Wintertime measurements of aerosol acidity and trace elements in Wuhan,a city in central China

A 2-week intensive ambient aerosol study was conducted in December 1988 in Wuhan (Hubei Province), a city of nearly 2 million located on the Yangtze River in central China (P.R.C.). This is an industrial region where soft coal burning is widespread, and emission controls for vehicles and industrial facilities are minimal. The sampling site was located in one of the civic centers where residential and commercial density is highest. An Andersen dichotomous sampler was operated with Teflon membrane filters to collect fine (d_p < 2.5 μmad) and coarse (2.5 ⩽ d_p < 10 μmad) particles for total mass and element determinations. An annular denuder system (ADS) was used to collect fine fraction aerosols for analyses of ionic species including strong acidity (H⁺).The study was conducted between 18 and 30 December, which was rainless, consistently cool (3–10°C) and overcast, but without fog or acute stagnation. Fine particulate mass (PM, as μ m⁻³) averaged 139 (range 54–207); coarse PM averaged 86 (range 29–179). Trace element concentrations were also high. Crustal elements (Si, Al, Ca and Fe) were found primarily in the coarse fraction, while elements associated with combustion (S, K, Cl, Zn and Se) were enriched in the fine fraction. The concentrations of arsenic and selenium were evidence of a large source of coal burning, while vanadium levels (associated with fuel oil use) were not especially enriched.Despite the seemingly high PM loadings, ionic concentrations were not especially high. The average composition of soluble fine aerosol species (in neq m⁻³) were SO₄²⁻: 520 (range 180–980), NO₃⁻: 225 (range 50–470), Cl⁻: 215 (range 20–640), and NH₄⁺: 760 (range 280–1660). A deficit in accountable FP components (total mass compared to the total of ionic plus element masses) as well as the black appearance of collected materials indicate an abundance of carbonaceous aerosol, as high as 100 μ m⁻³. (total mass compared to the total of ionic plus element masses) as well as the black appearance of collected materials indicate an abundance of carbonaceous aerosol, as high as 100 μ m⁻³Aerosol acidity was negligible during most monitoring periods, H⁺: 14 (range 0–50 neq m⁻³, equivalent to 0–2.5 μm m⁻³ as H₂SO₄). Sulfur dioxide, measured by the West-Gaeke method for part of the study, concentrations were low. Although not directly measured, the aerosol measurments suggested that gaseous HCl (from refuse incineration) and NH₃ (animal wastes) concentrations might have been high. Higher aerosol acidity might be expected if HCl sources were more prominent and not neutralized by local ammonia or other base components.     

Factors affecting airborne monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon uptake by plants

Three factors influencing foliar uptake of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) in situ were investigated. The first factor, the plant species, was found to determine absorption pattern and concentrations. Secondly, time variation studies showed that response of leaf concentrations to small changes in air concentrations only occurs after several days or weeks, whereas adaptation to a much higher level of air pollution takes several months. Thirdly, MAH leaf concentrations were observed to be dependent on mean air pollution at the sampling site. Bioconcentration factors BCF_vs (g m⁻³ of wet leaf/g m⁻³ of air) for MAHs in Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco leaves were determined to range from 2.7 × 10⁴ to 4.7 × 10⁵.     

天然有机物的相对分子质量分布及亲疏水性对微滤膜组合工艺中膜污染的影响

研究采用混凝沉淀+粉末活性炭吸附+高锰酸钾+浸没式微滤膜的组合工艺对太湖水进行中试试验,通过高效凝胶色谱(HPSEC-UV-TOC)和三维荧光(3DEEM)的测定方法,着重考察有机物的相对分子质量(Mr)分布和亲疏水性对膜不可逆污染的影响.凝胶色谱分析表明:预处理可几乎完全去除大分子有机物(Mr>10×103),但仅能去除部分的中等分子(10×103>Mr>1×103)和小分子(Mr<1×103)有机物.研究发现化学清洗水中的有机物相对分子质量多为中等分子和小分子,说明导致膜不可逆污染的主要是中等分子和小分子有机物.此外,洗膜水中强疏和中性亲水组分含量远高于弱疏和极性亲水,说明强疏和中性亲水组分是不可逆污染的主要物质.三维荧光分析表明,芳香族蛋白质和溶解性微生物产物是造成膜不可逆污染的主要污染物.     

