Discriminate Analysis for Dust Storm Prediction in the Gobi and Steppe Regions in Mongolia

A discriminate analysis method for probability forecast of dust storms in Mongolia has been developed. The prediction method uses data recorded at 23 meteorological stations in the Gobi and steppe regions of Mongolia, including surface air pressure and geo-potential height at the 500-hPa level on grid points, and weather maps from 1975 to 1990. Weather elements such as air temperature, pressure, geo-potential height etc, which influence the formation of dust storms, are prepared as predictors. To select the most informative/important predictors (variables), we used a mean correlation matrix of variables together with the Mahalonobis distance, and correlation coefficients between dust storms and predictors with an orthogonalization for removing correlated predictors. The most informative predictors for dust storm prediction are intensities of surface cyclones and migratory anticyclones, passage of cold fronts, the horizontal gradients of the surface air pressure in the cold frontal zone, cyclonic circulations from the ground surface up to the 500-hPa level, the geo-potential height at 500-hPa level and its temporal changes. Selected predictors are used in discriminate analysis for formulating dust storm prediction equations. Sandstorm data have been classified into three classes, viz., strong, moderate and weak dust storms, depending on their intensities, durations and areas covered. Predictions of the probabilities of dust storm occurrence use the prediction equations for each class. The prediction is made from 12 hours to 36 hours. Verification of the probability forecasts of dust storms is also shown. The accuracy of forecasts is 72.2–79.9% with the data used for developing equations (dependent variables), in contrast to 67.1–72.0% with unrelated data for deriving equations (independent variables).     

The use of the removable thin film coating technique as an alternative to traditional decontamination methods to mitigate and abate hazardous particulates

This article summarizes a study that evaluated a new decontamination technique for the mitigation and abatement of hazardous dust and particulates. Traditional decontamination methods are time‐consuming, expensive, can create airborne hazards, and do not always bring the concentration of the contaminant to acceptable levels. The use of the removable thin film coating will increase efficiency, will not generate airborne hazards, will decrease costs, and, with one application, will bring the hazardous dust concentrations to acceptable levels. Qualitative tests demonstrated that the removable thin film coating reduced the amount of visible luminescent dust (a surrogate for hazardous dust) from various surfaces. It also indicated that wherever there were minute scratches, the coating did not remove all of the dust. However, the qualitative tests showed that this decontamination method worked well as a preventative method, protecting clean areas from becoming contaminated when exposed to the luminescent dust. Further investigation was conducted using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and carbon dust. Overall, the SEM experiment demonstrated that there was a statistically significant (p = 0.00007) removal of carbon dust (less than 10 μm in size) from surfaces with crevasses larger than 3 μm. The SEM also revealed that there were some limitations where there were large clusters of carbon dust; in these instances, the coating would tear and remain on the sample surface. One method to resolve this limitation involved adding Kevlar^TM fibers to the removable thin film coating. It was thought that this would increase the strength of the coating and eliminate the coating from tearing when removing large clusters of a contaminant. Unfortunately, this did not alleviate the issue. The use of an engineered textile, saturated with the coating, appeared to eliminate the problem with the coating not being able to remove the contaminant from the minute surface scratches and improved the removal process of the coating. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

适应低排放的电除尘技术探讨

针对高标准的排放要求以及将进一步提高的排放标准,对电除尘器是否能满足目前的排放标准和低排放要求进行了研究。通过对国内110个机组配套电除尘器实际应用情况调查和国外燃煤机组电除尘器应用分析,客观地评价了电除尘器对国内煤种的适应性,指出移动电极式电除尘器、双极异距电流体微粒聚合器、烟气调质、湿式电除尘器、低低温电除尘器等新技术的发展和综合应用是满足30mg/m3低排放标要求的最佳选择。     

冲天炉烟气除尘

采用湿法除尘,在烟气管道内设置喷嘴,使烟气充分加湿和降温后再进入立式文丘里,旋流析除尘器,消除了ＣＯ爆炸危险,在冲天炉上部烟囟顶端设安全２盖板,以保证生产的正常进行;烟气经湿式除尘后达到排放标准。     

