Food waste collection and recycling for value-added products: potential applications and challenges in Hong Kong

About 3600 tonnes food waste are discarded in the landfills in Hong Kong daily. It is expected that the three strategic landfills in Hong Kong will be exhausted by 2020. In consideration of the food waste management environment and community needs in Hong Kong, as well as with reference to the food waste management systems in cities such as Linköping in Sweden and Oslo in Norway, a framework of food waste separation, collection, and recycling for food waste valorization is proposed in this paper. Food waste can be packed in an optic bag (i.e., a bag in green color), while the residual municipal solid waste (MSW) can be packed in a common plastic bag. All the wastes are then sent to the refuse transfer stations, in which food waste is separated from the residual MSW using an optic sensor. On the one hand, the sorted food waste can be converted into valuable materials (e.g., compost, swine feed, fish feed). On the other hand, the sorted food waste can be sent to the proposed Organic Waste Treatment Facilities and sewage treatment works for producing biogas. The biogas can be recovered to produce electricity and city gas (i.e., heating fuel for cooking purpose). Due to the challenges faced by the value-added products in Hong Kong, the biogas is recommended to be upgraded as a biogas fuel for vehicle use. Hopefully, the proposed framework will provide a simple and effective approach to food waste separation at source and promote sustainable use of waste to resource in Hong Kong.     

Carbonyl emissions from vehicular exhausts sources in Hong Kong

Vehicular emission (VE) is one of the important anthropogenic sources for airborne carbonyls in urban area. Six types of VE-dominated samples were collected at representative locations in Hong Kong where polluted by a particular fueled type of vehicles, including (i) a gas refilling taxis station (liquefied petroleum gas [LPG] emission); (ii) a light-duty passenger car park (gasoline emission); (iii) a minibus station (diesel emission); (iv) a single-deck-bus depot (diesel emission); (v) a double-deck-bus depot (diesel emission); and (vi) a whole-food market entrance for light- and heavy-duty vehicles (diesel emission). A total of 15 carbonyls in the samples were quantified. Formaldehyde was the most abundant carbonyl among the VE-dominated samples, and its contribution to the total quantified amount on a molar basis ranged from 54.8% to 60.8%. Acetaldehyde and acetone were the next two abundant carbonyls. The carbonyls were quantified at three roadside locations in Hong Kong. The highest concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, 22.7 +/- 8.4 and 6.0 +/- 2.8 microg/m3, respectively, were determined in the samples collected at a main transportation gate for goods between Hong Kong and Mainland China. The total quantified carbonyl concentration, 37.9 +/- 9.3 microg/m3, was the highest at an entrance of a cross-harbor tunnel in downtown area. The theoretical carbonyls compositions of the three roadside locations were estimated according to the VE-dominated sample profiles and the statistics on vehicle numbers and types during the sampling period. The measured compositions of formaldehyde were much higher than the theoretical compositions in summer, demonstrating that photochemical reactions significantly contributed to the formaldehyde production in the roadsides.     

活性污泥合成聚羟基烷酸酯代谢机制研究进展

聚羟基烷酸酯(PHAs)是生物制备型环境友好塑料,具有广阔的应用前景.活性污泥合成PHAs可降低生产成本,实现废水处理厂剩余污泥的减量化和资源化.研究微生物合成PHAs的代谢机制,有利于优化PHAs的工业化生产,目前其代谢研究多集中在以纯菌种合成PHAs,而以活性污泥合成PHAs的研究尚不成熟.资料表明,DO变化对活性污泥合成PHAs的代谢途径有显著影响,进而改变其PHAs产物的产量和单体组成.综述了活性污泥合成PHAs在厌氧/好氧工艺、微氧/好氧工艺、缺氧/好氧工艺、好氧动态底物投加工艺条件下的代谢机制,分析了现有PHAs合成代谢模型中存在的问题,展望了PHAs合成代谢机制研究的发展方向.     

