The influence of particle size and concentration combined with pH on coagulation mechanisms

In order to evaluate the influence of particle size and particle concentration on the coagulation process, two kinds of particle suspensions, nanoparticles and microparticles,were employed to investigate the effect of particle size on coagulation mechanisms with varying coagulation parameters. Results showed that it is easier for nanoparticles to cause self-aggregation because of Brownian motion, while interception and sedimentation are the mainly physical processes affecting particle transport for microparticles, so they are more stable and disperse more easily. The particle size distribution and particle concentration had distinct influence on the coagulation mechanisms. Under neutral conditions, as the amount of coagulant increased, the coagulation mechanism for nanoparticles changed from charge neutralization to sweep flocculation and the nanoparticles became destabilized, re-stabilized and again destabilized. For microparticles, although the coagulation mechanism was the same as that of nanoparticles, the increased rate of aluminum hydroxide precipitation exceeded the adsorption of incipiently formed soluble alum species, resulting in the disappearance of the re-stabilization zone. Under acidic conditions, Brownian motion dominates for nanoparticles at low particle concentrations, while sweep flocculation is predominant at high particle concentrations. As for microparticles, charge neutralization and sweep flocculation are the mechanisms for low and high particle concentrations respectively.Under alkaline condition, although the mechanisms for both nano-and microparticles are the same, the morphology of flocs and the kinetics of floc formation are different. At low particle concentrations, nanoparticles have larger growth rate and final size of flocs, while at high particle concentrations, nanoparticles have higher fractal dimension and recovery factors.     

Photocatalytic defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid by surface defective BiOCl: Fast microwave solvothermal synthesis and photocatalytic mechanisms

There is an urgent need for developing cost-effective methods for the treatment of perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA)due to its global emergence and potential risks.In this study,taking surface-defective BiOCl as an example,a strategy of surface oxygen vacancy modulation was used to promote the photocatalytic defluorination efficiency of PFOA under simulated sunlight irradiation.The defective BiOCl was fabricated by a fast microwave solvothermal method,which was found to induce more surface oxygen vacancies than conventional solvothermal and precipitation methods.As a result,the asprepared BiOCl showed significantly enhanced defluorination efficiency,which was 2.7 and33.8 times higher than that of BiOCl fabricated by conventional solvothermal and precipitation methods,respectively.Mechanistic studies indicated that the defluorination of PFOA follows a direct hole(h~+)oxidation pathway with the aid of·OH,while the oxygen vacancies not only promote charge separation but also facilitate the intimate contact between the photocatalyst surface and PFOA by coordinating with its terminal carboxylate group in a bidentate or bridging mode.This work will provide a general strategy of oxygen vacancy modulation by microwave-assisted methods for efficient photocatalytic defluorination of PFOA in the environment using sunlight as the energy source.     

Derivation of a household-level vulnerability index for empirically testing measures of adaptive capacity and vulnerability

Recent studies have projected significant climate change impacts in Africa. In order to understand what this means in terms of human well-being at local level, we need to understand how households can cope and adapt. This need has led many authors to argue for approaches to adaptation that are based on vulnerability analysis. Vulnerability is one of the key terms in the climate change literature, but little progress has been made in the field of its quantification. Typically, indicators are combined according to a weighing scheme, with the identification of indicators and the weighing schemes based on expert judgment rather than empirical evidence. In addition, most quantitative assessments are applied to countries or other administrative units, whereas managing climate risk has traditionally been the responsibility of households. We therefore focus on the adaptive capacity of households. We analyze the coping strategies and vulnerability to climatic stresses of agro-pastoralists in Mozambique and test the validity of a number of commonly used vulnerability indicators. We derive a household-level vulnerability index based on survey data. We find that only 9 out of 26 indicators tested exhibit a statistically significant relationship with households’ vulnerability. In total, they explain about one-third of the variation in vulnerability between households, confirming the need for more research on underlying determinants and processes of vulnerability. With inclusion of local knowledge, our study findings can be used for local targeting, priority setting and resource allocation. Complemented with studies analyzing climate change impacts and findings from country-level adaptive capacity studies, governmental policy can be informed.     

