Determination of specific gravity of municipal solid waste

This investigation was conducted to evaluate experimental determination of specific gravity (G_s) of municipal solid waste (MSW). Water pycnometry, typically used for testing soils was adapted for testing MSW using a large flask with 2000 mL capacity and specimens with 100–350 g masses. Tests were conducted on manufactured waste samples prepared using US waste constituent components; fresh wastes obtained prior and subsequent to compaction at an MSW landfill; and wastes obtained from various depths at the same landfill. Factors that influence specific gravity were investigated including waste particle size, compaction, and combined decomposition and stress history. The measured average specific gravities were 1.377 and 1.530 for as-prepared/uncompacted and compacted manufactured wastes, respectively; 1.072 and 1.258 for uncompacted and compacted fresh wastes, respectively; and 2.201 for old wastes. The average organic content and degree of decomposition were 77.2% and 0%, respectively for fresh wastes and 22.8% and 88.3%, respectively for old wastes. The G_s increased with decreasing particle size, compaction, and increasing waste age. For fresh wastes, reductions in particle size and compaction caused occluded intraparticle pores to be exposed and waste particles to be deformed resulting in increases in specific gravity. For old wastes, the high G_s resulted from loss of biodegradable components that have low G_s as well as potential access to previously occluded pores and deformation of particles due to both degradation processes and applied mechanical stresses. The G_s was correlated to the degree of decomposition with a linear relationship. Unlike soils, the G_s for MSW was not unique, but varied in a landfill environment due both to physical/mechanical processes and biochemical processes. Specific gravity testing is recommended to be conducted not only using representative waste composition, but also using representative compaction, stress, and degradation states.     

The thermal transformation mechanism of chlorinated paraffins: An experimental and density functional theory study

The increasing production and usage of chlorinated paraffins(CPs) correspondently increase the amount of CPs that experience thermal processes. Our previous study revealed that a significant amount of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins(MCCPs), short-chain chlorinated paraffins(SCCPs) as well as aromatic and chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(Cl-PAHs) were formed synergistically during the thermal decomposition of CP-52(a class of CP products).However, the transformation mechanisms of CP-52 to these compounds are still not very clear.This article presents a mechanistic analysis on the decomposition of CP-52 experimentally and theoretically. It was found that CP-52 initially undergoes dehydrochlorination and carbon chain cleavage and it transformed into chlorinated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Cyclization and aromatization were the most accessible pathways at low temperatures(200–400°C), both of which produce mostly aromatic hydrocarbons. As the temperature exceeds 400°C, the hydrocarbons could decompose into small molecules, and the subsequent radical-induced reactions become the predominant pathways, leading to the formation of Cl-PAHs. The decomposition of CP-52 was investigated by using density functional theory and calculations demonstrating the feasibility and rationality of PCB and PCN formation from chlorobenzene. The results improve the understanding of the transformation processes from CP-52 to SCCPs and Cl-PAHs as well as provide data for reducing their emissions during thermal-related processes.     

Hydroxyurea explosion: a thermoanalytical and calorimetric study

An accident occurred during a production process of hydroxyurea. Several thermoanalytical techniques were used in order to understand the reason for the accident, even utilising a simulation program. Thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy were performed to identify the decomposition products according to European Directive 96/82/EC, the so-called Seveso II.     

Vallisneria natans decomposition rates and associated macroinvertebrates,microbes and microalgae along a vertical depth gradient in an urban lake (Nanhu Lake,China)

Knowledge on aquatic macrophyte decomposition has well developed, yet the decomposition and associated biotic factors along a vertical gradient in waters remain less examined. Here, we used Vallianeria natans leaves to investigate the decomposition rate and associated decomposers and microalgae at different vertical depths, by placing V. natans leaves into litterbags (0.5 and 5?mm meshes) and incubating them at the air–water interface (AW), sediment-water (SW) interface, and 10?cm (B10) or 20?cm (B20) burial in sediment over 60 days in a littoral zone of lake. Decomposition rates decreased with increased depths in each mesh size, with significant differences among and between AW (0.028?d^?1), SW (0.022?d^?1), B10 (0.014?d^?1) and B20 (0.011?d^?1) treatments in 0.5?mm litterbags and no significant difference between B10 (0.027?d^?1) and B20 (0.025?d^?1) in 5?mm litterbags. The average contribution of macroinvertebrates to biomass loss was highest in B20 (44.66%), lowest in AW (22.66%) and midst in both SW (25.35%) and B10 (38.78%), and was much less than that of both microbes and microalgae at each location. We show the importance of macroinvertebrates, microbes and microalgae in mediating macrophyte decomposition rate in response to different vertical locations in freshwaters.     

