The impact of UV treatment on microbial control and DBPs formation in full-scale drinking water systems in northern China

To manage potential microbial risks and meet increasingly strict drinking water health standards, UV treatment has attracted increasing attention for use in drinking water systems in China. However, the effects of UV treatment on microbial control and disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation in real municipal drinking water systems are poorly understood. Here, we collected water samples from three real drinking water systems in Beijing and Tianjin to investigate the impacts of UV treatment on microbial control and DBP formation. We employed heterotrophic plate count (HPC), flow cytometry (FCM), quantitative PCR analysis, and high-throughput sequencing to measure microorganisms in the samples. Different trends were observed between HPC and total cell count (measured by FCM), indicating that a single indicator could not reflect the real degree of biological re-growth in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). A significant increase in the 16S rRNA gene concentration was observed when the UV system was stopped. Besides, the bacterial community composition was similar at the phylum level but differed markedly at the genera level among the three DWDSs. Some chlorine-resistant bacteria, including potential pathogens (e.g., Acinetobacter) showed a high relative abundance when the UV system was turned off. It can be concluded that UV treatment can mitigate microbial re-growth to some extent. Finally, UV treatment had a limited influence on the formation of DBPs, including trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and nitrogenated DBPs. The findings of this study may help to understand the performance of UV treatment in real drinking water systems.     

Carbon reduction potential and cost evaluation of different mitigation approaches in China's coal to olefin Industry

Coal-based olefin (CTO) industry as a complement of traditional petrochemical industry plays vital role in China's national economic development. However, high CO₂ emission in CTO industry is one of the fatal problems to hinder its development. In this work, the carbon emission and mitigation potentials by different reduction pathways are evaluated. The economic cost is analyzed and compared as well. According to the industry development plan, the carbon emissions from China's CTO industry will attain 189.43 million ton CO₂ (MtCO₂) and 314.11 MtCO₂ in 2020 and 2030, respectively. With the advanced technology level, the maximal carbon mitigation potential could be attained to 15.3% and 21.9% in 2020 and 2030. If the other optional mitigation ways are combined together, the carbon emission could further reduce to some extent. In general, the order of mitigation potential is followed as: feedstock alteration by natural gas > CO₂ hydrogenation with renewable electricity applied > CCS technology. The mitigation cost analysis indicates that on the basis of 2015 situation, the economic penalty for feedstock alteration is the lowest, ranged between 186 and 451 CNY/tCO₂, and the cost from CCS technology is ranged between 404 and 562 CNY/tCO₂, which is acceptable if the CO₂ enhanced oil recovery and carbon tax are considered. However, for the CO₂ hydrogenation technology, the cost is extremely high and there is almost no application possibility at present.     

Surface characterization of metal oxides-supported activated carbon fiber catalysts for simultaneous catalytic hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide

The sol–gel method was used to synthesize a series of metal oxides-supported activated carbon fiber (ACF) and the simultaneous catalytic hydrolysis activity of carbonyl sulfide (COS) and carbon disulfide (CS₂) at relatively low temperatures of 60°C was tested. The effects of preparation conditions on the catalyst properties were investigated, including the kinds and amount of metal oxides and calcination temperatures. The activity tests indicated that catalysts with 5 wt.% Ni after calcining at 400°C (Ni(5)/ACF(400)) had the best performance for the simultaneous catalytic hydrolysis of COS and CS₂. The surface and structure properties of prepared ACF were characterized by scanning electron microscope-energy disperse spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), carbon dioxide-temperature programmed desorption (CO₂-TPD) and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared reflection (DRFTIR). And the metal cation defects were researched by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method. The characterization results showed that the supporting of Ni on the ACF made the ACF catalyst show alkaline and increased the specific surface area and the number of micropores, then improved catalytic hydrolysis activity. The DRFTIR results revealed that -OH species could facilitate the hydrolysis of COS and CS₂; -COO and -C–O species could facilitate the oxidation of catalytic hydrolysate H₂S. And the EPR results showed that high calcination temperature conditions provide more active reaction center for the COS and CS₂ adsorption.     

Linkage between water soluble organic matter and bacterial community in sediment from a shallow, eutrophic lake, Lake Chaohu, China

Lacustrine sediment played important roles in migration and transformation of its water soluble organic matter (WSOM), and the source and composition of WSOM would affect water trophic status and the fate of pollutants. However, we know little about the pathway of WSOM transformation and its driving bacterial communities in lacustrine sediment. In the present study, we investigated the spatial distribution patterns of sediment WSOM and its fluorescent fractions across Lake Chaohu using fluorescence spectroscopy, and explored WSOM compositional structure through our proposed calculated ratios. In addition, we also analyzed sediment bacterial community using Illumina sequencing technology, and probed the possible pathway of sediment WSOM transformation under the mediate of indigenous bacteria. Our results showed that the inflowing rivers affected the spatial distribution patterns of WSOM and its five fractions (including tyrosine-, tryptophan-, fulvic acid-, humic acid-like substances and soluble microbial productions), and sediment WSOM originated from fresh algae detritus or bacterial sources. In parallel, we also found that Proteobacteria (mainly γ-Proteobacteria and δ-Proteobacteria), Firmicutes (mainly Bacilli), Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes and Actinobacteria dominate sediment bacterial community. Furthermore, these dominant bacteria triggered sediment WSOM transformation, specifically, the humic acid-like substances could be converted into fulvic acid-like substances, and further degraded into aromatic protein-like and SMP substances. In addition, our proposed ratios (P-L:H-L, Ar-P:SMP and H-L ratio), as supplementary tool, were effective to reveal WSOM composition structure. These results figured out possible pathway of WSOM transformation, and revealed its microbial mechanism in lacustrine sediment.     