CH4 emission model from the waste of Sus Domesticus and Gallus Domesticus in Nigerian local farms: environmental implications and prospects

The potential of CH₄ (methane) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on a model of prevailing behavioural pattern of livestock waste management in Nigerian local farms was investigated in this paper. Livestock waste, from Sus domesticus, pig, and Gallus domesticus, poultry, were employed as substrates in the study which uses water from a fish rearing farm as the matrix medium to simulate wastewater pool/river environment. A substrate to fish-water ratio of 1:3 by mass was used in developed laboratory-size digesting reactor system with U-tube water displacement, to facilitate volumetric readings of gas production, for each mix of the livestock waste. Volumetric readings from these, at ambient temperature conditions in the retention time of 32 days, follow the Normal probability density function, in accordance with Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit criteria. These readings showed that CH₄-containing gas as high as 67.3?×?10^?3 dm³ was produced on the 14th day from the pig and 86.8?×?10^?3 dm³ on the 13th day from the poultry substrates. The overall CH₄-containing gas productions of 255.4?×?10^?3 dm³/kg and 323.58?×?10^?3 dm³/kg were observed for the pig and the poultry substrates, respectively. A 70% scale-up analysis, modelled from these results, for the nation yield potential emission of about 4 kg CH₄ (that could be as potent as 84 kg CO₂-equivalent) annually. The environmental implications on global warming and possible prospects of recoverable domestic benefits from the waste through the adoption of sustainable policy of livestock waste managements for mitigating the CH₄ emissions in Nigerian local farms are presented.     

Anthropogenic contributions to the carbonaceous content of aerosols over the Pacific Ocean

During a joint U.S./U.S.S.R. research cruise from 3 May to 27 July 1987 both total and fine (< 2 μm) particulate material was sampled. This cruise started in the Hawaiian Islands and then proceeded to the Kamchatka peninsula, south to Wellington, New Zealand, south of Australia into the Indian Ocean, to Singapore and then returned to the Hawaiian Islands by sailing just north of the Equator. Particulate samples, collected on quartz fiber and Teflon filters, were analysed for organic and elemental carbon by transmission thermo-optical carbon analysis and for trace elements by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence.In the Northern Hemisphere the total particulate, organic carbon and elemental carbon concentration ranges were, respectively, 10–25, 0.5–2.5 and 0–0.3 μg m⁻³. In the Southern Hemisphere they were, respectively, 5–10, <0.6 and <0.02 μg m⁻³. In the Northern Hemisphere the fine particulate concentration range was 2–15 μg m⁻³ and the fine fraction varied from 20 to 80% of total aerosol loading. In the Southern Hemisphere the fine particulate loading was 1.2–1.7 μg m⁻³ and was usually less than 20% of the total particulate mass.Chemical mass balance (CMB) modeling was used to determine possible anthropogenic particulate contributions to the ocean aerosol. Readily available source profiles were used for CMB modeling. Sea-salt aerosol was represented by either the conventional EPA marine source profile or by the average of ambient ocean aerosols sampled in very clean mid-ocean regions. Usually 60–90% of ambient particulate mass was “explained” by the CMB model. Sources such as soil, catalytic auto emissions and wood-burning emissions were found to be possible contributors to the ocean aerosol, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Anthropogenic contributions were estimated to contribute from 10 to 30% of oceanic aerosol mass. Emissions from a hugh forest fire that burned in northern China during the spring of 1987 were possibly detected, but the CMB model cannot distinguish this source from emissions from heating and cooking with wood.Since anthropogenic emissions are mainly combustion emissions which usually contain a large carbon component, carbon data is essential to CMB modeling. The relatively good CMB results obtained in this study suggest that it might be useful to develop source profiles for major emission sources in those countries which contribute most directly to oceanic aerosols. Perhaps characteristic national or regional source profiles could be developed.     