硫化氢分解制取氢和硫技术的进展

介绍了 H2 S分解制氢和硫的热力学、动力学最新研究成果 ,综述了 H2 S分解制氢和硫的各种工艺技术的新进展 ,并对这些工艺技术进行了分析和评述。 H2 S分解制氢的同时回收硫是一种很有前途的治理废气减轻污染的方法。     

Changes in nutrient content and stable isotope ratios of C and N during decomposition of seagrasses and mangrove leaves along a nutrient availability gradient in Florida Bay,USA

The decomposition of the mangrove Rhizophora mangle and the seagrass Thalassia testudinum was examined using litterbags along a natural gradient in nutrient availability. Seagrass leaves had a higher fraction of their biomass in the labile pool (57%), compared to mangrove leaves (36%) and seagrass rhizomes (29%); the overall decomposition rates of the starting material reflected the fractionation into labile and refractory components. There was no relationship between the N or P content of the starting material and the decomposition rate.

Nutrient availability had no influence on decomposition rate, and mass was lost at the same rate from litterbags that were buried in the sediment and litterbags that were left on the sediment surface. The dynamics of N and P content during decomposition varied as a function of starting material and burial state. N content of decomposing mangrove leaves increased, but seagrass rhizomes decreased in N content during decomposition while there was no change in seagrass leaf N content. These same general patterns held for P content, but buried seagrass leaves increased in P content while surficial leaves decreased. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N changed by as much as 2‰ during decomposition.     

催化分解法处理臭氧尾气的研究

以活性炭和γ -Al2 O3 为载体制备出负载锰和铜氧化物的用于臭氧尾气处理的催化剂 ,并采用固定床反应器进行分解臭氧尾气的实验研究。实验结果表明 ,活性炭负载锰和铜氧化物的催化剂的性能最好 ,1g催化剂在臭氧初始浓度为2 .5 g/m3 ,反应时间为 0 .0 36s条件下 ,其对臭氧的分解率可达 97.2 %。在相同臭氧初始浓度 ,反应时间为 0 .1s条件下 ,1g催化剂可以连续运转达 98h ,处理臭氧总量为 8.8g ,且湿度对其催化活性影响较大。     

Effects of Oxalis pes-caprae L. invasion in olive groves

The present work aimed at studying the effect of Oxalis pes-caprae invasion in the herbaceous understory of olive groves in the island of Lesvos, Greece. The number of species, their biomass and dead plant material production was followed throughout the vegetative period in invaded and non-invaded plots. Species richness in the area invaded by O. pes-caprae gradually declined and was significantly smaller in comparison with the natural vegetation. Although biomass was equal in the invaded and non-invaded areas 1 month after germination, annual net primary production (NPP) was three times smaller in the invaded than the non-invaded area. Moreover, aboveground dead plant material of O. pes-caprae decomposed faster than a mixture of litter species of the natural vegetation. Lower biomass production in combination with increased decomposition rates of O. pes-caprae is expected to lead to reduced soil C sequestration in invaded areas. It was concluded that although O. pes-caprae does not add a new life form or functional type to the invaded herbaceous system it has considerable impacts on the diversity and ecosystem functions in olive groves.     

低温等离子体联合技术降解甲苯气体的研究

以自制的纳米钛酸钡基介电材料为催化剂,以电工陶瓷拉西环为载体,利用介质阻挡放电产生的低温等离子体对常压下流动态含甲苯的空气进行处理,研究了电场强度、空塔气速、甲苯初始浓度及不同填料情况下甲苯的降解及臭氧产生情况,初步探讨了等离子体联合技术降解甲苯的机制,并进行了产物分析.实验结果表明,甲苯降解率随电场强度的提高而上升,随空塔气速和甲苯初始浓度的增加而降低;随反应器内填料变化,甲苯降解率表现为催化剂填料》普通填料》无填料,其降解率最高可达95%.当电场强度》13.0 kV/cm时,臭氧浓度因受到过量的高能电子攻击而发生分解,表现为臭氧浓度随电场强度的继续增加而降低,故最佳电场强度为13.0 kV/cm.当9.0 kV/cm＜电场强度＜13.0 kV/cm,臭氧产量表现为催化剂填料＞普通填料＞无填料,纳米钛酸钡基介电材料大大增强了臭氧的产量.