Cost-effective reduction of NOx emissions from electricity generation.

This paper analyzes the benefits and costs of policies to reduce NOx emissions from electricity generation in the United States. Because emissions of NO contribute to the high concentration of atmospheric ozone in the eastern states associated with health hazards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called on eastern states to formulate state implementation plans (SIPs) for reducing NOx emissions. Our analysis considers three NOx reduction scenarios: a summer seasonal cap in the eastern states covered by EPA's NOx SIP Call, an annual cap in the same SIP Call region, and a national annual cap. All scenarios allow for emissions trading. Although EPA's current policy is to implement a seasonal cap in the SIP Call region, this analysis indicates that an annual cap in the SIP Call region would yield about $400 million more in net benefits (benefits less costs) than would a seasonal policy, based on particulate-related health effects only. An annual cap in the SIP Call region is also the policy that is most likely to achieve benefits in excess of costs. Consideration of omissions from this accounting, including the potential benefits from reductions in ozone concentrations, strengthens the finding that an annual program offers greater net benefits than does a seasonal program.     

Renewable energies for climate benign fuel production. Powering fuel-cell vehicles

Transportation contributes to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, while sustainable mobility requires reductions in both areas. Alternative fuels from natural gas and from renewable resources can contribute in the mid and long-term to the fuel market for mobile as well as stationary applications. The lack of reliable data on emissions, energy chain efficiencies, and costs demonstrates the need for field tests and demonstration projects. Fuel cells offer the technology to use ‘new fuels’ in a highly efficient way.     

填埋场沼气发电的温室气体减排效益分析

填埋场沼气是垃圾卫生填埋场产生的可利用资源.以深圳下坪垃圾填埋场为例,定量分析垃圾填埋气体发电的温室气体减排效益.结果表明,填埋场沼气发电具有很好的经济效益和环境效益,可作为与发达国家进行CDM(清洁发展机制)项目合作的优先技术领域.     

Sources and emission of greenhouse gases in Danube Delta lakes

Production of methane and carbon dioxide as well as methane concentrations in surface waters and emissions to the atmosphere were investigated in two flow-through lake complexes (Uzlina–Isac and Puiu–Rosu–Rosulet) in the Danube Delta during post-flood conditions in May and low water level in September 2006. Retained nutrients fuelled primary production and remineralisation of bioavailable organic matter. This led to an observable net release of methane, particularly in the lakes Uzlina, Puiu and Rosu in May. Input from the Danube River, from redbuds and benthic release contributed to CH₄ concentrations in surface waters. In addition to significant river input of CO₂, this trace gas was released via aerobic remineralisation within the water column and in top sediments. Emission patterns of CO₂ widely overlapped with those of CH₄. Generally, greenhouse gas emissions peaked in the lake complex adjacent to the Danube River in May due to strong winds and decreased with increasing hydrological distance from the Danube River. Intense remineralisation of organic matter in the Danube Delta lakes results in a net source of atmospheric greenhouse gases.     

Sources and emission of greenhouse gases in Danube Delta lakes

Production of methane and carbon dioxide as well as methane concentrations in surface waters and emissions to the atmosphere were investigated in two flow-through lake complexes (Uzlina–Isac and Puiu–Rosu–Rosulet) in the Danube Delta during post-flood conditions in May and low water level in September 2006. Retained nutrients fuelled primary production and remineralisation of bioavailable organic matter. This led to an observable net release of methane, particularly in the lakes Uzlina, Puiu and Rosu in May. Input from the Danube River, from redbuds and benthic release contributed to CH₄ concentrations in surface waters. In addition to significant river input of CO₂, this trace gas was released via aerobic remineralisation within the water column and in top sediments. Emission patterns of CO₂ widely overlapped with those of CH₄. Generally, greenhouse gas emissions peaked in the lake complex adjacent to the Danube River in May due to strong winds and decreased with increasing hydrological distance from the Danube River. Intense remineralisation of organic matter in the Danube Delta lakes results in a net source of atmospheric greenhouse gases.     

Analyzing the spatial network structure of agricultural greenhouse gases in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Investigating the regional correlation and factors affecting agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can help establish a regional mechanism for...     