Comparison of annular denuder and filter pack collection of HNO3 (g), HNO2((g), SO2 (g), and particulate-phase nitrate,nitrite and sulfate in the south-west desert

During the 15 January–4 February 1986 SCENES Special Study, a comparison study was conducted to determine atmospheric HNO₃ (g), HNO₂ (g), SO₂ (g), and particle-phase nitrate, nitrite and sulfate sampled with annular diffusion denuder and filter pack sampling systems for 12-h periods. The results of the ion chromatographic analyses of the denuder and filter extracts from the annular denuder system showed that an average of 88% of the total nitrate measured was HNO₃ (g), 97% of the total nitrite was HNO₂ (g), and 91% of the total sulfur was present as SO₂ (g). Analyses of the various gas-phase species collected by replicate annular denuder systems indicated that a precision of ± 3% to ± 18% was achieved using these denuders. The good agreement in HNO₃ (g) concentrations observed between the filter pack and the denuder (r²=0.873, slope=1.06±0.03, intercept=0±3.5 nmol m⁻³) results from the fact that the majority of the atmospheric nitrate consisted of HNO₃ (g), which minimized any positive artifact in HNO₃(g) due to loss of HNO₃(g) from particles collected in the filter pack. The particulate-phase nitrate correlation between the two sampling systems was not as good (r²=0.709, slope=0.519±0.045, intercept =0±1.2 nmol m⁻³) because the lower percentage of nitrate present as the particulate species was more affected by the loss of particulate nitrate during sampling with the filter pack.     

In-cloud scavenging and deposition of sulfates and nitrates: Case studies and parameterization

Scavenging of sulfates and nitrates—two most common ions leading the cloudwater acidity—was investigated during field studies atop a site in Mt. Mitchell (35°44′05″N, 82°17′15″W) State Park where the highest peak (2038 m MSL) of the eastern U.S. is located. Experiments were conducted during the growing seasons (15 May–30 September) of 1986 and 1987 using an instrumented meteorological tower (16.5 m tall) and a passive cloudwater collector. A cloud episode that occurred on 12 October 1987, was also comprehensively investigated. Clouds were frequently observed in which the Fraser fir and red spruce stands stayed immersed 28% and 41% of the time during the 1986 and 1987 seasons, respectively. Rate of cloudwater deposition on the forest canopy was determined using an inferential cloud deposition model. It was found by analysing nine short duration (lasting 8 h or less) and 16 long duration cloud events that the ionic concentration (SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻) is inversely proportional to the rate (I_c) of cloudwater deposition (in mm h⁻¹) and can be expressed by the following relationship: [SO₄²⁻] = aI_c^−b or [NO₃⁻] = aI_c^−b. Theoretical arguments leading to these relationships are presented. The b values for predicting NO₃²⁻ concentration are found in the range of 0.14–1.24 (mean = 0.48) for short duration and 0.062–0.63 (mean = 0.27) for long duration cloud events, respectively. The corresponding b values for predicting NO₃⁻ concentrations are 0.19–1.16 (mean = 0.49) and 0.072–0.59 (mean = 0.27), respectively. When the b parameter was between 0.2 and 0.6, the correlation coefficients between measured and predicted ionic concentrations were found to exceed 0.7. The parameter a is shown to represent the maximum ionic flux for a given cloud event. The ratio of the a parameter for SO₄²⁻ to NO₃⁻ varied between 1.75 and 6.95, indicating that the SO₄²⁻ contributes to the total ionic concentration substantially more than the NO₃⁻ leading to the conclusion that the cloudwater acidity is primarily due to the presence of sulfuric acid which has been demonstrated to cause foliar injury and growth retardation in red spruce trees. The above parameterization is similar to the one that is frequently used to relate ionic concentration in precipitation to the rainfall rate. In order to understand physico-chemical processes leading to the proposed parameterization schemes, meteorological and chemical variables are comprehensively analysed for one short duration and two long duration cloud events. The concentrations of principal ions (SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, H⁺ and NH₄⁺) during the short duration cloud events were found to be much higher than those during the long duration ones, especially at colder temperatures. Such short cloud events have a potential of causing foliar narcosis in red spruce stands because of unusually acidic cloudwater to which these stands stay exposed intermittently during each growing season.     

A parametric investigation of electrical effects on aerosol scavenging by droplets over large fires

