Determination of partition and diffusion coefficients of formaldehyde in selected building materials and impact of relative humidity

The partition and effective diffusion coefficients of formaldehyde were measured for three materials (conventional gypsum wallboard, "green" gypsum wallboard, and "green" carpet) under three relative humidity (RH) conditions (20%, 50%, and 70% RH). The "green" materials contained recycled materials and were friendly to environment. A dynamic dual-chamber test method was used. Results showed that a higher relative humidity led to a larger effective diffusion coefficient for two kinds of wallboards and carpet. The carpet was also found to be very permeable resulting in an effective diffusion coefficient at the same order of magnitude with the formaldehyde diffusion coefficient in air. The partition coefficient (K(ma)) of formaldehyde in conventional wallboard was 1.52 times larger at 50% RH than at 20% RH, whereas it decreased slightly from 50% to 70% RH, presumably due to the combined effects of water solubility of formaldehyde and micro-pore blocking by condensed moisture at the high RH level. The partition coefficient of formaldehyde increased slightly with the increase of relative humidity in "green" wallboard and "green" carpet. At the same relative humidity level, the "green" wallboard had larger partition coefficient and effective diffusion coefficient than the conventional wallboard, presumably due to the micro-pore structure differences between the two materials. The data generated could be used to assess the sorption effects of formaldehyde on building materials and to evaluate its impact on the formaldehyde concentration in buildings.     

Effects of crude oil residuals on soil chemical properties in oil sites, Momoge Wetland, China

Crude oil exploration and production has been the largest anthropogenic factor contributing to the degradation of Momoge Wetland, China. To study the effects of crude oil on wetland soils, we examined the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), as well as pH and electricity conductivity (EC) from oil sites and uncontaminated areas in the Momoge Wetland. All contaminated areas had significantly higher (p < 0.05) contents of TPH and TOC, but significantly lower (p < 0.05) TN contents than those of the uncontaminated areas. Contaminated sites also exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) pH values, C/N and C/P ratios. For TP contents and EC, no significant changes were detected. The level of soil contamination and impact of oil residuals on soil quality greatly depended on the length of time the oil well was in production. Oil residuals had caused some major changes in the soils’ chemical properties in the Momoge Wetland.     

Investigation of heavy metals in sediments and Manila clams Ruditapes philippinarum from Jiaozhou Bay, China

Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) and sediments were collected bimonthly during 2007 at five locations in Jiaozhou Bay near Qingdao, China, to determine heavy metal concentrations and to assess the validation of R. philippinarum as a metal biomonitor. Concentrations of heavy metals in clam soft tissues ranged between 0.75 and 3.31, 0.89 and 15.20, 5.70 and 26.03, 52.12 and 110.33, 10.30 and 72.34, 9.64 and 28.60, and 3.15 and 52.75 μg g^???1 dry weight for Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, and Ni, respectively. Most of the highest values occurred at the northeast bay and the lowest values occurred at the western part. Regarding seasonal variation, relatively high tissue metal concentrations were observed during October or December. A similar pattern was also found in habitat sediments. There was a strong correlation between the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cr, and Ni in soft tissues and surrounding sediments. It is indicated that R. philippinarum could be used as a biomonitor for heavy metal contamination in Jiaozhou Bay.     

钛基改性DSA电极氧化法去除水中全氟化合物

为了提高金属氧化物电极(DSA电极)的稳定性及催化活性,实现全氟化合物(PFCs)的高效降解,分别以溶胶涂覆法和电沉积法制备了改性DSA(Ti/SnO_2-ZnO)电极,并用于全氟辛酸(PFOA)和全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)的电化学降解过程研究.实验分别考察了电流密度、溶液初始pH、 PFOA与PFOS初始浓度对PFCs降解效果的影响.结果表明:两种方法制备的改性DSA电极表面均匀负载了SnO_2-ZnO复合涂层.在二维电极体系中,极板面积约为65.0 cm~2,电流密度为20.0 mA·cm~(-2),极板间距为15.0 mm,电解质为1.30 g·L~(-1)次氯酸钠溶液以及电解时间为150 min时,溶胶涂覆法和电沉积法所制备的Ti/SnO_2-ZnO电极对初始浓度为100 mg·L~(-1)的PFOA和PFOS分别在pH为3.50和6.50时去除效果最佳,分别达到了90.6%、94.6%和91.0%、93.7%;循环使用电极3次,其降解过程均符合准一级反应动力学,且电沉积法制备的电极效果优于溶胶涂敷法,表现出对PFCs类污染物稳定、高效的去除能力.     

Pilot-scale experiments on multilevel contact oxidation treatment of poultry farm wastewater using saran lock carriers under different operation model

A pilot-scale multilevel contact oxidation reactors system, coupled with saran lock carriers,was applied for the treatment of poultry farm wastewater. The removal efficiencies of CODcr, ammonia, and the total nitrogen as well as the elimination performance of CODcr and total nitrogen along the three-level contact oxidation tanks under six designed operational models were investigated. Based on the performance of the nitrogen removal of the saran lock carriers and the distribution of anoxic–aerobic interspace under the suitable operation model, the mechanism of nitrogen removal of the system was also explored. The results revealed that the intermittent aeration under parallel model is the most suitable operation model, while the removal efficiencies of CODcr, ammonia, and the total nitrogen were 86.86%, 84.04%, and 80.96%, respectively. The effluent concentration of CODcr,ammonia, and the total nitrogen were 55.6 mg/L, 8.3 mg/L, and 12.0 mg/L, which satisfy both the discharge standard of pollutants for livestock and poultry breeding industry(GB18596–2001) and the first grade of the integrated wastewater discharge standard(GB 8978–1996). Moreover, the mechanism for the nitrogen removal should be attributed to the plenty of anoxic–aerobic interspaces of the biofilm and the three-dimensional spiral structure of the saran lock carriers, where the oxygen-deficient distribution was suitable for the happening of the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process. Therefore, the multilevel contact oxidation tanks system is an effective pathway for the treatment of the poultry farm wastewater on the strength of a suitable operation model and novel carriers.     

液化侧扩流场地桩基动力反应振动台试验数值模拟

针对已完成的振动台试验,采用OpenSees数值模拟计算平台,建立液化侧扩流场地群桩振动台试验数值模型。该模型中,采用线弹性梁柱单元模拟桩和挡墙,采用刚性连接单元和零长度单元模拟桩-土界面。自由水体通过施加节点孔压和节点力模拟。引入多屈服面塑性本构模拟饱和砂层,采用两相完全耦合的u—p形式模拟土体位移和孔压。通过对比振动台试验结果表明,建立的有限元数值模型能够可靠地再现砂层和桩基的动力响应,进而验证数值模型的可靠性。同时,针对两个代表性时刻,分析了桩-土体系的侧向变形响应。所采用的分析方法和相关结论也为同类桩-土体系数值模拟提供一般性分析方法和思路。     

Could biochar amendment be a tool to improve soil availability and plant uptake of phosphorus? A meta-analysis of published experiments

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - As one of the most important nutrients for plant growth, phosphorus was often poorly available in soil. While biochar addition induced improvement of...