrochemical patterns indicating hydrological processes with the background of changing climatic and environmental conditions in China: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the background of global climate and environmental change, the hydrochemical characteristics of water bodies present significant instability to all...