World poverty,another look

The World Bank used the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to calculate changes in the world poverty level (measured in U.S. dollars) prior to 1982. In 1983, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) replaced the CPI with several indices including CPI-W which was then adopted by the World Bank. This caused the inflated rate of the U.S. dollars and the percentage of the world population in poverty to be dramatically underestimated. This new incorrect procedure gives 25% (1.5 million) below the poverty line in 2005, while the more appropriate procedure (described herein) gives 52% (3.3 million in 2005). The rapid rise of the poverty line (using the preferable CPI) starting in 1987 occurred at nearly the same time as the peak in per capita annual cereal production.     

Pesticide use among smallholder rice farmers in Tanzania

In an interview study conducted among smallholder rice farmers in Rufiji, Tanzania coastal mainland, and in Cheju, Zanzibar, farmer??s pesticide use and risk awareness were assessed. The farmers generally lacked knowledge or possibilities to manage the pesticides as prescribed by the manufacturers. Few farmers knew what kind of pesticides they were using and had never seen the original packages, as pesticides were usually sold per weight or already diluted without labeling. Protective equipment was rarely used since they were not aware of risks associated with pesticides or did not know where to purchase protective gear. Only half of the farmers were aware of pesticides?? health hazards and few associated pesticides with environmental problems. The pesticide use was relatively low, but based on farmers?? pesticide handling and application practices, health risks were a major concern. Most farmers did not believe in successful rice cultivation without using pesticides to control pests. However, estimated yields did not differ between pesticide users or farmers using conventional methods or neem tree extract. To avoid negative effects on human health and the environment, the farmers need basic education and better assistance in their farming practices and pesticide management.     

Mercury distribution in seawater discharged from a coal-fired power plant equipped with a seawater flue gas desulfurization system

Background and purpose  

More and more coal-fired power plants equipped with seawater flue gas desulfurization systems have been built in coastal areas. They release large amount of mercury (Hg)-containing waste seawater into the adjacent seas. However, very limited impact studies have been carried out. Our research targeted the distribution of Hg in the seawater, sediment, biota, and atmosphere, and its environmental transportation.     

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) as new Stockholm Convention POPs��a global perspective on the management of Lindane and its waste isomers

Purpose

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (??-, ??- and ??- (Lindane)) were recently included as new persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Stockholm Convention, and therefore, the legacy of HCH and Lindane production became a contemporary topic of global relevance. This article wants to briefly summarise the outcomes of the Stockholm Convention process and make an estimation of the amount of HCH waste generated and dumped in the former Lindane/HCH-producing countries.

Results

In a preliminary assessment, the countries and the respective amount of HCH residues stored and deposited from Lindane production are estimated. Between 4 and 7 million tonnes of wastes of toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative residues (largely consisting of alpha- (approx. 80%) and beta-HCH) are estimated to have been produced and discarded around the globe during 60 years of Lindane production. For approximately 1.9 million tonnes, information is available regarding deposition. Countries are: Austria, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Macedonia, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, The Netherlands, UK, USA, and former USSR. The paper highlights the environmental relevance of deposited HCH wastes and the related POPs?? contaminated sites and provides suggestions for further steps to address the challenge of the legacy of HCH/Lindane production.

Conclusion

It can be expected that most locations where HCH waste was discarded/stockpiled are not secured and that critical environmental impacts are resulting from leaching and volatilisation. As parties to the Stockholm Convention are legally required to take action to stop further POPs pollution, identification and evaluation of such sites are necessary.     

含泥钾矿浮选分离技术研究

从钾矿性质和浮选技术2个方面对盐湖含泥钾矿进行资源化利用研究,首先运用X射线荧光光谱、X射线衍射和扫描电镜对含泥钾矿的矿泥化学组成及其结构特征进行了分析,其次选用盐酸十八胺和煤油为浮选药剂,对浮选法脱除钾矿中泥进行了研究.结果表明,盐湖矿泥中70%以上为以长石、粘土和粉砂等为主的硅铝酸盐;矿泥多充填包裹于盐类矿物粒晶间...     