Identification of PM10 Sources in a Mediterranean Island

Due to the dry Mediterranean climate in Cyprus, particulate matter is resuspended from soils and other surfaces. From November 2002 to August 2003, gravimetric PM₁₀ measurements were carried out at three characteristic sites (traffic, residential and rural). A significant seasonal trend with high winter concentrations was observed at the traffic site. Special events, e.g. long-range transport of Sahara dust storms, were recorded over traffic, residential and rural areas in the order of six to eight events per year, with a major frequency in summer and spring periods. This contributes to the increase of 24-h EU limit value exceedances for PM₁₀ at the three investigated sites. The origin of the PM₁₀ load was determined by enrichment factors based on analyses of the local soil deposition at the investigated sites. Furthermore, positive matrix factorisation modelling was applied to find the sources of PM₁₀. Results indicate that the major emission sources affecting the PM₁₀ load were mineral soil, sea salt, road dust, oil combustion, secondary pollutants and gasoline vehicles. The natural contribution (local mineral soil and sea salt) at the three sites was in the range of 7–9 μg m^?3 in PM₁₀. Besides the Sahara dust storms and natural background concentrations, the vehicular pollution was found as the largest contributor (12–14 μg m^?3) to PM₁₀ load at the traffic site.     

Numerical Simulation of Synoptic Condition on a Severe Sand Dust Storm

By using observational data and MM5, an observational analysisand numerical study was conducted on the synoptic condition of a severe dust storm that was caused by a Mongolian cyclone whichoccurred from 6 to 8 April 2001. Results illustrated thatthe cyclogenesis was due to the isentropic potential vorticity (IPV) advection in the upper troposphere and the terrain modifiedbaroclinicity in the mid-lower troposphere. The Altai-Sayan complex of mountains blocked the lower level cold air and made the isentropic surface sharply steep. When the air slid down along the isentropic surface the increasing of baroclinicity anddecreasing of stability blew up the vertical vorticity development.The formation of the dust storm was a result of a cyclonic cold front passing across the area. The occurrence of this dust stormwas closely related to the strong surface wind, which was accompanied by a cold front passing, rather than the cyclogenesis, itself. Hence, the reason for the pre-front dust storm formulation was the formation of heating convection. Reasons behind the formation of a black storm (visibilitylower than 50 m), which occurred in the mid-north part ofInner Mongolia, lay in several aspects. Firstly, in thisarea the surface wind was strong, a direct result of thedownward transport in mid-lower troposphere. Secondly,the cold front passed over the effected area near sunsetso the air obtained much more surface heating to form adeeper mixed layer (ML). Thirdly, cooperation between thelower level wind and the terrain made the atmosphere inthis area and acquired the maximum advective contributionnecessary to form a deep post-front ML. The sensitivityexperiment revealed that surface heat flux was important to the frontal lifting. In addition, the forcing of surface heating wasalso seen as the primary forcing mechanism of frontogenesis. Meanwhile, removal of the surface heat flux made the atmosphericstratification became stable and the pre-storm ML very shallow,which weakened the strength of the dust storm.     

Papermill industrial waste as a sustainable source for high efficiency absorbent production

Papermill sludge (PMS) is generated during the wastewater treatment process of paper production. Its handling and disposal techniques are of great concern for the environment. It can be landfilled as a waste, or it can be recycled and converted into useful products of high value. It has a very promising application as an absorbing agent for the cleaning of water surfaces polluted with hydrophobic substances (vegetable, synthetic and mineral oils, animal fats, fuels, organic chemicals and even coal dust). Here, we present the pretreatment procedure (hydrophobation, mechanical and thermal treatments) of PMS that produces a lightweight absorbent material (HAWSC - high efficiency absorbent for water surface cleaning), which floats on the water surface and binds hydrophobic pollutants with considerably higher efficiency than commercially available mineral and synthetic absorbents. After its application, it can be incinerated, due to its high caloric value, to produce energy. The incineration residues can then be formed into granules that can be used as an efficient absorbent for fluids spilled onto solid surfaces.     

Release of Metals from Buildings,Constructions and Products during Atmospheric Exposure in Stockholm

This article presents results from investigations of run-off frommaterials used on buildings and other constructions obtained byshort term exposures of smaller model surfaces and one year exposures of larger materials surfaces on buildings and other constructions. Elevated concentrations of metals in run-off wereobserved for a wide range of different materials used on buildings and other constructions. Sources of metal emission tothe environment includes copper (Cu) surfaces, galvanized steel,impregnated wood, lead (Pb) surfaces, asphalt surfaces, paintedmaterial stainless steel and concrete. Metal emission rates fromsurfaces of copper and galvanized steel were measured from surfaces on buildings during 12 months exposure. The magnitude of metal emission form other surfaces was also estimated and theapplicability of these data for calculations of metal flows inan urban environment is discussed.     

