Large variability in ambient ozone sensitivity across 19 ethylenediurea-treated Chinese cultivars of soybean is driven by total ascorbate

The sensitivity of Chinese soybean cultivars to ambient ozone(O3) in the field is unknown,although soybean is a major staple food in China. Using ethylenediurea(EDU) as an O3 protectant, we tested the gas exchange, pigments, antioxidants and biomass of 19 cultivars exposed to 28 ppm·hr AOT40(accumulated O3 over an hourly concentration threshold of40 ppb) over the growing season at a field site in China. By comparing the average biomass with and without EDU, we estimated the cultivar-specific sensitivity to O3 and ranked the cultivars from very tolerant( 10% change) to highly sensitive( 45% change), which helps in choosing the best-suited cultivars for local cultivation. Higher lipid peroxidation and activity of the ascorbate peroxidase enzyme were major responses to O3 damage, which eventually translated into lower biomass production. The constitutional level of total ascorbate in the leaves was the most important parameter explaining O3 sensitivity among these cultivars. Surprisingly, the role of stomatal conductance was insignificant. These results will guide future breeding efforts towards more O3-tolerant cultivars in China, while strategies for implementing control measures of regional O3 pollution are being implemented. Overall, these results suggest that present ambient O3 pollution is a serious concern for soybean in China, which highlights the urgent need for policy-making actions to protect this critical staple food.     

Remote estimation of cyanobacterial blooms using the risky grade index (RGI) and coverage area index (CAI): a case study in the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Harmful cyanobacterial blooms are exemplified as a major environmental concern due to producing toxin, and have generated a serious threat to public...     

A taxonomy of green supply chain management capability among electronics-related manufacturing firms in Taiwan

This study investigated crucial green supply chain management (GSCM) capability dimensions and firm performance based on electronics-related manufacturing firms in Taiwan. On the basis of a factor analysis, six green supply chain management dimensions were identified: green manufacturing and packaging, environmental participation, green marketing, green suppliers, green stock, and green eco-design. According to their factor scores in the GSCM dimensions, a cluster analysis subsequently assigned responding firms into four groups, namely, the weak GSCM oriented group, the green marketing oriented group, the green supplier oriented group, and the green stock oriented group. Differences in firm performance and GSCM dimensions among groups were examined. Results indicated that the green marketing oriented group performed best. Based on the resource-based view (RBV), the capability of the green marketing oriented group was considered to be the deployment of a collection of resources that enables it to successfully compete against rivals. The importance of green marketing as a GSCM capability and strategic asset/critical resources for electronics-related manufacturing firms to obtain a competitive edge is therefore highlighted in this study.     

Mitigation of energy intensity of an industrial off-gas cleaning system using process engineering solutions

In smelting processes, a large amount of off-gas emission is often generated, which can cause serious environmental and plant hygiene problems if not properly treated. Off-gas cleaning systems extract and treat the hazardous emissions, and ensure that the smelter operation is in accordance with environmental and industrial hygiene regulations. To this end, it is paramount that a well-designed control structure be incorporated into the system. In this work a plantwide control design procedure is applied to an industrial nickel smelter furnace off-gas cleaning system. We first approach the problem by conducting a steady-state analysis based on a nonlinear model of the process, where the objective is to determine how to achieve safe, clean and economic operation in terms of energy consumption. Results reveal that a large amount of energy can be saved by controlling the temperature in the furnace freeboard at its upper bound (active constraint). For the same reason, the temperatures in the two louvers (active constraints) should be controlled at their respective upper bounds so to minimize air intake into the system. The selection of the “unconstrained” variable to be controlled is found by applying the self-optimizing control technique, and the results indicate that a small loss is acceptable when one of the manipulated variables is fixed at its nominal optimal operating point, a highly desirable choice from an operational viewpoint. The bottleneck of the system is identified as the fans' discharge pressures when we allow the feed rate as a degree of freedom. Furthermore, a design change consisting of the installation of an auxiliary air intake in the smelter furnace shows to be a very effective economic alternative to minimize energy consumption. A control structure is then designed where the issue is to keep pressures in the system well within the negative region by determining the configuration of the regulatory and supervisory control layers such that acceptable dynamic performance in face of known, deterministic disturbance is achieved. Nonlinear dynamic simulations are performed to validate the suggested control structure for both modes of operation in the original system and in the proposed design change. The results showed that both regulatory and supervisory designs should make use of the simplicity of decentralized PI control schemes associated with some cascaded configurations so as to boost the disturbance rejection capabilities of the system.     