The Effect of CTBN Concentrations on the Kinetic Parameters of Decomposition of Blends of Epoxy Resins Modified with Carboxyl-Terminated Liquid Copolymer

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol—A (DGEBA)—based epoxy resin was blended in the ratio of 3:1 (weight basis) with cycloaliphatic epoxy (CAE) resin. The prepared blend sample was further blended with different weight percentages of carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer (CTBN) ranging between 0 and 25 wt% with an interval of 5 wt% and cured with stiochiometric amounts of 4, 4’- diamino diphenyl sulphone (DDS) cure agent. Structural changes during blending were studied by Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The kinetic parameters, viz., order of decomposition reaction (n), activation energy (E), pre-exponential factor (Z) and rate decomposition constant (k), for the decomposition of the samples were calculated by applying Coats-Redfern equation over thermogravimetric (TG) data. The degradation of each sample followed second-order degradation kinetics, which was calculated by Coats-Redfern equation using best-fit analysis. This was further confirmed by linear regression analysis. The validity of data was checked by t-test statistical analysis. Further, the blend sample had higher initial degradation temperature and activation energy than its respective pure epoxy resin indicating that the CTBN acted as thermal stabilizer for epoxy resin which improved the thermal stability.     

装备制造企业发展循环经济探讨——以湘电集团为例

探讨装备制造企业按照"装备制造4R"原则,制定循环经济发展思路、统筹规划产业发展路径、培育战略性新兴产业;实施传统产业升级和技术创新;通过组织企业内各工艺之间的物料循环,减少生产过程中物料和能源的使用量,最大限度地利用可再生资源,达到发展循环经济的目的.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in various bird species from northern China

Little data are available on organochlorine contamination in Chinese terrestrial birds of prey. This study examined the presence of PCBs, DDTs and other organochlorine pesticides in various raptors from northern China. DDE exhibited the highest concentrations among targeted compounds. Greatest levels (23.5-1020 mg/kg lipid weight) were observed in Eurasian sparrowhawks. This may be due to their stopover in southeastern China, where high DDT and dicofol applications have been documented. Residential kestrels exhibited much lower DDE, but similar PCB and HCH concentrations. ΣTEQs and PCB-126/-77 concentration ratios exhibited significant positive correlations with ΣPCB concentrations, respectively. Similar results were also demonstrated by a meta-analysis of previously published data across avian species. Possible hepatic sequestration of coplanar PCB-77, -126, -169 and -118 was observed as liver TEQs increased in Eurasian sparrowhawks. These observations may indicate an induction of CYP1A enzymes, as a result of elevated contamination in some species.     

降低FCC再生烟气NOx排放助剂的实验室评价

通过采用ACE装置与烟气NOx分析仪器联用的实验室评价方法,可在更接近实际催化裂化反应-再生过程的条件下,评价助剂对再生烟气中NOx的催化转化性能,同时还可考察助剂的加入对催化裂化产品分布的影响。采用该方法对几种降NOx助剂的性能进行了评价,结果表明,在催化剂体系中含有Pt基CO助燃剂的情况下,加入4％的RDNO;助剂后,烟气NOx降低幅度约30％～40％,且催化裂化产品分布基本不受影响。     

木棉基活性炭纤维吸附性能的研究

采用浸渍(NH₄)₂HPO₄化学活化法650℃时制备得到3种新型木棉基活性炭纤维,即只浸渍不预氧化方法处理的AK1(activated kapok),先浸渍后预氧化的AK-2和先预氧化后浸渍的AK-3。利用制备得到的活性炭纤维处理苯酚和亚甲基蓝的模拟废水,AK-2具有苯酚最大吸附量(137.00 mg/g),AK-1具有亚甲基蓝最大吸附量(274.11 mg/g)。吸附苯酚时,在静态平衡实验中,更符合Freundlich吸附等温线;在动力学实验中,更符合准一级反应。吸附亚甲基蓝时,在静态平衡实验中,AK-1更符合Langmuir模型,AK-2 、AK-3更符合Freundlich吸附等温线;在动力学实验中,更符合准二级反应。