Performing contaminant mass balances for remedy assessments

Contaminant mass‐balance assessments are useful tools to help quantify various mass transport and removal mechanisms that may be active in a remedial system setting. This article presents the basics of performing a mass balance and illustrates the utility of using the information derived to support project management decisions. It is important to understand the partitioning of contaminant mass into various environmental media and physical forms, as well as the relationships among the partitions. Contaminant partitioning tends toward an equilibrium state, so natural or engineered mass transfer into or out of one partition will affect the others. Mass balances are exercises that quantify, to the extent possible, the contaminant mass in the various environmental partitions and the transfer and transformation processes that affect contaminant distribution. Understanding mass partitioning and transfer mechanisms helps remediation practitioners to engineer and optimize those mechanisms that contribute to risk reduction at a contaminated site. Such knowledge can inform risk managers when natural mechanisms may dominate engineered approaches and help identify uncertainties in contaminant fate and transport. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Aerosol Composition Change due to Dust Storm: Measurements between 1992 and 1999 at Gosan,Korea

Aerosol composition change between dust storm and non duststorm periods is studied using the TSP (Total SuspendedParticulate) data measured at Gosan, Korea between 1992 and1999. The concentrations of elements measured between 1993and 1996 and those of ions between 1992 and 1999 duringdust storms are compared with those during non-dust stormperiods in spring (March, April, and May). Among theanalyzed ions, the concentrations of crustal species(potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride) andanthropogenic species (nitrate and non-sea salt (nss)-sulfate) increased when dust storm occurs while those ofammonium and sodium did not increase. Among the analyzedelements, the concentrations of crustal species (Fe, Al,Ca, Ti, and Zn) increased when dust storm occurs whilethose of anthropogenic species (Mn, V, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Cr)did not increase. The only anthropogenic element of whichconcentration increased during dust storm periods was Pb.It was found that the concentrations of nitrate and nss-sulfatewere highest during spring. Also, the ratio of theyearly average concentrations of nitrate to nss-sulfateincreases, probably due to the emission trend change innortheast Asia, especially, in China.     

Feature of Dust Particles in the Spring Free Troposphere over Dunhuang in Northwestern China: Electron Microscopic Experiments on Individual Particles Collected with a Balloon-borne Impactor

Free tropospheric aerosol particles were collected using a balloon-borne particle impactor in August of 2002 and March of 2003 at Dunhuang in northwestern China (40°00′N, 94°30′E), and the morphology and elemental composition of the aerosol particles were analyzed in order to understand the mixing state of coarse dust particles (diameter >1 μm) over the desert areas in the Asian continent in spring. Electron microscopic experiments on the particles revealed that dust particles were major constituents of coarse mode particles in the free troposphere over the Taklamakan Desert in spring and summer. Si-rich or Ca-rich particles are major components of dust particles collected in the free troposphere over dunhuang and the values of [number of Ca-rich particles]/[number of Si-rich particles] differs markedly between spring and summer, being about 0.3 in the spring of 2003 and about 1.0 in the summer of 2002 at heights 3–5 km above sea level. It is likely that the condition of the ground surface and the strength of vertical mixing in source areas of Asian dust are potential factors causing the difference in the chemical types of dust particles. Comparison of the elemental compositions of these particles with those of particles collected over Japan strongly suggests that these particles were chemically modified during their long-range transport in the free troposphere. Analysis of wind systems shows that both the predominating westerly wind in the free troposphere and the surface wind strongly controlled by the geographical structure of the Tarim Basin are important in the long-range transport of KOSA particles originating in the Taklamakan Desert.     

Use of waste rubber as concrete additive.