Intake-to-delivered-energy ratios for central station and distributed electricity generation in California

In previous work, we showed that the intake fraction (iF) for nonreactive primary air pollutants was 20 times higher in central tendency for small-scale, urban-sited distributed electricity generation (DG) sources than for large-scale, central station (CS) power plants in California [Heath, G.A., Granvold, P.W., Hoats, A.S., Nazaroff, W.W., 2006. Intake fraction assessment of the air pollutant exposure implications of a shift toward distributed electricity generation. Atmospheric Environment 40, 7164–7177]. The present paper builds on that study, exploring pollutant- and technology-specific aspects of population inhalation exposure from electricity generation. We compare California's existing CS-based system to one that is more reliant on DG units sited in urban areas. We use Gaussian plume modeling and a GIS-based exposure analysis to assess 25 existing CSs and 11 DG sources hypothetically located in the downtowns of California's most populous cities. We consider population intake of three pollutants—PM_2.5, NO_x and formaldehyde—directly emitted by five DG technologies—natural gas (NG)-fired turbines, NG internal combustion engines (ICE), NG microturbines, diesel ICEs, and fuel cells with on-site NG reformers. We also consider intake of these pollutants from existing CS facilities, most of which use large NG turbines, as well as from hypothetical facilities located at these same sites but meeting California's best-available control technology standards. After systematically exploring the sensitivity of iF to pollutant decay rate, the iFs for each of the three pollutants for all DG and CS cases are estimated. To efficiently compare the pollutant- and technology-specific exposure potential on an appropriate common basis, a new metric is introduced and evaluated: the intake-to-delivered-energy ratio (IDER). The IDER expresses the mass of pollutant inhaled by an exposed population owing to emissions from an electricity generation unit per quantity of electric energy delivered to the place of use. We find that the central tendency of IDER is much greater for almost every DG technology evaluated than for existing CS facilities in California.     

厌氧流化床微生物燃料电池同步除碳脱氮产电性能影响因素

研究了厌氧流化床微生物燃料电池(AFB-MFC)除碳脱氮产电性能的影响因素。结果表明:(1)AFB-MFC对NH4+-N的去除不起作用。电压下降主要是由于进水有机基质浓度下降造成。(2)不添加NO3--N时,在满足AFB-MFC脱氮所需的电子供体条件下增加进水COD/TN有利于AFB-MFC产电。(3)3种无机氮共存下,AFB-MFC在进水有机碳与无机氮质量比(C/N)不低于1.37时,对COD、NO2--N和NO3--N具有理想的去除效果。AFB-MFB在一定进水C/N范围内(1.37～2.50),能得到稳定的输出电压及功率密度。(4)固定进水C/N时,AFB-MFC在高碳氮负荷下仍能得到较理想的NO2--N、NO3--N、COD去除效果,AFB-MFC对NH4+-N去除效果不明显;增加碳氮负荷,AFB-MFC输出电压及功率密度没有明显的改变。(5)有机基质浓度不变下,AFB-MFC中充足的电子供体可保证较高的NO3--N、COD去除率。AFB-MFC输出电压及功率密度随着时间延长而先增加至稳定值后下降。     

Reduction of greenhouse gases from anaerobic piggery wastewater treatment by bromochloromethane in Taiwan

This work establishes methods of reducing the amount of methane produced from the anaerobic treatment of piggery wastewater by either reducing the storage time before solid/liquid separation or inhibiting the activity of methanogens in anaerobic wastewater treatment system. Experimental results showed these two methods can be adopted effectively to reduce methane production resulting from anaerobic piggery wastewater treatment. First, the wastewater must be processed using solid/liquid separation immediately after washing pig houses. This process can reduce by 62% the biogas production and indirectly decrease the methane production from the anaerobic wastewater treatment reactor. Second, adding 10 mg L(-1) bromochloromethane (BCM) daily into the anaerobic wastewater treatment reactor can significantly reduce the amount of biogas and methane produced during the anaerobic fermentation process. Furthermore, biogas production can be completely inhibited after 4 days. Adding BCM (< or =10 mg L(-1)) to wastewater only slightly affected the efficiency of the anaerobic wastewater treatment process. Results in this study can provide the basis for further research on reduction of the amount of methane produced from anaerobic wastewater treatments.     

Forecasting carbon emissions due to electricity power generation in Bahrain

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Global warming and climate change have become one of the most embarrassing and explosive problems/challenges all over the world, especially in...     

微生物燃料电池在高盐榨菜废水处理中的产电性能

基于双室微生物燃料电池（microbial fuel cells,MFCs）,以高盐榨菜废水为燃料,考察了电池的运行状况,同时探讨了盐度变化对电池产电性能影响,并通过投加甜菜碱研究其对MFCs系统抵抗盐度负荷冲击能力的影响。结果表明：MFCs稳定运行时（阳极室容积80 mL）,最大功率密度、开路电压和电池内阻分别为3.55 W·m-3、0.698 V和427 Ω;底物中添加2 mmol·L-1甜菜碱后电池产电性能得到明显提升;当废水含盐量（增加到5 g·L-1 NaCl）为31.2 g·L-1时电池产电性能达到最佳,但是继续增高盐度后电池产电性能会急剧下降;投加甜菜碱有助于提高系统抵抗盐度负荷变化造成的冲击,维持电池的产电输出。     

