A case study predicting environmental impacts of urban transport planning in China

Predicting environmental impacts is essential when performing an environmental assessment on urban transport planning. System dynamics (SD) is usually used to solve complex nonlinear problems. In this study, we utilized system dynamics (SD) to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with urban transport planning in Jilin City, China with respect to the local economy, society, transport, the environment and resources. To accomplish this, we generated simulation models comprising interrelated subsystems designed to utilize changes in the economy, society, road construction, changes in the number of vehicles, the capacity of the road network capacity, nitrogen oxides emission, traffic noise, land used for road construction and fuel consumption associated with traffic to estimate dynamic trends in the environmental impacts associated with Jilin's transport planning. Two simulation scenarios were then analyzed comparatively. The results of this study indicated that implementation of Jilin transport planning would improve the current urban traffic conditions and boost the local economy and development while benefiting the environment in Jilin City. In addition, comparative analysis of the two scenarios provided additional information that can be used to aid in scientific decision-making regarding which aspects of the transport planning to implement in Jilin City. This study demonstrates that our application of the SD method, which is referred to as the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), is feasible for use in urban transport planning.     

Mussel isotope signature as indicator of nutrient pollution in a freshwater eutrophic lake: species, spatial, and seasonal variability

Stable nitrogen isotope ratios of five mussel species from littoral and pelagic areas were investigated with different trophic states in the eutrophic Lake Taihu, the third largest lake in China. Interpopulation variability for these mussels was relatively small in foot tissues because of the slow turnover time. Seasonal and spatial variations among the δ ¹⁵N values of mussels might be due in part to the natural variation in δ ¹⁵N values of potential food sources and the variation in the amount of human pollutions discharged into various locations of the lake. Although the increase of mussel δ ¹⁵N values was accompanied by the increase of nutrient concentrations in most situations in this study, statistically significant correlations were only 22% of the total correlations in this survey, which might be attributed to the different time-scale variations in nutrient concentrations and isotope signatures and the unknown details of the trophic pathways and metabolism for incorporation of these nutrients.     

Generalized models for prediction of pentachlorophenol dissipation dynamics in soils

Dissipation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in soil was investigated and the chemical relationships with soil properties were addressed. The results indicate that the dissipation of extractable PCP residues can be described using first-order kinetics equations, with a half-dissipation time (T(1/2)) ranging from 6.5 to 173.3d. The sharply different patterns of PCP dissipation in different soils were closely related to soil properties. Correlations of stepwise regression equations obtained were significant at 0.01 probability level between soil parameters and extractable PCP residues (R(2)=0.974**) as well as T(1/2) values (R(2)=0.882**). Using pH together with organic carbon content (OC) and soil particle size distribution, the dissipation dynamics of PCP in soil could be accurately predicted.     

Filterability of oil sands tailings

In Canadian oil sands mining operations, bitumen is extracted from oil sands using the hot water extraction process, which produces tremendous amounts of tailings. Currently, these tailings are disposed of in large ponds, in which coarse particles settle out relatively quickly and fine particles remain suspended in water and settle very slowly. After years of settling, the fine particles form a stable suspension in water known as mature fine tailings (MFTs). Long-term storage of the MFT is costly and poses a major environmental liability.Oil sands companies are now actively investigating different approaches to replace or reduce the use of oil sands tailings ponds. Filtration of the tailings to produce “dry tailings” for stacking is now being investigated as an alternative by a number of companies. Fast water drainage is a critical step for the filtration process. In this paper, we use simple laboratory-scale filtration tests to evaluate the filterability of the oil sands tailings and to generate a parameter that can be used in filtration scale-up. It was found that the filterability of the original coarse oil sands tailings was relatively low. However, after the fines are flocculated with the coarse particles to form uniform flocs the filterability was improved by several orders of magnitude. The results demonstrate that filtration of the flocculated coarse tailings to produce the “dry” stackable tailings may be viable.     

家居室内设计及新进展的思考

在对传统室内设计基本观点阐述与理解的基础上分析其整体性、可持续发展,并着重探讨在物质文明和精神文明高度发展的今天,现代室内设计在个性化、自然性、现代性、艺术性等方面发展的新趋势.通过对现代室内设计特点和发展趋势的分析,创造出一个适合人们现代生活的理想空间.     

Effect of manganese ion on the mineralization of 2,4-dichlorophenol by ozone

Mineralization of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) was studied by ozone with Mn(2+) as an ozonation catalyst. Laboratory scale semi-batch ozonation experiments were conducted at room temperature. The results showed that trace amount of Mn(2+) accelerated the mineralization of DCP. Total organic carbon removal rate was independent on Mn(2+) dosage at its range of 0.1-0.5 mgL(-1). Dissolved ozone concentration in the solution remained low level in the catalytic ozonation process, which indicated that Mn(2+) catalyzed decomposition of ozone. DCP mineralization was inhibited in catalytic ozonation by the addition of carbonate. Electron spin resonance/spin-trapping technique was used to determine hydroxyl radicals, and the results showed that larger amounts of hydroxyl radicals were produced in catalytic ozonation system than those of single ozonation. Intermediates mainly including aliphatic carboxylic acids were determined qualitatively and semi-quantitatively by GC-MS. And, a general pathway for mineralization of DCP was proposed.     

城市垃圾预处理改善焚烧特性的探讨

针对目前我国城市垃圾的高水分、低热值的特性,提出了2种改善城市垃圾焚烧特性的有效措施:生物质垃圾源分类和生物干燥.在我国建立生物质垃圾源分类体系,将生物质垃圾源头分类后,剩余垃圾的热值可以提高约50%～120%,已适合直接入炉焚烧,同时分离出来的生物质垃圾也更易于好氧堆肥或厌氧消化.另外一项技术措施是在焚烧前利用生物干燥技术,降低城市垃圾的水分含量,提高入炉垃圾的热值,这种方法主要是利用生物反应热来干燥城市生活垃圾,只需要在垃圾投入焚烧炉前增加一个预处理步骤,不必改变目前的垃圾收运体系,而且进行生物干燥后的垃圾更易于分选其中的可回收物质.     

有毒气体危害区域划分之临界浓度标准研究

通过研究毒物伤害准则进而界定有毒气体危害浓度,对有毒气体泄漏扩散后的危害区域进行分级划分,以采取相应的防护措施,最大限度的即时有效的减轻有毒气体对人员的伤害.最后,以氯为例,对比其在不同伤害准则下危害区域划分临界浓度标准值,数值差别较大,因此在使用时应根据实际情况加以判断,选择最适当的标准来划分危害区域.     

垃圾堆肥场堆肥废气环境影响评价分析

垃圾堆肥场的建设将改变目前垃圾任意堆放的局面 ,堆肥产品可用于林业使垃圾得到无害化处理 ,并变废为宝。尽管如此在垃圾堆肥过程中还将释放出有害气体和垃圾渗透液等影响环境质量。针对堆肥所产生的大气污染物进行源强确定、扩散计算 ,分析其影响范围并推算卫生防护距离。