Trace element concentrations in lichens near a coal-fired power plant

Samples of two different species of lichens (Parmelia caperata and Parmelia rudecta) were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) to determine the concentrations of trace elements. The relation between atmospheric concentrations of elements borne by particles and composition patterns in lichens are examined by calculating enrichment factors (EF). The lichens collect material from the atmosphere to which they have been exposed. However, they collect preferentially larger particles, which are probably deposited by impaction and/or dry deposition, but not rain or filtration. No significant differences in concentrations were observed among lichens collected at various distances ranging from 1.6 to 20 km from the plant, suggesting that the effects of plume touchdown are small compared with normal ambient concentrations of particles.     

A2O工艺城市污水处理厂恶臭物质逸散特征及风险评估

污水处理过程释放的大量恶臭气体对人体感官和健康产生不利影响。本研究在城市污水处理厂设置采样点,研究主要污水处理单元恶臭物质的逸散特征。结果表明,恶臭物质的排放主要集中在进水区,硫化氢、氨、二硫化碳、磷化氢的平均浓度分别为1.07、0.19、44.32和0.58 mg·m⁻³。污泥脱水间也是恶臭物质氨的主要释放源。硫化氢是主要的致臭物质,其在各工艺段的异味贡献率超过75%。二硫化碳和磷化氢的慢性致病风险较高,有必要采取相应的措施削减和控制其在污水处理厂内的影响。在厂界外300 m处,二硫化碳和磷化氢的慢性致病风险值可忽略,同时,硫化氢、氨、以及二硫化碳的厂界浓度均远远低于《恶臭污染物排放标准》(GB 14554-93)规定的相关限值。     

Fenton试剂和氨吹脱法处理苯唑醇废水的试验研究

采用Fenton试剂催化氧化和氨吹脱法对苯唑醇生产废水的处理进行了研究。实验结果表明 ,此方法对废水的CODCr和氨氮具有良好的去除效果 ,平均去除率分别达到 73 .5 %和 95 %以上。处理后废水的BOD5 CODCr>0 .45 ,其可生化性良好。该技术具有能耗低、操作简便等优点     

Perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate released from a waste water treatment plant in Bavaria, Germany

Purpose

Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and precursors and derivatives thereof have been employed as surfactants and anti-adhesives. PFOA and PFOS are environmentally persistent and the discharge of municipal waste waters is one of the principal routes of these compounds into the aquatic environment. In a previous study, the concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in grab samples collected from the waste water treatment plant (WWTP) of Bayreuth, a city of 72,000 inhabitants in Bavaria, Germany, during two periods showed considerable variability. For a better estimate of average mass flows, the surfactants were monitored (five samplings) from 16 March to 18 May 2007. In a second campaign, river water receiving the WWTP effluent was sampled twice a day for five consecutive days.

Methods

Quantitative analysis was done by stable-isotope dilution, pre-cleaning, and pre-concentration by solid-phase extraction, and liquid chromatography followed by electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

The mass flows of PFOA and PFOS through the WWTP were determined. PFOA is fully discharged into the river, while about half of PFOS is retained in the sewage sludge. The average daily mass load of the river Roter Main by the WWTP of Bayreuth is about 1.2?±?0.5 g PFOA and 5?±?2 g PFOS, with variations of up to 140% within one day.

Conclusion

Overall, the total annual release to the rivers of Germany may be in the range of several hundred kilograms of PFOA and several tons of PFOS.     

Effects of multiple antibiotics on greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions during swine manure composting

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Antibiotics are commonly used in intensive farming, leading to multiple antibiotic residue in livestock waste. However, the effects of multiple...     

Biological treatment process of air loaded with an ammonia and hydrogen sulfide mixture

The physico-chemical characteristics of granulated sludge lead us to develop its use as a packing material in air biofiltration. Then, the aim of this study is to investigate the potential of unit systems packed with this support in terms of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions treatment. Two laboratory scale pilot biofilters were used. A volumetric load of 680 g H2S m(-3) empty bed day(-1) and 85 g NH3 m(-3) empty bed day(-1) was applied for eight weeks to a unit called BGSn (column packed with granulated sludge and mainly supplied with hydrogen sulfide); a volumetric load of 170 g H2S m(-3) empty bed day(-1) and 340 g NH3 m(-3) empty bed day(-1) was applied for eight weeks to the other called BGNs (column packed with granulated sludge and mainly supplied with ammonia). Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide elimination occur in the biofilters simultaneously. The hydrogen sulphide and ammonia removal efficiencies reached are very high: 100% and 80% for BGSn; 100% and 80% for BGNs respectively. Hydrogen sulfide is oxidized into sulphate and sulfur. The ammonia oxidation products are nitrite and nitrate. The nitrogen error mass balance is high for BGSn (60%) and BGNs (36%). This result could be explained by the denitrification process which would have occurred in anaerobic zones. High percentages of ammonia or hydrogen sulfide are oxidized on the first half of the column. The oxidation of high amounts of hydrogen sulfide would involve some environmental stress on nitrifying bacterial growth and activity.     

