Integrated effects of applied pressure,time, and polymer doses on alum sludge dewatering behaviour

In this study, combinations of applied pressure, pressing time and polymer dose were examined in an air pressure plate apparatus to explore their integrated influence on the dewatering of an alum sludge. Results of the investigation demonstrated that dewatering can be enhanced by increases in pressure and time. However, a point is reached at which continued increases in pressure and time offer little benefit. The data also confirmed that polymer affects the rate of water release rather than the extent of dewatering. Increased rates of water release due to increasing polymer dose can be attributed to the aggregation of sludge particles by polymer addition. It was also evident in this study that the initial sludge depth has a major impact on the average cake moisture content at a given dewatering time. It was apparent that once the initial sludge thickness exceeds about 2 cm, the water release follows a fairly similar pattern, which can be represented by a simple empirical model.     

Simulating interactive effects of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, carbon dioxide elevation, and climatic change on legume growth

The underlying mechanisms of interaction between the symbiotic nitrogen-fixation process and main physiological processes, such as assimilation, nutrient allocation, and structural growth, as well as effects of nitrogen fixation on plant responses to global change, are important and still open to more investigation. Appropriate models have not been adequately developed. A dynamic ecophysiological model was developed in this study for a legume plant [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growing in northern China. The model synthesized symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the main physiological processes under variable atmospheric CO2 concentration and climatic conditions, and emphasized the interactive effects of these processes on seasonal biomass dynamics of the plant. Experimental measurements of ecophysiological quantities obtained in a CO2 enrichment experiment on soybean plants, were used to parameterize and validate the model. The results indicated that the model simulated the experiments with reasonable accuracy. The R2 values between simulations and observations are 0.94, 0.95, and 0.86 for total biomass, green biomass, and nodule biomass, respectively. The simulations for various combinations of atmospheric CO2 concentration, precipitation, and temperature, with or without nitrogen fixation, showed that increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration, precipitation, and efficiency of nitrogen fixation all have positive effects on biomass accumulation. On the other hand, an increased temperature induced lower rates of biomass accumulation under semi-arid conditions. In general, factors with positive effects on plant growth tended to promote each other in the simulation range, except the relationship between CO2 concentration and climatic factors. Because of the enhanced water use efficiency with a higher CO2 concentration, more significant effects of CO2 concentration were associated with a worse (dryer and warmer in this study) climate.     

Picloram and napropamide sorption as affected by polymer addition and salt concentration

Polymer application to soil is a growing practice to improve soil physical properties and reduce soil erosion. Polymer addition can potentially influence herbicide and pesticide sorption in soil. The one-point distribution coefficient Kd values of two herbicides in the absence and presence of each of 10 polymers (7 polyacrylamides and 3 polysaccharides) were determined by the batch equilibrium method. The results showed that nonionic napropamide [2-(alpha-naphthoxy)-N,N-diethyl propionamide] sorption was essentially unaffected by the presence of any of the polymers. The influence of polymers on anionic picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) sorption depends on the charge characteristics of polymers and salt concentrations in the solution. Electrostatic interaction and competition for sorption sites are two primary underlying mechanisms for the polymer influence. At low salt concentration, the increased picloram sorption in the presence of both cationic and anionic polymers was attributed to different electrostatic interactions and polymer partitioning between soil and solution phases. At high salt levels, the presence of polymers had either no influence or a slightly negative influence on the picloram sorption, which was attributed to competition for sorption sites. In field conditions, it is more likely that polymers have no or a slightly negative influence on herbicide sorption due to the presence of salts.     

Spatial and temporal modeling of microbial contaminants on grazing farmlands

This paper introduces an integrated spatial and temporal modeling system developed mathematically for assessing microbial contaminants on animal-grazed farmlands. The model uses fecal coliform, specifically Escherichia coli, as an indicator of fecal contamination and describes the sources, sinks, transport processes, and fate of E. coli contaminants in catchments and associated streams. Spatial features include grazing location, land topography, distance to a nearby stream, and distance through the stream network to the outlet. Temporal features are population dynamics on the land surface, in flow, and on streambeds. The model applies the principles of conservation of mass balance on two different types of pools: grid cells on land surfaces and networked stream segments. The model aims to improve the prediction of the effects of different land management strategies on the fecal contamination of waterways. This is achieved by characterizing the movement of fecal contaminants from land to streams and in-stream mobilization. Processes of attenuation, diffusion, and transport govern the movement. Our study site is a hill land catchment with an area of 140 ha and is used exclusively for animal grazing. The model was calibrated with previous research results, and then tested using the data collected at the outlet of the catchment. The sensitivity of the model predictions was analyzed for different scenarios: effect of stock rate, attenuation rate, and flow volumes. The similar pattern between monitored and predicted E. coli concentration proved that the model captures the key features that control the population dynamics of fecal contaminants. Further experiments are required to expand the model's functionality for covering more mitigation options.     

Cadmium(II) removal from aqueous solutions by pre-treated biomass of marine alga Padina sp

In this study, the adsorption properties of a pre-treated biomass from marine alga Padina sp., a biomass collected from Surin Island, Thailand, for removal of cadmium(II) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated. Batch and column experiments were conducted to determine the adsorption properties of the modified biomass. At a pH of 5, the maximum removal capacity of the biomass is 0.53 mmol/g. The kinetics of cadmium(II) adsorption were fast with 90% of adsorption taking place within 35 min. This study demonstrated that the pre-treated biomass of Padina sp. could be used as an efficient biosorbent for the treatment of cadmium(II)-bearing wastewater streams.     