Our nucleation model of strong up-drafts over large fires (such as those ignited by nuclear blasts) show that many droplets in the size range of 1–10 μm are rapidly formed when the cloud becomes supersaturated. In this study we calculate aerosol/droplet collection kernels for electrical parameters commonly seen in cloud air. These kernels, which do not include Brownian diffusion, are used with aged droplet distributions to determine instantaneous scavenging rates of unwettable aerosols with cloud droplets. We find that within a portion of this parameter space the aerosol may be removed from the cloud air with time constants substantially below 1 h over the entire aerosol size range of 0.025–0.5 μm. For much of the parameter space, E-field enhanced attachment of charged aerosol is more rapid than that for Brownian diffusion.The aging of the droplet distribution incorporates the detailed microphysics of nucleation and condensation in a Lagrangian parcel with forced up-draft of 50 m s⁻¹. We assume an initial aerosol distribution that is lognormal about a median radius of 0.05 μm with a geometric standard deviation of 2. Initially there are 10⁶ insoluble aerosol particles per cubic centimeter of air with one-half of them being wettable and the other half being non-wettable.We present our results as a set of curves showing collection kernels and instantaneous scavenging rates vs aerosol radius and electric field strengths. The collection kernel curves are parametrically displayed for droplets of radii 1, 3 and 10 μm and electrical parameters typical of cumulus and thunderstorm clouds. The instantaneous scavenging curve vs aerosol radius is displayed as a function of electrical parameters.     

Spatial and temporal patterns in nitrogen dioxide concentrations in a hot desert region

This paper reports seasonal and spatial variations in the ambient air concentration of nitrogen dioxide throughout the State of Bahrain, from February to December 1992. Monitoring sites were chosen to include urban areas with high traffic density, suburban areas with low traffic density, commercial and industrial areas. Correlations between meteorological parameters and mean NO₂ concentrations were analysed, and NO₂ levels were only significantly correlated with temperature (r = 0.63). Only February, a winter month, showed a significantly lower concentration of NO₂ with an overall mean value of 23 μgm⁻³, whereas in August, a summer month, it was 33 μgm⁻³. The results revealed that in a hot region like Bahrain, NO₂ concentrations do not show significant monthly variations. Also summer-averaged NO₂ values exceeded corresponding spring and winter values. In cold regions opposite patterns were observed. Moreover, the results revealed significant spatial variations in NO₂ concentrations. In suburban areas with low traffic density, the overall mean NO₂ level was 15, with a range of 12–17 μg m⁻³, while in urban areas with high traffic density, the overall mean value was 52 with a range of 44–60 μg m⁻³. The mean NO₂ value in industrial sites with low traffic density was 21 with a range of 14–27 μg m⁻³, whereas in the same areas near major roads, it was 32 with a range of 31–32 μg m⁻³. These results indicate that automobiles exhaust are the dominant source of NO₂ in Bahrain. The highest NO₂ levels were found in roads with high traffic density, which are narrow, with several traffic lights and roundabouts, suggesting the effect of road geometry on NO₂ levels.     

CO2 emissions from tropical drained peat in Sumatra,Indonesia

With the increasing use of tropical peatland for agricultural development, documentation of the rate of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is becoming important for national greenhouse gas inventories. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil-surface CO₂ fluxes from drained peat under different land-use systems in Riau and Jambi Provinces, Sumatra, Indonesia. Increase of CO₂ concentration was tracked in measurement chambers using an Infrared Gas Analyzer (IRGA, LI-COR 820 model). The results showed that CO₂ flux under oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations ranged from 34?±?16 and 45?±?25 Mg CO₂ ha^–1 year^–1 in two locations in Jambi province to 66?±?25 Mg CO₂ ha^–1 year^–1 for a site in Riau. For adjacent plots within 3.2 km in the Kampar Peninsula, Riau, CO₂ fluxes from an oil palm plantation, an Acacia plantation, a secondary forest and a rubber plantation were 66?±?25, 59?±?19, 61?±?25, 52?±?17 Mg ha^–1 year^–1, respectively, while on bare land sites it was between 56?±?30 and 67?±?24 Mg CO₂ ha^–1 year^–1, indicating no significant differences among the different land-use systems in the same landscape. Unexplained site variation seems to dominate over land use in influencing CO₂ flux. CO₂ fluxes varied with time of day (p?<?0.001) with the noon flux as the highest, suggesting an overestimate of the mean flux values with the absence of night-time measurements. In general, CO₂ flux increased with the depth of water table, suggesting the importance of keeping the peat as wet as possible.     

