Accumulation of organochlorine pesticides by semipermeable membrane devices using composite complex

Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were developed for passive in situ monitoring of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in aqueous solution in both laboratory and field (Pearl River Delta, China) studies. The device consisted of a thin film of neutral lipid triolein, enclosed in thin-walled tubing made of composite cellulose acetate membrane (CA) supported by linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) (CAPE). Results from the laboratory and field application indicated that triolein-CAPE (TCAPE) could quickly and efficiently accumulate hydrophobic OCPs in water and uptake equilibrium could reached within 20h in the laboratory. Some mathematical relationships of TCAPE-water partition coefficient (logK(sw)), triolein-water partition coefficient (logK(tw)) and octanol-water partition coefficient (logK(ow)) were developed under the laboratory conditions. A good correlation of accumulation in TCAPE with r(2) values ranging from 0.55 to 0.86 for individual OCPs (n=8) and an excellent correlation of logK(sw) and logK(ow) was also obtained under the field conditions. The average OCPs concentration in the surface water could be estimated by measuring OCPs concentration in the device under the field conditions.     

A dynamic artificial clam (Corbicula fluminea) allows parsimony on-line measurement of waterborne metals

We introduce a novel on-line biomonitoring system based on a valvometric conversion technique for clam Corbicula fluminea, allowing for rapid, continuous, and ecological relevant water quality control. Our model builds upon the basic principles of biological early warning system model in two ways. We first adopted a risk-based methodology to build a dynamic artificial clam for simulating how the bivalve closure rhythm in response to waterborne copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd). Secondly, we integrated a probabilistic model associated with the time-varying dose-response relationships of valve closing behavior into the mechanisms of a dynamic artificial clam, allowing estimation of the time-varying waterborne Cu/Cd concentrations for on-line providing the outcomes of the toxicity detection technique. Measurements with Cu/Cd were performed and the calculated EC50 values were compared with published data for the valve movement test with C. fluminea. This proposed dynamic artificial clam provides a better quantitative understanding of on-line biomonitoring measurements of waterborne metals and may foster applications in clam farm management strategy and ecotoxicological risk assessment.     

铅锌矿山重金属污染的标准化方法评价

应用标准化方法建立了某矿区土壤环境地球化学基线模型,在此基础上,评价了铅锌资源开发引起的土壤重金属污染状况,结果表明：矿区重金属污染以Pb、Zn为主,且污染十分严重,Cu、Cd、As为轻微污染,少量土壤受到其显著污染。受Pb、Zn污染程度较高的区域主要集中在精矿运输污染区。     

Experimental study on an ultra high-rise building evacuation in China

With the development of modern cities, more and more ultra high-rise buildings have been built. Emergency evacuation of such buildings becomes one of the major concerns for building designers, building occupants and governments, especially after the disaster of 9/11. In this study we designed three experiments to investigate the process of ultra high-rise building evacuation. The experiments were performed in Shanghai World Financial Center, which is about 470 m tall. In the first experiment, the evacuation of a single pedestrian from the top floor to the first floor was performed. Movement characteristics such as mean speed and the time needed for evacuation were analyzed. In the second experiment, the mass evacuation process was captured by video cameras and the data were extracted out manually. The evacuees were distributed initially on floors 12–17, and were asked to evacuate through a staircase onto the refuge floor. On the refuge floor, i.e. the 6th floor, the evacuees were required to transit into another staircase to keep moving down to the ground floor. The characteristic space–time curves for each evacuee were extracted and analyzed. Parameters such as the mean speed and the evacuation time, as well as the characteristic of the transit process from one staircase to another were investigated. We at last mimicked and discussed the process of lift evacuation for an ultra high-rise building in the 3rd experiment. Evacuees located on the 41st and 65th floor were asked to move downward by stairs until they came to the refuge floors, where they would evacuate to the ground floor by lifts. The time characteristic of the mixed evacuation strategy was discussed. The basic data obtained from the experiments are useful for building designers and can be used to validate and refine ultra high-rise building evacuation models.     

