Increased 3HV Concentration in the Bacterial Production of 3-Hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-Hydroxyvalerate (3HV) Copolymer with Acid-Digested Rice Straw Waste

Bacterial synthesis of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) copolymer [P(3HB-co-3HV)] using the hydrolysate of rice straw waste as a carbon source was affected by the composition of the hydrolysate, which depends highly on the rice straw pretreatment condition. Acid digestion with 2 % sulfuric acid generated larger production of P(3HB-co-3HV) than 6 % sulfuric acid, but 3HV concentration in the copolymer produced with 2 % acid hydrolysate was only 8.8 % compared to 18.1 % with 6 % acid hydrolysate. To obtain a higher 3HV mole fraction for enhanced flexibility of the copolymer, an additional heating was conducted with the 2 % acid hydrolysate after removal of residual rice straw. As the additional heating time increased a higher concentration of levulinic acid was generated, and consequently, the mole fraction of 3HV in P(3HB-co-3HV) increased. Among the conditions tested (i.e., 20-, 40-, 60-min), 60-min additional heating following 2 % sulfuric acid digestion achieved the highest 3HV mole fraction of 22.9 %. However, a longer heating time decreased the P(3HB-co-3HV) productivity, probably due to the increased intermediates concentrations acting as inhibitors in the hydrolysates. Therefore, the use of additional heating needs to consider both the increase in the 3HV mole fraction and the decrease in the P(3HB-co-3HV) productivity.     

Potential methane yield of food waste/food waste leachate from the biogasification facilities in South Korea

This study was to find out potential of methane yield on food waste and food waste leachate as biomass in Korea. The seven biogasification facilities were selected for comparison of theoretical methane yield and actual methane yield. The theoretical methane yield was calculated based on organic constituents (carbohydrate, protein, fat) and based on element analysis. The actual methane yield was investigated based on volatile solids and CODcr. Theoretical methane yields by organic constituents were 0.52 Sm³CH₄/kg VS and 0.35 Sm³CH₄/kg CODcr and these by element analysis were 0.53 Sm³CH₄/kg VS and 0.36 Sm³CH₄/kg CODcr. Actual methane yields were 0.36 Sm³CH₄/kg VS_in and 0.26 Sm³CH₄/kg CODcr_in. Considering the average removal efficiency of organic materials of seven FWL biogasification facilities, actual methane yields were 0.48 Sm³CH₄/kg VS_rem and 0.33 Sm³CH₄/kg CODcr_rem. Methane yield by organic constituents is very similar to that by element analysis and actual methane yields of volatile solids and CODcr were similar to theoretical value. The actual methane yield in this study showed approximated boundary values with previous other references which conducted in lab-scale or biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests. In conclusion, Korean food waste and food waste leachate have sufficient potential of methane yield in the ongoing biogasification facilities.     

Evaluation on the applicability of dry processed bottom ash as lightweight aggregate for construction fields

Currently, wet bottom ash is not sufficiently utilized due to its content of unburned coal, chloride and moisture. In contrast, bottom ash discharged from the recently introduced dry process spends a longer time on the clinker conveyer in the lower part of the boiler and consequently contains a significantly smaller amount of unburned coal. Consequently, it has high potential for use as a lightweight aggregate for construction material because of properties such as high porosity, low unburned coal content, non-chloride, and non-moisture. However, it is not frequently used for construction because the ash particle has a flat and thin shape, coarse surface and unfavorable structural strength. Against this backdrop, this study has conducted a range of experiments to identify the shapes, structure, density, absorption, percentage of floating particles, unit volume weight, solid volume, characteristics of air bubbles and micro pores, crushing strength of bottom ash, and the following results were observed. Though the dry bottom ash has sharp and angular edges, its flat and thin shapes lead to vulnerable structures. Dry bottom ash of the size of 0.6 mm or larger has 50–60 % of the total pore rate and 30–50 % of the closed pore rate. Considering these qualities, by removing the relatively fragile surface parts and making the particles more globular, dry bottom ash can be used as a lightweight aggregate for construction field having outstanding performance in terms of light weight and insulation.     

Evaluation of pliers’ grip spans in the maximum gripping task and sub-maximum cutting task

A total of 25 males participated to investigate the effects of the grip spans of pliers on the total grip force, individual finger forces and muscle activities in the maximum gripping task and wire-cutting tasks. In the maximum gripping task, results showed that the 50-mm grip span had significantly higher total grip strength than the other grip spans. In the cutting task, the 50-mm grip span also showed significantly higher grip strength than the 65-mm and 80-mm grip spans, whereas the muscle activities showed a higher value at 80-mm grip span. The ratios of cutting force to maximum grip strength were also investigated. Ratios of 30.3%, 31.3% and 41.3% were obtained by grip spans of 50-mm, 65-mm, and 80-mm, respectively. Thus, the 50-mm grip span for pliers might be recommended to provide maximum exertion in gripping tasks, as well as lower maximum-cutting force ratios in the cutting tasks.     