Comparison of PM2.5 carbon measurement methods in Hong Kong, China

Samples from Hong Kong, China, were analyzed for organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and total carbon (TC) by three thermal protocols (low-temperature IMPROVE and high-temperature STN and NIOSH) and two optical monitoring methods: reflectance and transmittance. Good agreement (+/-10%) for TC among the three protocols was observed for sample loadings of 1-55 microg m(-3). The two protocols using a reflectance pyrolysis correction showed best agreement for EC, with <20% differences found for approximately 80% of the samples. Hong Kong has a large diesel fleet, and for some heavily loaded samples the light transmittance was too low for quantitative detection, resulting in large uncertainties in the OC/EC split based on transmittance. Hong Kong experienced OC levels similar to those at US sites, but has much higher EC concentrations. OC/EC ratios range from 2 to 5 at two US sites and from 0.2 to 1.2 at three Hong Kong sites.     

The Impact of Winter Relocation and Depuration on Norovirus Concentrations in Pacific Oysters Harvested from a Commercial Production Site

Oysters contaminated with norovirus present a significant public health risk when consumed raw. In this study, norovirus genome copy concentrations were determined in Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) harvested from a sewage-impacted production site and then subjected to site-specific management procedures. These procedures consisted of relocation of oysters to an alternative production area during the norovirus high-risk winter periods (November to March) followed by an extended depuration (self-purification) under controlled temperature conditions. Significant differences in norovirus RNA concentrations were demonstrated at each point in the management process. Thirty-one percent of oyster samples from the main harvest area (Site 1) contained norovirus concentrations >?500 genome copies/g and 29% contained norovirus concentrations <?100 genome copies/g. By contrast, no oyster sample from the alternative harvest area (Site 2) or following depuration contained norovirus concentrations >?500 genome copies/g. In addition, 60 and 88% of oysters samples contained norovirus concentrations <?100 genome copies/g in oysters sampled from Site 2 and following depuration, respectively. These data demonstrate that site-specific management processes, supported by norovirus monitoring, can be an effective strategy to reduce, but not eliminate, consumer exposure to norovirus genome copies.     

蚕豆根尖细胞微核对金属冶炼厂排污水的监测

以蒸馏水、自来水和矿泉水处理为阴性对照,以不同浓度的NaN3、HgCl2、Pb2++Zn2++Cd2+复合处理为阳性对照。用蚕豆根尖细胞微核法对重金属冶炼厂排污水、污染源附近湖水进行检测评价。结果表明,重金属冶炼厂排污水、污染源附近湖水的水样均使蚕豆根尖细胞微核率增加;蚕豆根尖细胞微核监测与化学检测基本一致,将重金属冶炼厂排污水、污染源附近湖水分为三种程度,重污染、中度污染和轻污染。     

猪粪、木屑混合物蚯蚓堆制处理中蚓体Cu、Zn富集的影响因素

采用室内接种法,以赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia fetida）构建生物反应器,研究猪粪、木屑混合物的蚯蚓堆制处理中,蚓体的生长状况及影响其Cu、Zn富集的主要因素。结果表明,接种密度为40 mg.g-1、湿度为75%同时有利于蚯蚓生长和基质消耗;温度为15℃对蚓体质量增加最有利,而温度为20℃最利于基质消耗;m（猪粪）∶m（木屑）为6∶4可同时利于蚓体质量增加和基质消耗。适宜的接种密度（48 mg.g-1）、湿度（70%）、温度（15℃）及较高比例的碳源辅料〔m（猪粪）∶m（木屑）为6∶4〕有利于蚓体对Cu的吸收和富集;低接种密度和高比例碳源辅料有利于蚓体对Zn的吸收,湿度和温度对蚓体Zn含量无显著影响,但蚓体Zn富集量分别在接种密度48 mg.g-1、m（猪粪）∶m（木屑）为6∶4、湿度75%和温度15℃条件下达最大。     

A preliminary investigation of persistent organic pollutants in ambient air in Hong Kong

