At a tipping point? How the debate on biofuel standards sparks innovative ideas for the general future of standardisation and certification schemes

Consumer demand for environmentally and socially responsible products is the driving force behind the expansion of competing certification systems. Paradoxically, this has led to an increasingly crowded marketplace for labels and confusion among stakeholders such as producers, retailers and buyers, rather than providing clear and reliable product information as intended. The situation has sparked a debate about the future of certification schemes and the need for a more streamlined system. This article explores some of the innovative ideas coming from the current discussion regarding biofuel certification and standardisation and outlines how those ideas can be applied to create a global generic standard-setting scheme for natural resources.     

Variety of technological trajectories in low emission vehicles (LEVs): A patent data analysis

This paper focuses on the diversity of engine technologies for low emission vehicles (LEVs) that are developed by car manufacturers in order to substitute for the conventional internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV). Our purpose is to analyse the competition between the various technologies for LEVs as well as the innovative strategy of car manufacturers. We first propose to define and to represent these technological trajectories in order to compare their performances and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. The technological bottlenecks, the barriers to the adoption of these alternative engine technologies as well as the features of this technological competition are underlined. We then use a patent data analysis to study the patent portfolios of the main car manufacturers in these technologies over the period [1990–2005]. The dynamics of patent applications by car manufacturers gives insight on the competition among technologies and on the strategy of firms. This analysis emphasises the progressive diversification of firms' patent portfolios over the whole set of engine technologies and the differentiated strategic positioning of car manufacturers according to countries.     

填料在自由水面人工湿地中的应用

本文通过对深圳市某橡胶厂自行设计造的自由水面人工湿地的调查研究，分析了在人工湿地中采用填料代替植物的工作特性，并论证了土壤－植物－微笑一这样一个生态系统是传统自由水面湿地处理系统实现其处理污水功能的核心。     

南京市郊农业生态系统建设与发展

南京市处于长江流域下游，是我国重要的农业生产基地，也是全国经济发达地区之一。它既有近郊的蔬菜生产，又有远郊的粮食作物种植，农田生态类型与农、牧、副的复合生态类型多种多样，而且其生产潜力很大。本文对南京市郊生态系统的建设进行分析研究，并着重探讨生态系统建设模式及土地合理利用，为建立合理的南京市郊区农业生态系统提供依据。     

民众环境意识是环境教育的核心与目的

当前“低碳经济”、“低碳生活”等理念在众多媒介有大量的表述和宣传报道。但抽样调查显示，实际上广大公众对于“低碳”的认知却颇有一些不甚清晰明了。概念的模糊性及不确定性，势必影响并阻碍我们积极倡导和实践推进生态文明建设，努力实现清洁发展、安全发展、绿色发展及可持续发展。     

武义萤石矿床矿物包裹体研究

矿物包裹体研究表明,武义萤石矿床是含矿地热水活动的产物。其形成温度为130°±27℃,压力为47.23-426.96×10~5帕。属于低温浅成热液矿床。冷渗流大气降水在深处受地热影响加热活化,发生水—岩化学反应和物质交换,导致含矿地热水的形成。它在构造作用和热力及压力梯度驱动下回返上升,于地表—近地表裂隙带与大气降水混合,温压骤降,加以冷的含CO_2和O_2的大气降水界入,使成矿物质自溶液中沉淀析出。     

化学热洗法处理页岩气开采废钻井液

针对页岩气开采过程中所产生的废钻井液处理,采用化学热洗的方法对废钻井液进行了油、水、固三相分离,并使用5%的清洗剂对废钻井液中的泥砂和岩屑进行除油。结果表明:温度为40℃、搅拌转速为160 r/min、破稳剂浓度为50 g/L、清洗剂的浓度为5%时,废钻井液中油的回收率达到了98%,泥砂与岩屑的含油量均小于2%。     

Microcystis aeruginosa/Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes interaction effects on off-flavors in algae/bacteria co-culture system under different temperatures

We conducted an experiment to study the interaction effects of Microcystis aeruginosa and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes on off-flavors in an algae/bacteria co-culture system at three temperatures (24, 28 and 32°C). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was applied to measure off-flavor compounds dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), 2-methylisoborneol, geosmin (GEO) and β-cyclocitral. During the lag phase of co-cultured M. aeruginosa (first 15 days), P. pseudoalcaligenes significantly increased the production of DMS, DMTS and β-cyclocitral at all three temperatures. In the exponential phase of co-cultured M. aeruginosa (after 15 days), M. aeruginosa became the main factor on off-flavors in the co-culture system, and β-cyclocitral turned to the highest off-flavor compound. These results also indicated that DMS, DMTS and β-cyclocitral were the main off-flavor compounds in our M. aeruginosa/P. pseudoalcaligenes co-culture system. Univariate analysis was applied to investigate the effects of M. aeruginosa and P. pseudoalcaligenes on the production of off-flavors. The results demonstrated that both M. aeruginosa and P. pseudoalcaligenes could increase the production of DMS and DMTS, while β-cyclocitral was mainly determined by M. aeruginosa. Our results also provide some insights into understanding the relationship between cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria.     

A fouling suppression system in submerged membrane bioreactors using dielectrophoretic forces

A novel method was developed to suppress membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors. The method is based on the dielectrophoretic (DEP) motion of particles in an inhomogeneous electrical field. Using a real sample of biomass as feed, the fouling-suppression performance using DEP with different electrical field intensities (60–160 V) and different frequencies (50–1000 Hz) was investigated. The fouling-suppression performance was found to relate closely with the intensity and frequency of the electrical field. A stronger electrical field was found to better recover the filtrate flux. This is because of a stronger DEP force acting on the biomass particles close to the membrane's surface. Above an intensity and frequency value of 130 V and 1 kHz, respectively the permeate flux was reduced due to an electrothermal effect.