Biomass fuel burning and its implications: Deforestation and greenhouse gases emissions in Pakistan

Pakistan is facing problem of deforestation. Pakistan lost 14.7% of its forest habitat between 1990 and 2005 interval. This paper assesses the present forest wood consumption rate by 6000 brick kilns established in the country and its implications in terms of deforestation and emission of greenhouse gases. Information regarding consumption of forest wood by the brick kilns was collected during a manual survey of 180 brick kiln units conducted in eighteen provincial divisions of country. Considering annual emission contributions of three primary GHGs i.e., CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O, due to burning of forest wood in brick kiln units in Pakistan and using IPCC recommended GWP indices, the combined CO₂-equivalent has been estimated to be 533019 t y⁻¹.     

Air pollution reduction via use of green energy sources for electricity and hydrogen production

The implementation of renewable wind and solar energy sources instead of fossil fuels to produce such energy carriers as electricity and hydrogen facilitates reductions in air pollution emissions. Unlike from traditional fossil fuel technologies, air pollution emissions from renewable technologies are associated mainly with the construction of facilities. With present costs of wind and solar electricity, it is shown that, when electricity from renewable sources replaces electricity from natural gas, the cost of air pollution emission abatement is more than ten times less than the cost if hydrogen from renewable sources replaces hydrogen produced from natural gas. When renewable-based hydrogen is used instead of gasoline in a fuel cell vehicle, the cost of air pollution emissions reduction approaches the same value as for renewable-based electricity only if the fuel cell vehicle efficiency exceeds significantly (i.e., by about two times) that of an internal combustion vehicle. The results provide the basis for a useful approach to an optimal strategy for air pollution mitigation.     

阳极电势对MFC中产电的影响

在微生物燃料电池(MFC)中,与微生物接触的阳极自身电场环境就可能会对产电菌的生长和代谢产生重要影响,进而影响到MFC产电效能.为探索阳极电势的作用,本研究在微生物燃料电池的阳极室中通过设置附加电路来人为改变阳极电势,考察了阳极电势对MFC产电的影响.结果表明,当阳极电势在-380 mV降低到0 mV过程中,MFC输出功率提高.当阳极电势小于200 mV时,COD去除效率在60%~73%之间变化不大.较低或较高的阳极电势均可增加电池的库伦效率.阳极电势处于-380 mV到0 mV下,厌氧微生物主要以丙酸型发酵为主,产生大量乙酸;COD的分解和利用是分阶段进行的.不同阳极电势下MFC内阻变化主要受浓差内阻影响.阳极电势为-200 mV时欧姆内阻最低,但电化学活性较高.     

Urea removal coupled with enhanced electricity generation in single-chambered microbial fuel cells

High concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) in the form of urea is known to inhibit the performance of many biological wastewater treatment processes. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have great potential for TAN removal due to its unique oxic/anoxic environment. In this study, we demonstrated that increased urea (TAN) concentration up to 3940 mg/L did not inhibit power output of single-chambered MFCs, but enhanced power generation by 67% and improved coulombic efficiency by 78% compared to those obtained at 80 mg/L of TAN. Over 80% of nitrogen removal was achieved at TAN concentration of 2630 mg/L. The increased nitrogen removal coupled with significantly enhanced coulombic efficiency, which was observed for the first time, indicates the possibility of a new electricity generation mechanism in MFCs: direct oxidation of ammonia for power generation. This study also demonstrates the great potential of using one MFC reactor to achieve simultaneous electricity generation and urea removal from wastewater.

     

Definition of yearly emission factor of dust and greenhouse gases through continuous measurements in swine husbandry