Analysis of microcystins in cyanobacteria blooms and surface water samples from Meiliang Bay,Taihu Lake,China

Taihu Lake is the third largest freshwater lake in China. In recent years, the water pollution of cyanobacteria blooms has become a severe problem in this area. Microcystins (MCs) are an important group of toxic compounds mainly produced by some cyanobacteria species and have both acute and chronic hepatotoxic effects on animals and humans. This paper presents the first data on the identification and detection of MCs in both natural occurring cyanobacteria blooms and surface water samples (0-0.5 m), collected from Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake, China. A conventional method for extraction and isolation of MCs from cyanobacteria blooms was applied. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the main toxic component in the cyanobacteria materials was MC-LR. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) against MC-LR produced by hybridoma technique was employed for direct competitive ELISA to detect the concentrations of MCs in bloom and water samples collected in 2001. The results not only revealed the presence of MCs but also temporal variations of MCs levels of three sampling stations in Meiliang Bay in 1 year. It is obvious that the MC contents were relatively higher during warm months and related with the status of eutrophication. Our study indicates the threat associated with MCs in water body of Taihu Lake. To prevent the MCs potential hazard on public health in this area, some necessary measures of monitoring and control of growth of cyanobacteria are urgently needed.     

Effects of sample storage on biosolids compost stability and maturity evaluation

Compost stability and maturity are important parameters of compost quality. To date, nearly all compost characterization has been performed using samples freshly collected because sample storage can affect compost stability and maturity evaluation. However, sample preservation is sometimes necessary, especially for scientific research purposes. There is little information available on the effects of sample storage on compost stability and maturity. Samples of biosolids compost with different levels of stability and maturity were collected from four compost facilities in Florida (referred to as Register, Winslow, Sunset, and Meadow). Comparisons of CO2 evolution, seed germination rate, and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were made between fresh samples with short storage at 4 degrees C for less than 1 wk and air-dried or frozen compost samples stored for 1 yr. The effects of storage (air-dry or frozen) on the measured parameters depended on compost stability and maturity and on the compost material source. Frozen storage reduced the peak CO2 evolution of Register samples by 12 to 29%, while accumulated CO2 evolution was reduced by 43 to 64% and 110 to 277% with air-dry and frozen storage, respectively. The storage effect on CO2 evolution with more stable compost was inconsistent. Storage did not affect compost phytotoxicity, except for samples from the Sunset facility. Air-drying reduced the WSOC by up to 35%, and freezing increased it by up to 34%, while both storage methods had no significant effect on samples of low WSOC. Despite all these variations, WSOC had a significant and consistent relation to CO2 evolution and seed germination rates with R2 of 0.78 and 0.57, respectively, regardless of storage methods.     

Identifying riparian sinks for watershed nitrate using soil surveys

The capacity of riparian zones to serve as critical control locations for watershed nitrogen flux varies with site characteristics. Without a means to stratify riparian zones into different levels of ground water nitrate removal capacity, this variability will confound spatially explicit source-sink models of watershed nitrate flux and limit efforts to target riparian restoration and management. We examined the capability of SSURGO (1:15 840 Soil Survey Geographic database) map classifications (slope class, geomorphology, and/or hydric soil designation) to identify riparian sites with high capacity for ground water nitrate removal. The study focused on 100 randomly selected riparian locations in a variety of forested and glaciated settings within Rhode Island. Geomorphic settings included till, outwash, and organic/alluvial deposits. We defined riparian zones with "high ground water nitrate removal capacity" as field sites possessing both >10 m of hydric soil width and an absence of ground water surface seeps. SSURGO classification based on a combination of geomorphology and hydric soil status created two functionally distinct sets of riparian sites. More than 75% of riparian sites classified by SSURGO as organic/alluviumhydric or as outwash-hydric had field attributes that suggest a high capacity for ground water nitrate removal. In contrast, >85% of all till sites and nonhydric outwash sites had field characteristics that minimize the capacity for ground water nitrate removal. Comparing the STATSGO and SSURGO databases for a 64000-ha watershed, STATSGO grossly under-represented critical riparian features. We conclude that the SSURGO database can provide modelers and managers with important insights into riparian zone nitrogen removal potential.     

Microbial degradation of phthalic acid esters under anaerobic digestion of sludge

The microbial degradation by anaerobic sludge of three phthalates, priority pollutants, listed by both China National Environmental Monitoring Center and the U.S.EPA, namely, dimethyl (DMP), di-n-butyl (DBP) and di-n-octyl (DOP) phthalates was investigated. The experimental results indicated that the biodegradation rate and the biodegradability of three phthalates under anaerobic conditions appeared to be related to the length of the alkyl-side chains. More than 90% of DMP and DBP with the short alkyl-side chain phthalates can be degraded, whereas the DOP degradation appeared to be relatively slow under the same experimental conditions. The quantity of methane produced was measured and the results showed that both the ester groups and the phthalate ring were mineralized at a significant rate. The kinetics study demonstrated that the biodegradation of three phthalates conformed to the first-order model with respect to their concentrations.     

依靠科学进步,促进防灾减灾

以科学技术工作为主线 ,系统地总结了陕西省减灾协会 10年来 ,从事自然灾害综合预测、防灾减灾科学研究、学术交流和科普宣传教育等方面的做法、经验和所取得的初步成效 ,以及如何建设好减灾科技社团的体会