Unraveling the impact of workforce age diversity on labor productivity: The moderating role of firm size and job security

Previous literature has suggested both positive and negative effects of age diversity on labor productivity: positive because of the potential knowledge complementarities between employees of different ages and negative because of the age‐related value differences that might reduce cohesion and cooperation, hampering firm performance. Using a Belgian sample of 5892 organizational observations (2008–2011), we unraveled these countervailing effects in two ways. First, we built on prior studies to suggest that the effect of age diversity depends on the particular shape of the age distribution: positive when it is heterogeneous (i.e., variety) and negative when it is polarized (i.e., polarization). This was supported by our findings. Second, we explored the moderating impact of two contextual contingencies, firm size and job security. As expected, the positive effect of age variety is reinforced in large firms and in firms where job security is high. Although firm size also emphasizes the negative effect of age polarization on productivity, job security, unexpectedly, does not moderate this relationship. Our study offers a valuable contribution to the literature as it reveals the boundary conditions of the competing implications of age diversity and, thus, allows one to account for the inconclusive findings reported in previous literature. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高氨氮废水短程硝化过程中N2O释放试验研究

试验采用序批式反应器(SBR)处理高氨氮废水,逐步提高废水氨氮(NH+4-N)浓度到800 mg·L-1,通过控制曝气量实现了短程硝化.SBR周期试验表明,在低溶解氧和高游离氨等共同作用下,氨氧化菌(AOB)活性较低,导致AOB以亚硝酸盐氮(NO_2~--N)作为电子受体进行好氧反硝化,氧化亚氮(N_2O)释放因子为9.8%.静态试验控制初始NH_4~+-N为100 mg·L-1且改变曝气量(0.22~0.88 L·min~(-1))条件下,溶解氧浓度的增加能够提高硝化菌活性,N2O释放因子为0.51%~0.85%.当初始NH_4~+-N浓度为100 mg·L~(-1)且曝气量控制在0.66 L·min-1时,初始NO-2-N浓度为0~100 mg·L~(-1)对硝化菌活性影响较小,N2O释放因子为0.50%~0.71%.当溶解氧和游离氨浓度控制在适宜范围内,可维持AOB较高活性,抑制AOB发生好氧反硝化作用,降低N2O释放率.     

浅谈化工园区企业无组织排放有机废气的防治对策研究

当前,中国已基本实现了化工类企业的进园入区,虽然各企业实现了废气的达标排放,但由于叠加效应等因素的影响,化工异味已经成为环境监管的难点和群众投诉的焦点。通过对化工园区内企业无组织排放的各类有机废气的特点、毒性、种类和来源进行剖析,探讨了无组织排放有机废气的收集处理方法和相应治理措施对策,对该类废气的日常环境监管提出了具体建议,并结合实际案例强化了对无组织废气进行防治是完全可行和必要的。未来,加强化工园区内企业无组织排放废气的监管和新废气治理技术的研发应用,区域环境空气质量和群众对环境满意率必将得到显著提高。     

苏州市人为源氨排放清单及其分布特征

通过调研分析苏州大市范围内的农业、工业、生活及交通等相关活动水平数据,采用排放因子法建立了2013年苏州市人为源氨排放清单. 结果表明:2013年苏州市人为源氨排放总量为22 020.18 t,排放强度为3.06 t/km2;畜禽养殖、工业源、氮肥施用是苏州市氨排放的主要来源,排放量分别为8 080.99、7 103.50、4 841.23 t,共占氨排放总量的90.94%. 其中,工业源的氨排放分担率为32.25%,高于全国平均值,火电行业和化肥制造行业的氨排放占工业源排放总量的90.14%,烟气脱硝过程的氨逃逸值得关注;在畜禽源中,肉鸡和生猪是最大的氨排放源,二者排放量分别占畜禽养殖氨排放总量的42.59%和37.14%. 太仓、张家港、常熟依次为苏州市氨排放量和排放强度最大的3个地区,共占氨排放总量的69.02%,苏州市区氨排放量位列第四但排放强度最低. 空间分布特征表明,苏州市东北部氨排放较集中,中部排放量较小,周边地区特别是沿江县级市的排放量较大. 研究显示,氨排放清单的建立可为苏州市氨排放控制提供基础数据.      

Comparison of using polyurethane foam passive samplers and tree bark samples from Western China to determine atmospheric organochlorine pesticide

Polyurethane foam(PUF)passive samplers were deployed and tree bark samples were collected at 15 sites across western China in 2013,and the organochlorine pesticide(OCP)concentrations in the samples were determined.Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its degradation products(collectively called DDTs),hexachlorocyclohexanes(HCHs),and hexachlorobenzene(HCB)were the dominant OCPs in the PUF samples and tree bark samples.The mean DDTs,HCHs and HCB concentrations were 33,22 and 18 ng/sample in the PUF samples,and 428,74,and 43 ng/(g lipid weight(lw))in the tree bark,respectively.The OCP concentrations in the air,calculated using PUF–air and tree-bark–air partitioning models,were of the same order of magnitude.Both sample types showed that relatively fresh inputs of DDT and HCHs to the environment have occurred in western China.Meanwhile,PUF passive samplers were compared with the use of tree bark samples as passive samplers.The OCP compositions in the PUF and tree bark samples were different.Only the relatively stable OCPs(such as HCB,β-HCH and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloro-ethylene(DDE))were consistent in the PUF and tree bark samples.     

航海雷达溢油信息采集分析模型

首先阐述了航海雷达海杂波图像溢油提取分析的工作原理和国内外研究现状,基于SPx、OpenCV、Matlab等软件技术和HPx航海雷达信号采集卡,提出溢油数据采集分析工作流程和软硬件架构体系,实现航海雷达溢油信息采集分析模型,并结合大连716溢油事件的实际案例进行验证。该模型在保证航海雷达原有导航避碰功能的基础上,进行原始信号转换,同步实现海上溢油监测,为海上溢油监测预警、溢油轨迹回推、溢油应急处置等工作提供数据基础。