The object of this study was to develop an accurate estimation method to evaluate the contribution of the various compartments of swine husbandry to dust and GHG (greenhouse gases, CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) emission into the atmosphere during one year of observation.A weaning, a gestation, a farrowing and a fattening room in an intensive pig house were observed in three different periods (Autumn–Winter, Springtime and Summer, monitoring at least 60% of each period (20% at the beginning, in the middle and at the end) of each cycle).During monitoring, live weight, average live weight gain, number of animals and its variation, type of feed and feeding time were taken into account to evaluate their influence on PM₁₀, or the fraction of suspended particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 μm [Emission Inventory Guidebook, 2007. B1100 Particle Emissions from Animal Husbandry Activities. Available from: <http://reports.eea.europa.eu/EMEPCORINAIR5/en/B1100vs1.pdf> (accessed October 2008)] and to define GHG emission.The selected piggery had a ventilation control system using a free running impeller to monitor continuously real-time environmental and management parameters with an accuracy of 5%.PM₁₀ concentration was monitored by a sampler (Haz Dust EPAM 5000), either continuously or through traditional gravimetric technique, and the mean value of dust amount collected on the membranes was utilized as a correction factor to be applied to continuously collected data.PM₁₀ concentration amount incoming from inlets was removed from PM₁₀ emission calculation, to estimate the real contribution of pig house dust pollution into atmosphere.Mean yearly emission factor of PM₁₀ was measured in 2 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the weaning room, 0.09 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the farrowing room, 2.59 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the fattening room and 1.23 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the gestation room. The highest PM₁₀ concentration and emission per LU was recorded in the fattening compartment while the lowest value was recorded in the farrowing room.CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O concentrations were continuously measured in the exhaust ducts using an infrared photoacoustic detector IPD (Brüel & Kjaer, Multi-gas Monitor Type 1302, Multipoint Sampler and Doser Type 1303) sampling data every 15 min, for the 60% of the cycles.Yearly emission factor for CO₂ was measured in 5997 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the weaning room, 1278 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the farrowing room, 13,636 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the fattening room and 8851 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the gestation room.Yearly emission factor for CH₄ was measured in 24.57 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the weaning room, 4.68 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the farrowing room, 189.82 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the fattening room and 132.12 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the gestation room.Yearly emission factor for N₂O was measured in 3.62 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the weaning room, 0.66 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the farrowing room, 3.26 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the fattening room and 2.72 g d^?1 LU^?1 for the gestation room.     

共基质下微生物燃料电池同步脱色甲基橙与产电性能

采用双室方形微生物燃料电池(MFC),以葡萄糖作为共基质,研究了共基质浓度对典型偶氮染料甲基橙在MFC阳极室中脱色效率及同步产电的影响。结果表明,在0~1.5 g/L浓度范围内,共基质浓度越大,甲基橙脱色率、COD去除率和最大输出电压越高。在共基质浓度为1.5 g/L,进水甲基橙为300 mg/L的条件下,8 h的脱色率高达95%,且在1 000 Ω外电阻下,最大输出电压达到662 mV;在无共基质条件下,8 h内对300 mg/L甲基橙的脱色率仅为7.5%,最大输出电压仅达到140 mV。厌氧对照实验表明,甲基橙在MFC中可以实现加速脱色,反应8 h后甲基橙在MFC中的脱色率提高了57%。该研究为开发新型MFC降解偶氮染料废水技术提供了理论依据。     

四室微生物燃料电池同步脱氮除碳及产电性能

微生物燃料电池近年来被证实可以用来同步脱氮,然而微生物燃料电池中阴阳极室通常以不同成分的污水作为底物。为了实现废水脱氮,往往需要进行出水调配或停曝等复杂的操作。为解决上述问题,本研究构建了阴极硝化耦合阳极反硝化的四室微生物燃料电池(four chamber microbial fuel cell,FC-MFC),阳极室与阴极室之间用阳离子交换膜(cation exchange membrane,CEM)与阴离子交换膜(anion exchange membrane,AEM)进行交替分隔。在浓度差作用下离子进行定向迁移,最终实现阳极室有机物和氨氮的同步去除。探讨了阳极COD(即进水碳氮比)对FC-MFC产电及污染物去除效果的影响,并分析FC-MFC的氮去除途径。结果表明：随着阳极室COD的增加,各MFC模块的产电周期、峰值输出电压和最大功率密度随之增加,同时阳极室COD和TN的去除率也呈上升趋势,该系统对高碳氮比污水具有良好的抵抗负荷。当进水COD和NH₄⁺-N质量浓度分别为1 100 mg·L⁻¹和100 mg·L⁻¹时,4个MFC模块的峰值输出电压介于526~619 mV,最大功率密度为103.47~121.00 mW·m⁻²,阳极室COD去除率和TN去除率分别高达94%和96%以上。氮去除途径分析结果表明,阳极室微生物吸附代谢作用、阴极室内源反硝化、阴极室通过AEM迁移至后序位阳极室进行反硝化过程分别贡献了25.96%~25.97%、0.91%~5.18%、68.87%~73.20%。     

Forecasting generation of urban solid waste in developing countries--a case study in Mexico

Based on a study of the composition of urban solid waste (USW) and of socioeconomic variables in Morelia, Mexico, generation rates were estimated. In addition, the generation of residential solid waste (RSW) and nonresidential solid waste (NRSW) was forecasted by means of a multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis. For residential sources, the independent variables analyzed were monthly wages, persons per dwelling, age, and educational level of the heads of the household. For nonresidential sources, variables analyzed were number of employees, area of facilities, number of working days, and working hours per day. The forecasted values for residential waste were similar to those observed. This approach may be applied to areas in which available data are scarce, and in which there is an urgent need for the planning of adequate management of USW.