Air samples were collected for characterisation of PCDD/Fs and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as aldrin, alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, delta-HCH, gamma-HCH, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan I and II, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide and hexachlorobenzene during the winter of 2000/2001 at the weather station of the Hong Kong Observatory at Tai Mo Shan (TMS), which is the highest point (approximately 957 m) in Hong Kong, besides the routine monitoring of PCDD/Fs and 200 other toxic air pollutants (TAPs) at two urban TAPs stations at Tsuen Wan and Central & Western. Concentrations of the pollutants detected at TMS station were evaluated and compared to those recorded at the urban stations. Though pesticides including alpha-HCH, hexachlorobenzene, DDT, DDE, heptachlor, and endosulfan I were detected, these pesticides were found at relatively low concentrations of about 0.02-0.23 ng/m3 and should not have any significant health effects. Concentrations of some of the monitored POPs were found to be higher whilst most of the monitored TAPs were at comparable levels to those measured at the urban stations during the same period. According to the Stockholm Convention on POPs (May 2001), the 12 chemicals labelled by the United Nations as the most dangerous are: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene, PCBs and dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs)/(PCDFs). Given that there has not been any large scale use of organo-chlorine pesticides recorded since the decline of local farming activities in recent years, the results of the present study again show that pesticides and POPs such as PCDDs/PCDFs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants present in the atmosphere of Hong Kong. The findings also indicate that organo-chlorine pesticides and PCDDs/PCDFs are among the most prevalent chlorinated semi-volatile pollutants present in Hong Kong. Results obtained in the present study suggest that selected pesticides may be used as tracers for transport of pollutants for regional air quality study.     

贵州茂兰喀斯特森林不同演替下土壤真核微生物多样性

真核微生物是茂兰喀斯特森林土壤微生物中的重要组成部分,在生态系统物质循环和能量流动中扮演着重要角色.为了解茂兰喀斯特森林不同演替阶段下土壤真核微生物群落组成及其多样性,利用18S rDNA高通量测序技术研究了原生林(YSL)、灌木林(GML)、灌木丛(GMC)和草地(CD)这4种演替阶段下土壤真核微生物群落多样性.结果表明,在不同分类水平下,不同演替阶段土壤真核微生物群落组成相似.α多样性指数存在显著差异, Shannon指数与Simpson指数在不同演替阶段表现为:YSLGMCGMLCD. NMDS分析表明不同演替阶段土壤真核微生物群落结构存在差异; LEfSe分析表明,YSL中差异指示种数量高于GML、GML和CD.本研究结果为研究不同演替阶段下土壤真核微生物提供了理论基础.     

某铅锌矿区农田重金属分布特征及其风险评价

为进一步探讨铅锌矿开采和冶炼地区农田重金属污染的分布特征和污染途径,以会泽县者海镇铅锌矿区周边农田土壤为研究对象,共布设496个采样点,测定表层土壤中重金属（Cd、Hg、Pb、Cu、Zn）的含量.利用自然邻点法对表层土壤中重金属含量进行插值拟合,以空间三维模型研究该地区农田土壤重金属污染特征,运用单因子指数、综合污染指数和潜在生态风险指数法对重金属污染程度进行评价,采用相关分析、主成分分析和聚类分析识别污染途径.结果表明：Cd、Hg、Pb、Cu和Zn的含量平均值（mg/kg）分别是云南省背景值的33.05、5.83、12.02、4.89和16.33倍;Cd、Hg、Pb、Zn含量空间分布表现为西北部浓度最高,且中部高于东西两侧,而Cu与此相反;单因子指数评价结果显示99.8%的土样达到Cd重度污染,其次是Cu（82.06%）、Zn（62.50%）;综合污染指数表明,研究区均处于重度污染程度,西北部尤为严重;综合生态风险评价表明,中部风险高两边低,Cd的贡献率最大占61%;相关分析结果显示,Zn、Cd、Pb、Hg之间呈显著正相关性（P < 0.01）,表明其污染途径相近;主成分分析和聚类分析表明,Cd、Hg、Pb、Zn污染途径主要与人类活动有关,Cu主要受自然因素影响,因此对该地区土壤重金属的修复和治理应综合考虑人为因素和自然因素的影响.