For resource reutilization, scrap tyres have long been investigated as an additive to concrete to form 'Rubcrete' for various applications and have shown promising results. However, the addition of rubber particles leads to the degradation of physical properties, particularly, the compressive strength of the concrete. In this study, a theoretical model was proposed to shed light on the mechanisms of decrease in compressive strength due to the addition of rubber particles as well as improvement in compressive strength through modification of particle surfaces. The literature suggests that the compressive strength can be improved by soaking the rubber particles in alkaline solution first to increase the inter-phase bonding between the rubber particles and cement. Instead, we discovered that the loss in compressive strength was due to local imperfections in the hydration of cement, induced by the addition of heterogeneous and hydrophobic rubber particles. Microscopic studies showed that the rubber particles disturbed the water transfer to create channels, which were prone to cracking and led to a loss in the compressive strength. Unexpectedly, no cracking was found along the surfaces of the rubber particles, indicating that the bonding strength between the rubber particles and cement phases was not the critical factor in determining the compressive strength. Therefore, a theoretical model was proposed to describe the water transfer in the Rubcrete specimens to explain the experimental data. In the model, the local water available for hydration (Q) is: Q = -A(slv)/6piv, where Q, A(slv), and v are mass flow rate (kg s(-1)), Hamaker constant (J), and dynamic viscosity (m2 s(-1)), respectively. By maximizing the quantity Q and, in turn, the Hamaker constant A(slv), the compressive strength could be improved. The Hamaker constant A(slv) for water film on rubber particle surfaces was smaller than that for the hydrated cement particles; the water transfer rate was lower in the presence of rubber particles because the Hamaker constant A(slv) for water film on rubber particle surfaces was smaller than that on the hydrated cement particles. Thus, the compressive strength of Rubcrete could be improved by increasing the Hamaker constant of the system. This was achieved by increasing the refractive indices of the solids (n(s)). The refractive indices of materials increase with increases in functional groups, such as OH and SH on the surface. The model provided a possible mechanism for the efficacy of treating rubber particles with NaOH in improving the compressive strength. By using NaOH solution treatment, an oxygen-containing OH group was formed on the rubber surface to increase the Hamaker constant of the system, leading to higher compressive strength. Based on this mechanism, a novel method for modification of the rubber particles was also proposed. In this process, the rubber particles were partially oxidized with hot air/steam in a fluidized bed reactor to produce the hydrophilic groups on the surface of the particles. Preliminary results obtained so far are promising in accordance with the theory.     

发电集团应对新火电厂大气污染物排放标准的思考

新的火电厂大气污染排放标准重点加大了对火电厂大气污染物中NOx的控制力度,收严了SO2、烟尘等污染物排放限值,增设了汞及其化合物控制指标。该标准的实施对发电企业的生存和发展带来一定的影响,为了落实新标准,发电集团应在法律法规政策及技术产业方面采取相应措施,加快除尘、脱硫、脱硝、脱汞等新技术的研究和应用,从单一污染物的总量控制向多污染物协同控制转变,积极探索和思考发电集团绿色低碳发展的道路。     

Long Range Transport of Asian Dust from Dust Storms and its Impact on Japan

We simulated the long range transport of dust emitted from dust storms that occurred in China by using a global three-dimensional chemical transport model. A modified dust emission flux scheme and a nonlocal diffusion scheme for determining the atmospheric eddy diffusivity in the atmospheric boundary layer were implemented to improve the chemical transport model. We examined the dust transport by comparing the model results with TOMS satellite images. The model calculated monthly total deposition of dust masses were used for comparison with the measurements collected at sampling stations in Japan, and good agreement was found. The model generally reproduced the temporal and spatial variations of dust reasonably well.     

Wastewater Fines Influence the Adsorption Behavior of Pollutants onto Microplastics

Millions of tons of microplastics (MPs) enter the wastewater collection systems every day and interact with raw sewage. In addition to MPs, varieties of organic and inorganic fines from urban effluents release into the sewer system and provide suitable surfaces for adsorption. To better understand the quantitative assessment of MPs sorption in wastewater and the role of fines, batch reactor experiments were performed using synthetic wastewater solutions containing organic, inorganic, and mixed organic–inorganic fines, and the results compared to a solution without fines. The MPs were two types of clean polypropylene (PP) particles, isotactic (iPP) and atactic (aPP). The results showed in all applied solutions the adsorption of pollutants was higher for the aPP averaging 1.3 mg/g compared with 0.5 mg/g for iPP, indicating that the adsorption varies with the type of polymer and surface properties. Further experiments also revealed a decrease in the sorption values of MPs for solutions containing inorganic fines, measured as the partition coefficient (K_d) and adsorbed concentration at equilibrium (q_e). The result of the measured reference conductivity (к₂₅) of the solutions for the same tests showed similar trends indicating that the magnitude of pollution adsorption onto MPs surfaces is controlled by the surface charge potential of the fine particles. The relationship between the qualitative assessments of ion removal, measured in terms of к₂₅, and their quantitative assessment of adsorption values in terms of K_d in several identical tests, verifying that the conductivity of the solution was modified after adsorption of wastewater constituents onto the MPs.