Relationships between chemical elements of PM2.5 and O3 in Shanghai atmosphere based on the 1-year monitoring observation

Mass level of fine particles (PM_2.5) in main cities in China has decreased significantly in recent years due to implementation of Chinese Clean Air Action Plan since 2013, however, O₃ pollution is getting worse than before, especially in megacities such as in Shanghai. In this work, O₃ and PM_2.5 were continuously monitored from May 27, 2018 to March 31, 2019. Our data showed that the annual average concentration of PM_2.5 and O₃ (O₃-8 hr, maximum 8-hour moving average of ozone days) was 39.35 ± 35.74 and 86.49 ± 41.65 µg/m³, respectively. The concentrations of PM_2.5 showed clear seasonal trends, with higher concentrations in winter (83.36 ± 18.66 µg/m³) and lower concentrations in summer (19.85 ± 7.23 µg/m³), however, the seasonal trends of O₃ were different with 103.75 ± 41.77 µg/m³ in summer and 58.59 ± 21.40 µg/m³ in winter. Air mass backward trajectory, analyzing results of potential source contribution function model and concentration weighted trajectory model implied that pollutants from northwestern China contributed significantly to the mass concentration of Shanghai PM_2.5, while pollutants from areas of eastern coastal provinces and South China Sea contributed significantly to the mass level of ozone in Shanghai atmosphere. Mass concentration of twenty-one elements in the PM_2.5 were investigated, and their relationships with O₃ were analyzed. Mass level of ozone had good correlation with that of Ba (r = 0.64, p < 0.05) and V (r = 0.30, p > 0.05), suggesting vehicle emission pollutants contribute to the increasing concentration of ozone in Shanghai atmosphere.     

Electrochemical measurement of carbon monoxide in breath: Interference by hydrogen

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in blood (COHb) and breath to demonstrate that breath hydrogen (H₂) can be a significant interferant. For this purpose, we measured blood COHb with CO-oximetry and breath CO with an electrochemical analyzer. In addition, the samples were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). The concentration of CO in breath, collected with a Priestley tube after a 20 s breath hold, from healthy, nonsmoking adult males (n = 20) and females (n = 10) had a mean ± SD (range) of 2.6 ± 0.4 ppm (2.0–3.9), respectively, when measured by GC. However, these same samples when measured with an electrochemical (EC) analyzer showed elevated CO values of 4.7 ± 2.9 ppm (2.6–17.6). The concentration of H₂, a prominent trace gas in breath known to interfere with EC analyzers, correlated strongly with the observed EC analyzer response [EC (ppm CO) = 0.336 H₂ (ppm) + 1.93, r² = 0.98]. The EC analyzer was linear for H₂ concentrations up to 40 ppm, with a sensitivity of 0.035 V ppm⁻¹. The analyzer sensitivity to CO was 0.10 V ppm ⁻¹. Blood from this population showed COHb concentrations of 0.56 ± 0.11% (0.40–0.97), as measured by GC, but elevated values were found when measured by CO-oximeter (Ciba Corning Diagnostics Corp., Models 2500 and 270), 1.3 ± 0.2% (1.1–1.6) and 1.0 ± 0.3% (0.1–1.6), respectively. When breath CO was compared to blood COHb, only measurements by GC significantly correlated [COHb% = 0.241 CO(ppm) — 0.076, r² = 0.78]. We conclude that, relative to quantitative analysis by GC, (1) EC analyzers are susceptible to H₂ interference that cause falsely elevated CO measurements, and (2) CO-oximeters overestimate COHb concentrations in the range typical for healthy nonsmokers.     

好氧颗粒污泥系统中溶解性微生物代谢产物的特征及主要组分

采用SBR反应器以絮状活性污泥为接种污泥培养好氧颗粒污泥,主要考察好氧颗粒污泥系统中溶解性微生物代谢产物(SMP)的产生、相对分子质量分布以及主要组成物质.结果表明SMP是出水COD的主要组分,浓度为71~85 mg·L-1,SMP的产生与微生物对基质的利用、微生物衰亡和胞外聚合物(EPS)的水解有关.相对分子质量分布表明大部分SMP相对分子质量小于3×103,所占比例为54.8%~71.7%,而相对分子质量大于100×103的组分只占总SMP的一小部分,所占比例为9.3%~14.5%.三维荧光光谱分析表明,出水SMP具有4个峰,分别属于类芳香蛋白质、类色氨酸蛋白质、类腐殖酸物质和类富里酸物质.气质联用(GC-MS)分析表明SMP主要成分为酯类、短链烷烃、烯烃和醇类,所占质量分数分别为39.0%、14.9%、11.7%和7.6%.其中邻苯二甲酸二酯是出水SMP中主要组成物质,所占质量分数为32.0%.     