农村环境污染来源分析及监测研究——以杨庄村为例

农村环境污染源主体分散、隐蔽、排放随即、不确定,产生的污染物面广、量大、分散、成分杂、治理难度大。为科学合理地监测农村环境,首先对农村环境中如固体废物、环境空气、土壤、地表水、地下水及声环境污染的来源进行了分析;在此基础上根据污染源的类型、属性,针对性地提出了各种不同环境要素监测点位布设时需要考虑的问题;以西安市杨庄村为例开展土壤、环境空气、地下水饮用水监测,并对监测结果等进行分析评价。     

不同来源废水中TOC与COD相关性研究

对纺织染整、化工、制药、食品加工各行业生产废水及城镇污水厂处理设施出水中的TOC(自动仪器监测)与COD(实验室手工分析)测定值进行回归分析,并检验一元线性回归方程的显著性和有效性。结果表明,各行业生产废水中TOC与COD值均存在非常显著的相关性,且废水组成成分越单一稳定,其相关性越好,同行业废水中TOC与COD回归方程的斜率b较为接近。利用TOC自动在线监测值换算所得的COD值,准确性和稳定性高,能满足水质实时连续监测的需要。     

基于高斯模型的新场气田输气管道泄漏模拟研究

基于高斯烟团模型建立了适合新场气田的输气管道泄漏模型,考虑了管道压力、泄漏衰减、环境因素的影响,模拟分析了管道压力、泄漏时间与大气稳定度对泄漏天然气燃爆区域的影响,并计算获得了新场气田某干线天然气泄漏下风向燃爆极限距离图版,对指导管道安全政策、方案制定具有重要意义。     

Uranium speciation in coal bottom ash investigated via X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray photoelectron spectra

Similar to chromium contamination, the environmental contamination caused by uranium in radioactive coal bottom ash (CBA) is primarily dependent on the chemical speciation of uranium. However, the relationship between uranium speciation and environmental contamination has not been adequately studied. To determine the relationship between uranium speciation and environmental contamination, X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) analyses were performed to determine the uranium speciation in CBA exposed to different chemical environments and simulated natural environments. The leachability of the different forms of uranium in the CBA was studied via a simulated acid rain leaching experiment, and the results showed that 57.0% of the total uranium was leached out as U(VI). The results of a linear combination fit (LCF) of the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum revealed that in the raw CBA, the uranium mainly occurred as U3O8 (71.8%). However, in the iron-rich particles, the uranium mainly occurred as UO2 (91.9%) after magnetic separation. Magnetite is a ubiquitous ferrous-bearing oxide, and it was effective for the sorption of U(IV). The result of FeSO4 leaching experiment indicated that 96.57% of total uranium was reduced from U(VI) to U(IV) when infiltrated with the FeSO4 solution for 6 months. This result clearly demonstrated the changes in chemical valence of uranium in the coal ash and provided a conceptual principle for preventing uranium migration from ash to the surrounding soil and plants.     

Intranasal administration of tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl ether) induces neurobehavioral changes in neonatal Sprague Dawley rats

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives are now being highly concerned due to their emerging environmental occurrence and deleterious effects on non-target organisms. Considering the potential neurotoxicity of TBBPA derivatives which has been demonstrated in vitro, what could happen in vivo is worthy of being studied. Tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl ether) (TBBPA-BHEE), a representative TBBPA derivative, was selected for a 21-day exposure experiment on neonatal Sprague Dawley (SD) rats through intranasal administration. The neurobehavioral, histopathological changes, and differentially expressed genes based on RNA microarray were investigated to evaluate the neurological effects of this chemical. The results indicated that TBBPA-BHEE exposure significantly compromised the motor co-ordination performance and the locomotor activities (p < 0.05). The neurobehavioral phenotype could be attributed to the obvious histopathological changes in both cerebrum and cerebellum, such as neural cell swelling, microglial activation and proliferation. A total of 911 genes were up-regulated, whereas 433 genes were down-regulated. Gene set enrichment analysis showed multiple signaling pathways, including ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and wingless-int (Wnt) signaling pathway etc. were involved due to TBBPA-BHEE exposure. The gene ontology enrichment analysis showed the basic cellular function and the neurological processes like synaptic transmission were influenced. The toxicological effects of TBBPA-BHEE observed in this study suggested the potential neuronal threaten from unintended exposure, which would be of great value in the biosafety evaluation of TBBPA derivatives.     

公众参与在战略环境影响评价中的发展研究

公众参与是战略环境影响评价的一个显著的特点,公众参与使得决策制定过程具有更公开、更透明化的特点,同时也使得利益相关者和受影响的人群更容易接受规划和项目的实施.概述了公众参与在战略环境评价的理论发展过程,列举了近年来战略环境影响评价公众参与在国外的实践经验,讨论了中国公众参与在战略环境影响评价的研究成果,最后提出了完善中国战略环境影响评价公众参与制度的合理建议.