城市生活垃圾堆肥试验装置的设计

堆肥装置是研究堆肥过程中各种参数变化和获取优化参数的必不可少的工具。本文从堆肥维持其温度的先决条件出发，并在大量调研的基础上确定了实验室好氧发酵装置的合理尺寸、渗沥水收集和回喷系统、布气系统等。该装置的尺寸为长1m，宽0．5m，高0．6m，堆料的高度为0．48m；根据垃圾样品的理化性质，确定了渗滤液回喷的时间为116S、鼓风机的风量为0．055m^3／min，风压为300Pa，并且对其引入自动控制设备，使通风工作5min、休息35min。最后利用生活垃圾堆肥试验验证该装置满足堆肥的一次发酵要求。该装置采用自动控制系统，布水、布气均匀，保温效果好，发酵过程温度测定方便快捷，而且还有功率消耗小、臭气集中易于处理的优点。     

城市生活垃圾堆肥试验装置的设计

堆肥装置是研究堆肥过程中各种参数变化和获取优化参数的必不可少的工具.本文从堆肥维持其温度的先决条件出发,并在大量调研的基础上确定了实验室好氧发酵装置的合理尺寸、渗沥水收集和回喷系统、布气系统等.该装置的尺寸为长1 m,宽0.5 m,高0.6 m,堆料的高度为0.48 m;根据垃圾样品的理化性质,确定了渗滤液回喷的时间为116 s、鼓风机的风量为0.055 m3/min,风压为300 Pa,并且对其引入自动控制设备,使通风工作5 min、休息35 min.最后利用生活垃圾堆肥试验验证该装置满足堆肥的一次发酵要求.该装置采用自动控制系统,布水、布气均匀,保温效果好,发酵过程温度测定方便快捷,而且还有功率消耗小、臭气集中易于处理的优点.     

Biological effects of diethylene glycol (DEG) and produced waters (PWs) released from offshore activities: A multi-biomarker approach with the sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax

Diethylene glycol (DEG) is largely used during oil and gas exploitation by offshore platforms. The aim of this work was to investigate if this compound induces direct molecular/cellular effects in marine organisms, or indirectly modulate those of produced waters (PWs). Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were exposed to DEG dosed alone or in combination with PWs from an Adriatic platform. A wide array of analysed biomarkers included cytochrome P450-dependent enzymatic activity, bile metabolites, glutathione S-transferases, acetylcholinesterase, peroxisomal proliferation, antioxidant defences (catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione), total oxyradical scavenging capacity, malondialdehyde and DNA integrity (single strand breaks and frequency of micronuclei). Results did not reveal marked effects of DEG, while PWs influenced the biotransformation system, the oxidative status and the onset of genotoxic damages. Co-exposures caused only limited differences of biomarker responses at some experimental conditions, overall suggesting a limited biological impact of DEG at levels normally deriving from offshore activities.     

Further evidence of the effects of global warming on lichens, particularly those with Trentepohlia phycobionts

Increasing evidence suggests that lichens are responding to climate change in Western Europe. More epiphytic species appear to be increasing, rather than declining, as a result of global warming. Many terricolous species, in contrast, are declining. Changes to epiphytic floras are markedly more rapid in formerly heavily polluted, generally built-up or open rural areas, as compared to forested regions. Both the distribution (southern) and ecology (warmth-loving) of the newly established or increasing species seem to be determined by global warming. Epiphytic temperate to boreo-montane species appear to be relatively unaffected. Vacant niches caused by other environmental changes are showing the most pronounced effects of global warming. Species most rapidly increasing in forests, although taxonomically unrelated, all contain Trentepohlia as phycobiont in addition to having a southern distribution. This suggests that in this habitat, Trentepohlia algae, rather than the different lichen symbioses, are affected by global warming.     

Bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soil with composting

The major objective of this research was to find the appropriate mix ratio of organic amendments for enhancing diesel oil degradation during contaminated soil composting. Sewage sludge or compost was added as an amendment for supplementing organic matter for composting of contaminated soil. The ratios of contaminated soil to organic amendments were 1:0.1, 1:0.3, 1:0.5, and 1:1 as wet weight basis. Target contaminant of this research was diesel oil, which was spiked at 10,000 mg/kg sample on a dry weight basis. The degradation of diesel oil was significantly enhanced by the addition of these organic amendments relative to straight soil. Degradation rates of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and n-alkanes were the greatest at the ratio of 1:0.5 of contaminated soil to organic amendments on wet weight basis. Preferential degradation of n-alkanes over TPH was observed regardless of the kind and the amount of organic amendments. The first order degradation constant of n-alkanes was about twice TPH degradation constant. Normal alkanes could be divided in two groups (C10-C15 versus C16-C20) based on the first order kinetic constant. Volatilization loss of TPH was only about 2% of initial TPH. Normal alkanes lost by volatilization were mainly by the compounds of C10 to C16. High correlations (r=0.80-0.86) were found among TPH degradation rate, amount of CO2 evolved, and dehydrogenase activity.     

一种新型可控堆肥反应器系统的快速好氧堆肥实验

研究自制可控堆肥反应器对城市污泥进行快速好氧堆肥的工艺效能。实验结果表明:新型堆肥反应器的可控性强。当初始入料堆体温度控制在40℃左右,含水率控制在50%左右时,堆体温度能在第3天就升至55℃以上,并维持5 d以上。含水率、pH、电导率、种子发芽指数(G I)和可挥发性固体(VS)等指标均具有良好的变化规律,均可作为堆肥腐熟度的表征和评价参数。反应器13 d即可完成一个堆肥周期,且堆肥产品的腐熟程度极高。     

翻转式堆肥反应装置设计研究

以复合微生物菌剂降解垃圾的适宜条件为出发点 ,根据堆肥小试实验结果 ,确定进料垃圾特性、合理的工艺参数及一次发酵完成时间 ,结合制备装置材料的保温性、堆肥物料平衡、热量平衡 ,合理确定反应装置容积、供气方式、操作运行条件 ,开发了翻转式堆肥反应装置。该装置具有堆料搅拌均匀、进出料简单、供气均衡等特点     

Integrated biomonitoring of air quality with plants and lichens: a case study on ambient ozone from central Italy

A biennial integrated survey, based on the use of vascular plants for the bioindication of the effects of tropospheric ozone together with the use of automatic analysers of ozone, as well as the mapping of lichen biodiversity was performed in the area of Castelfiorentino (Tuscany, central Italy). Photochemically produced ozone proved to be a fundamental presence during the warm season, with maximum hourly means reaching 114 ppb, exceeding the information threshold as fixed by EU: the use of supersensitive tobacco Bel-W3 confirmed the opportunity of carrying out detailed cost-effective monitoring surveys. The potential for didactical and educational implications of this methodology are appealing. Critical levels set up for the protection of vegetation have exceeded considerably. The comparison of biomass productivity in sensitive and resistant individuals (NC-S and NC-R white clover clones, in the framework of an European network) provided evidence that ambient ozone levels are associated with relevant reduction (up to 30%) in the performance of sensitive material; effects on flowering were also pronounced. The economic assessment of such an impact deserves attention. Mapping of epiphytic lichen biodiversity – which has been used to monitor air quality worldwide – was not related to ozone geographical distribution as depicted by tobacco response.     

Factors affecting ammonia volatilisation from a rice-wheat rotation system

Some of the major factors influencing ammonia volatilisation in a rice wheat rotation system were studied. A continuous airflow enclosure method was used to measure NH3 volatilisation in a field experiment at an agricultural college in Jiangsu Province. The five treatments comprised application rates of 0, 100, 200 or 300 kg N ha(-1) as urea, per growing season with rice straw amendment when wheat was sown, and 200 kg N ha(-1) without rice straw amendment. There were three replicates in a randomised block design. Ammonia volatilisation was measured immediately after urea application in the three consecutive years 1995 to 1997. The results show that N losses through NH3 volatilisation accounted for 4-19% of N applied during the wheat growing season and for 5-11% during the rice growing season. Ammonia volatilisation was affected significantly by soil moisture and temperature before and after fertiliser application during the wheat growing season. The ratio of volatilised NH3-N to applied N after urea application during the rice growing season was as follows: top-dressing at the onset of tillering > top-dressing at the start of the booting stage > basal fertilization. The results also show that the amount of N lost through NH3 volatilisation increased with increasing N application rate, but the ratio to applied N was not affected significantly by N application rate. Amendment with rice straw had no significant effect on NH3 volatilisation.     

利用氨水对液体烟幕残留物自净化的方法

针对军事上大量使用的液体烟幕的残留物所存在的严重污染问题，研究了利用氨水的自净化法。探讨了自净化的机理和氨水的不同浓度、不同用量对净化效果的影响。该方法简单、高效，既可保持烟幕本身的功用特性，又可解决其残留物的严重污染问题，具有重要的环保价值，也是在军事运用中强调环保的一种有益尝试。