An assessment of carbon stock for various land use system in Aravally mountains, Western India

Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries is of the central importance in efforts to combat climate change. A study was conducted to measure carbon stocks in various land-use systems including forms and reliably estimates the impact of land use on carbon (C) stocks in the forest of Rajasthan, western India (23°3′–30°12′N longitude and 69°30′–78°17′E). 22.8% of India is forested and 0.04% is the deforestation rate of India. In Indian forest sector of western India of Aravally mountain range covered large area of deciduous forest and it’s very helpful in carbon sequestration at global level. The carbon stocks of forest, plantation (reforestation) and agricultural land in aboveground, soil organic and fine root within forest were estimated through field data collection. Results revealed that the amount of total carbon stock of forests (533.64?±?37.54 Mg·ha^?1, simplified expression of Mg (carbon) ·ha^?1) was significantly greater (P?<?0.05) than the plantation (324.37?±?15.0 Mg·ha^?1) and the agricultural land (120.50?±?2.17 Mg·ha^?1). Soil organic carbon in the forests (172.84?±?3.78 Mg·ha^?1) was also significantly greater (P?<?0.05) than the plantation (153.20?±?7.48 Mg·ha^?1) and the agricultural land (108.71?±?1.68 Mg·ha^?1). The differences in carbon stocks across land-use types are the primary consequence of variations in the vegetation biomass and the soil organic matter. Fine root carbon was a small fraction of carbon stocks in all land-use types. Most of the soil organic carbon and fine root carbon content was found in the upper 30-cm layer and decreased with soil depth. The aboveground carbon (ABGC): soil organic carbon (SOC): fine root carbon ratios (FRC), was 8:4:1, 4:5:1, and 3:37:1 for the forest, plantation and agricultural land, respectively. These results indicate that a relatively large proportion of the C loss is due to forest conversion to agricultural land.     

Soluble phosphorus release from organic soils

Soluble P release during soil organic matter decomposition was measured under fluctuating seasonal temperatures in several of Florida's organic soils. Natural soil profiles obtained from seven locations in central and south Florida were used in the study. Soil columns were leached once every 25 days, followed by applying a suction of 100 cm. Soil columns were flooded for 25 days in the months of July and August (between 14 and 21 weeks after initiation of the study for central Florida organic soils and between 11 and 18 weeks for south Florida organic soils) to simulate normal agronomic practice.The amounts of P released into effluent from Florida's organic soils were in the range of 2.9–26.2 μg P/cm³ of soil per year (16–168 kg P ha^?1 year^?1). This represents 2.2–20% of the total soil P for central Florida organic soils and 0.75–1.1% of total soil P for south Florida organic soils. Soluble ortho-P accounted for about 70–89% of total effluent P for central Florida organic soils and 54–57% of effluent P for south Florida organic soils. Estimated soil P mineralization during organic matter decomposition was about 38–185 kg P ha^?1 year^?1 for central Florida organic soils and 16–23 kg P ha^?1 year^?1 for south Florida organic soils. Seasonal temperature fluctuations had minimal influence on the P release into effluent. Flooding the organic soils, however, increased P release into drainage effluent by about 4–8 times, compared with drained conditions.     

Removal of reactive gases at indoor surfaces: Combining mass transport and surface kinetics

The rate of deposition of reactive gaseous pollutants onto indoor surfaces is examined, taking into account mass transport processes and the kinetics of gas-surface interactions. A conceptual model for predicting indoor deposition velocities is proposed, and approximate analysis based on this model is used to obtain algebraic expressions for the deposition velocity of reactive gases under three model airflow conditions: (1) forced laminar convection parallel to a flat plate, (2) laminar natural convection flow along an isothermal vertical plate, and (3) homogeneous turbulence in an enclosure. Numerical simulations are used to refine the approximate analysis results and to predict reactive gas deposition under laminar natural convection flow in an enclosure. The kinetics of gas-surface interactions are modeled in terms of the reaction probability γ, defined as the fraction of pollutant molecular collisions with a surface that result in irreversible removal. Values of γ for the reaction of ozone with surfaces are obtained from published reaction chamber and tube penetration experiments. For common indoor materials, values range from as low as O(10⁻⁷) for glass and aluminium to O(10⁻⁵–10⁻⁴) for materials such as bricks, concrete and latex paint. Our results indicate that ozone deposition occurs at the transport-limited rate when γ > − 3 × 10⁻⁴ for typical indoor air flow conditions, and that ozone deposition can be predicted by surface kinetics alone if γ < ∼ 5 × 10⁻⁷.     