     

Modeling of Combined Aerosol and Photooxidant Processes in the Mediterranean Area

The combined UAM-AERO/RAMS modeling system has been applied to study the dynamics of photochemical gaseous species and particulate matter processes in the eastern Mediterranean area between the Greek mainland and the island of Crete. In particular, the modeling system is applied to simulate atmospheric conditions for two periods, i.e., 13-16 July 2000 and 26-30 July 2000. The spatial and temporal distributions of both gaseous and particulate matter pollutants have been extensively studied together with the identification of major emission sources in the area. New pre-processors were developed for the UAM-AERO model for evaluating detailed emission inventories for biogenic compounds, resuspended dust and sea salt. Comparison of the modeling results with measured data was performed and satisfactory agreement was found for a number of gaseous species. However, the model underestimates the PM₁₀ measured concentrations during summer. This is mainly due to the considerable underestimation of particulate matter emissions and in particular dust resuspension, the effect of forest fire emissions and the contribution of Saharan dust episodes.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in e-waste: Level and transfer in a typical e-waste recycling site in Shanghai,Eastern China

Very few data for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were available in the electronic waste (e-waste) as one of the most PBDEs emission source. This study reported concentrations of PBDEs in e-waste including printer, rice cooker, computer monitor, TV, electric iron and water dispenser, as well as dust from e-waste, e-waste dismantling workshop and surface soil from inside and outside of an e-waste recycling plant in Shanghai, Eastern China. The results showed that PBDEs were detected in the majority of e-waste, and the concentrations of ΣPBDEs ranged from not detected to 175 g/kg, with a mean value of 10.8 g/kg. PBDEs were found in TVs made in China after 1990. The mean concentrations of ΣPBDEs in e-waste made in Korea, Japan, Singapore and China were 1.84 g/kg, 20.5 g/kg, 0.91 g/kg, 4.48 g/kg, respectively. The levels of ΣPBDEs in e-waste made in Japan far exceed the threshold limit of RoHS (1.00 g/kg). BDE-209 dominated in e-waste, accounting for over 93%. The compositional patterns of PBDEs congeners resembled the profile of Saytex 102E, indicating the source of deca-BDE. Among the samples of dust and surface soil from a typical e-waste recycling site, the highest concentrations of Σ₁₈PBDEs and BDE-209 were found in dust in e-waste, ranging from 1960 to 340,710 ng/g and from 910 to 320,400 ng/g, which were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than other samples. It suggested that PBDEs released from e-waste via dust, and then transferred to surrounding environment.     

Cracking styrene derivative polymers in decalin solvent with metal-supported carbon catalysts

The cracking of styrene derivative polymers dissolved in decalin was conducted with metal-supported carbon catalysts under an inert gas atmosphere to recover monosubstituted styrene or monosubstituted ethylbenzene in higher yields than is obtained by pyrolysis, and to elucidate the detailed reaction mechanisms in the solvent. Poly-(4-methylstyrene), poly-(4-t-butylstyrene), poly-(α-methylstyrene), and polystyrene were used. In decalin without a catalyst, each polymer was decomposed into the monomer, dimer, and trimer derived from the corresponding polymer except for poly-(α-methylstyrene), which was decomposed into the monomer and styrene. By using metal-supported carbon, the olefinic compounds derived from the corresponding polymer were thoroughly hydrogenated to the saturated form in a nitrogen atmosphere by a hydrogen transfer reaction from decalin, which was simultaneously dehydrogenated to tetralin and naphthalene with the evolution of hydrogen gas. In comparison with metal species, Pd- and Ru-supported carbon catalysts maintained the hydrogenation activity for a longer time and with a lower evolution of hydrogen than Pt or Rh. The dehydrogenation of decalin was mainly observed not on the metal surfaces, but on the carbon surfaces over Pd-supported carbon. Stabilization of the monomers will be able to suppress the coking which occurs with repolymerization in long running process. Received: July 19, 2000 / Accepted: March 16, 2001     

燃煤电厂应对新标准的烟尘控制对策研究

回顾了电力工业烟尘排放标准及除尘技术的发展,总结了烟尘排放状况,根据新修订排放标准的要求,有针对性地提出了现有未达标除尘器改造方向,以及2010年以后新建电厂实现30mg/m3排放的控制对策。     

燃煤电厂电除尘器的节能和提效

介绍了华能北京热电厂液态排渣塔式直流炉4号电除尘器电源控制系统改造后所取得的成果.该电厂采用了ZH2005型控制器,烟尘排放质量浓度达到20mg/m3左右,可节省电费58万元/a,减排粉尘120t/a.