识别CO2驱油泄漏风险的环境监测方法学研究

针对CO_2驱油封存技术,我国在环境监测、环境影响评价等领域的环境监管能力建设还处于空白,亟待加强。文章从CO_2泄漏路径分析、环境监测方法的筛选以及环境背景值缺失情况下的监测数据分析方法等三个方面阐述了各环节的主要研究思路。其中重点介绍了"过程分析法"在CO_2泄漏识别中的应用,强调环境背景值不仅是注气前的环境状况,在注气过程中,每个时间点之前的监测数据均可以看作是背景值。为我国制定相关的法律法规提供重要信息和参考依据。     

Beijing's Water Resources: Challenges and Solutions

Beijing's local water resources have been overexploited and the ecological and environmental pressures exceed the carrying capacity of this densely populated megacity. This article examines the current status of Beijing's water resources with respect to its industrial, residential, and eco‐environmental water usage and the challenges it may face in the near future. The article describes the context of water uses, the steps taken by Beijing to alleviate the water shortage problems, and challenges to Beijing's abilities to meet its urgent and future water needs. A multipronged strategy is proposed that aims at both the present problems and the anticipated future challenges. In particular, engineering and institutional approaches for Beijing's successful transition from overexploitation to sustainable utilization of water resources are explained. Actions include reasonable water utilization, water conservation, reclaimed wastewater, and importing water from neighboring areas. We conclude that Beijing must take additional steps in water resource management to ensure its sustainable development that involves continued urbanization sprawls and population growth. Future water resource management strategies should focus on strengthening water demand management through water conservation, efficient interbasin water transfers, use of nontraditional water resources, strategically reserving water supply, and promoting rehabilitation of the eco‐environments.     

污水处理厂运营管理评价模型及其工程应用研究

随着环境污染的日益加重、环境资源的日益紧缺,污水处理厂的环境管理变得越来越重要.文章首先介绍了污水处理厂运营管理评价的发展状况并指出每个阶段存在的问题,然后通过对比选择污水处理厂运营管理评价的最优模型,同时还论述印度、北京等污水处理厂使用偏最小二乘法、平行因子分析法、熵权物元法以及神经网络等评价模型在工程实际中的应用,最后阐述如何改善现有预测与评价体系,以期进一步提升污水处理厂的运营管理效率,改善日益严重的水污染问题,保护我们珍贵的地球生态水资源.     

基于MATLAB的城市表层土壤重金属污染空间分布的研究

为全面了解某城市表层土壤重金属污染的空间分布特征,对城市表层土壤中重金属元素As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn进行采样分析,采用域法识别特异值进行数据处理。通过Matlab软件,利用克里格法进行空间插值,绘出各重金属浓度与各坐标投影的一维空间分布图,并绘出全城等高地形图,再以数字大小标注样本点的污染浓度,拟合各元素浓度与海拔、平面坐标之间的关系模型,将重金属空间分布特征定量化、模型化。     

不同扰动强度下城市重污染河道底泥对磷吸收和固定的影响

以重污染河道底泥和上覆水为材料,研究了周期性加入外源磷条件下,不同扰动强度下底泥吸附和固定磷的作用机制.结果表明,扰动可以增加底泥对外源磷的吸附,而且扰动强度越大,底泥对外源磷吸附效率越高.另外,尽管加入的磷以溶解性磷酸盐(DIP)形态存在,但扰动强化了DIP向颗粒态磷(PP)的转化,从而降低了水体中生物可利用磷含量.内源磷形态分析表明,弱吸附态磷(NH4Cl-P)呈降低趋势,而铁铝结合态磷(Fe/Al-P)、钙结合态磷(HCl-P)和残渣磷(Res-P)均呈增加趋势,但以Fe/Al-P增加幅度最大(占总磷的百分比超过80%,以3种扰动强度下平均值计).结合到非闭蓄态Fe/Al-P中的外源磷逐渐增加占Fe/Al-P净增加量的百分比分别为37.49%(100 r·min-1)、42.32%(200 r·min-1)、54.24%(300r·min-1),导致闭蓄态铁铝结合态磷净增加量占总磷净增加量的百分比随扰动强度增加有所降低,同样,钙结合态磷的变化趋势也基本一致.说明在较短的时间尺度上和较大的扰动强度下,连续加入的外源磷主要以易释放态磷形式存在,即底泥对外源磷的吸附以暂时性的持留为主.