Environmental chamber for study of the deposition flux of gaseous pollutants to material surfaces

A specially designed recirculating environmental chamber was constructed to study the environmental factors affecting the deposition of pollutant gases to the surface of stone and other building materials. The chamber and sample holder are designed to place samples in an aerodynamically well-defined air flow. The system is designed to permit use of radioactive ³⁵SO₂ as a tracer if necessary. A wide range of typical environmental conditions can be continuously maintained in the chamber. Wind speeds in the test section can range up to about 5 ms⁻¹, exposing replicate samples to air flow that is uniform to within approximately 3%. Relative humidity in the chamber can be maintained to within 3%, and SO₂, NO₂ and O₃ concentrations in the chamber air can be maintained to within 4%. Test results indicate SO₂ deposition and wind speed in the chamber are closely correlated, allowing for a direct determination of the surface resistance (r_c) component of the SO₂ deposition velocity to various test materials. Initial studies of SO₂ deposition to limestone and marble indicate the r_c values are approximately 1.3 s cm⁻¹ for fresh limestone and 34 s cm⁻¹ for fresh marble at 75% relative humidity, 26°C and 50 ppb SO₂.     

Quantitative Detection and Characterization of Human Adenoviruses in the Buffalo River in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Buffalo River is an important water resource in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Over a 1-year period (August 2010?CJuly 2011), we assessed the prevalence of human adenoviruses (HAdVs) at a total of 6 sites on the river and three dams along its course. HAdVs were detected by real-time quantitative PCR in about 35?% of the samples with concentrations ranging from 1.2?×?10¹ genome copies (GC)/l to 4.71?×?10³ GC/l. HAdVs were detected at 5 of the 6 sampling sites with the detection rate ranging from 8.3?% at Rooikrantz Dam to 92?% at Parkside. The HAdV concentrations across the sampling sites were as follows: Parkside (3.25?×?10²?C4.71?×?10³?GC/); King William??s Town (1.02?×?10²?C4.56?×?10³?GC/l); and Eluxolzweni (1.17?×?10²?C3.97?×?10² GC/l). Significantly (P?<?0.05) higher concentrations were detected at the non-dam sites compared to the dam sites. A very low mean concentration of 1.86?×?10¹ HAdV GC/l was observed at Bridle Drift Dam. While HAdVs were detected only once at Rooikrantz Dam (1.74?×?10¹?GC/l), no HAdV was detected at Maden Dam. Epidemiologically important serotypes, Ad40/41, constituted 83.3?%, while Ad21 made up 16.7?% of the all HAdVs detected and were characterized by qualitative PCR. The Buffalo River presents a public health risk heightened by the presence of Ad 40/41 and Ad21. Our results make imperative the need for assessing water sources for viral contamination in the interest of public health. This work is a significant contribution to the molecular epidemiology of adenoviruses and to the best of our knowledge this is the first report on detection of enteric virus from surface waters in the Eastern Cape.     

Bioreactor systems for thermophilic fermentative hydrogen production: evaluation and comparison of appropriate systems

Numerous different bioreactor systems are applied for hydrogen production by dark fermentation. Thermophilic fermentations are gaining an increased interest due to the high hydrogen yields associated with them. In order to reach the best thermophilic fermentation system, 2 types of bioreactors, a trickling bed and a fluidized bed system, were constructed and operated under similar conditions. Both systems were designed to meet the requirements of thermophilic fermentations, such as reduction of hydrogen partial pressure, system immanence as its best as well as increasing cell densities. For comparing the 2 systems, the extreme thermophilic organism Caldicellulosiruptor owensensis OL^T and a glucose-containing medium were employed. Parameters like hydraulic retention time, glucose concentration and stripping gas amount were varied. Each bioreactor system exhibited certain advantages; the trickling bed system enabled yields close to 3 mol-H₂ (mol-glucose)^?1 and productivities of 0.2 L L^?1 h^?1, but the application of stripping gas seemed to be obligatory. The fermentations in the fluidized bed system were characterized by slightly higher productivities (0.25 L L^?1 h^?1), but generally lower yields. However, operation of this system without stripping gas was possible.