Toxic effects of coal fly ash on wheat seedlings

We studied heavy metal (HM) stress on wheat seedlings (AK-58) with and without coal fly ash (CFA) exposure. Three CFA spray rates were used to simulate air quality of the second level. Results show airborne particulates can directly enter plant leaves, affecting the whole plant. HM deposition decreases seedling size and mass and reduces activities of the chlorophyll family, photosynthesis enzymes (RuBP and PEPC), and photosynthesis efficiency. In leaves, HM deposition increases with the CFA spray rate. In roots, however, CFA exposure seems to reduce HM deposition, compared with the control without CFA exposure. A possible reason is that HM deposition in leaves from airborne particulates hinders photosynthesis, weakens the whole physiology of the seedlings, and consequently reduces root absorption of HMs from soil. CFA leads to chloroplast expansion, layer-stack disorder of grana, plastoglobule increase, and even chlorophyll membrane damage.     

Factors influencing the preparation of supported iron oxide in fluidized-bed crystallization

Our previous work applied a novel supported iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) catalyst to effectively treat benzoic acid by hydrogen peroxide. The FeOOH catalyst was prepared via the oxidation of Fe2+ by H2O2 in the acidic condition using a fluidized-bed crystallization reactor. The major components coated on the surface were identified as amorphous FeOOH and gamma-FeOOH. In terms of the crystallization conditions of FeOOH, some parameters including the operational pH, superficial velocity, specific iron loading, and influent H2O2 concentration were investigated to quantify their effects on the crystallization efficiency. All these parameters were found to significantly influence the crystallization efficiency. Two types of FeOOH catalysts were synthesized: FeOOH I was prepared at pH 3.5, and FeOOH II was formed by aging FeOOH I at pH 13. The percentages of surface amorphous FeOOH reduced from 70% to 30% after aging. The FeOOH II catalyst presented a higher reactivity toward H2O2 but lower stoichiometric efficiency in oxidizing benzoic acid than FeOOH I, similar to the result of the commercial goethite. Therefore, it is concluded that the crystalline property significantly affects the performance of catalytic oxidation.     

序批式反应器工艺的研究进展

回顾了序批式反应器(SBR)技术的发展历史，介绍了近20年来国内外SBR技术研究与应用的新发展，着重分析了其基本原理、技术优势和不足之处，指出SBR技术是一项极具竞争力的废水生物处理技术。     

Complex toxic effects of Cd2+, Zn2+, and acid rain on growth of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L)

Complex toxic effects of Cd2+, Zn2+, and acid rain on growth of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) were studied in a pot experiment by measurement of fresh weights of the plants, determination of surperoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) in the plant organs, and observation of injury symptoms. The experimental results demonstrated that all treatments of Cd2+, Zn2+, and/or acid rain significantly decreased fresh weights of kidney bean and caused toxic effects on growth of the plants, especially higher amounts of Cd2+ and Zn2+ and higher acidity of acid rain. Combination of these three pollutant factors resulted in more serious toxic effects than any single pollutant and than combinations of any two pollutants. SOD, POD, and MDA in the plant organs changed with different pollution levels, but MDA content in the leaves showed the best relationship between the pollution levels and toxic effects.     

A practical approach to the degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls in transformer oil

A practical and efficient disposal method for hydrodechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in transformer oil is reported. Transformer oil containing PCBs was treated by nanometric sodium hydride (nano-NaH) and transition metal catalysts. High destruction and removal efficiency (89.8%) can be attained by nano-NaH alone under mild conditions. The process exhibits apparent characteristics of a first order reaction. The reductive ability of nano-NaH was enhanced by the addition of transition metal catalysts. In the presence of TiCl4, 99.9% PCBs was hydrodechlorinated. The complex reducing reagents, Ni(OAc)2+i-PrONa, show extra hydrodechlorinating activity for di-chlorinated biphenyls.