白色污染及其防治技术的思考

在分析白色污染产生的背景及其对环境危害的基础上,就其处理技术,包括分离、再生处理和再资源化等技术进行了讨论,提出了应该综合治理白色污染的措施和方案。     

制药废水的可生物降解性与生物毒性研究

制药废水有机物含量高,难生物降解成分多,有些成分可抑制污泥活性或具有生物毒性.以某制药企业维生素生产的7个工段(W1 ～ W7)的排放废水为研究对象,用摇瓶试验评价了各工段废水的可生物降解性能,用瓦勃氏呼吸仪测试了各工段废水对污泥活性的抑制作用,用发光菌急性毒性试验评价了各工段废水经好氧生物处理前后的生物毒性变化.研究...     

Wet oxidation: a pre-treatment procedure for sludge

Wet oxidation process is specially effective for wastes with a high organic matter which can not be removed by conventional treatment methods. The digested and raw activated sludges of PAKMAYA yeast factory are treated by wet oxidation process. The liquid-phase organic matter concentration [as total organic carbon (TOC)] was increased by 16.5% in 10 min during the wet oxidation in the presence of Cu as catalyst and H2O2. Lenghtening the period of the wet oxidation, the TOC-concentration was increased by 66% in 120 min. The biodegradability of the sludge after wet oxidation process was also examined. A very little development in the biodegradability was observed, when wet oxidation was applied as pre-treatment to the digested sludge (5% decrease as TOC, in the presence of Cu catalyst and H2O2). However, in the case of digestion of the raw sludge after the application of wet oxidation, the biodegradability increased significantly (approximately 75%, as TOC). Moreover, wet oxidation improved the ability of settling of sludge solids, as well as enhancing the treatment efficiency. Finally, the volume of settled solids was decreased by 80% in the presence of Cu and H2O2. NH3+-N, NO2(-)-N and NO3(-)-N concentrations in the supernatant decreased with the wet oxidation. pH value of the sludge increased from 6.6 to 7.8-8.0. Since stable sludge was taken from the digester where the nitrification process was progressing, a decrease in the nitrite concentration, with an increase in nitrate was observed in the digestion continuing after the wet oxidation pre-treatment. However, in the raw activated sludge, there was a nitrite formation only in the non-pretreated sludge.     

Groundwater quality surrounding Lake Texoma during short-term drought conditions

Water quality data from 55 monitoring wells during drought conditions surrounding Lake Texoma, located on the border of Oklahoma and Texas, was compared to assess the influence of drought on groundwater quality. During the drought month of October, water table levels were three feet (0.9 m) lower compared with several months earlier under predrought climate conditions. Detection frequencies of nitrate (> 0.1 mg/l), orthophosphates (> 0.1 mg/l), chlorides (> MCL), and sulfates (> MCL) all increased during drought. Orthophosphate level was higher during drought. Largest increases in concentration were nitrate under both agriculture lands and in septic tank areas. An increase in ammonium-nitrogen was only detected in the septic tank area. The study showed that stressors such as nitrate and total salts could potentially become a health or environmental problem during drought.     

Cellular alterations in Mytilus galloprovincialis (LMK) and Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850) as biomarkers of environmental stress: field studies in the Lagoon of Venice (Italy)

A long-term biomonitoring study was carried out in the Lagoon of Venice (North-East Italy) with the aim of evaluating variations in biological responses to environmental stress in estuarine bivalves. Two different species, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the clam Tapes philippinarum, both widespread in the Lagoon, were studied in several sites. Two cellular biomarkers: lysosomal membrane stability in digestive cells and thickness of digestive epithelia, were evaluated in native organisms (on a seasonal basis), and in organisms which have been transferred from a reference site to several differently influenced ones. Results indicate that, to some extent, both test and organisms were able to highlight site-specific differences, but the effects of pollution were generally more easily detected by reduction in lysosomal stability than by reduction in digestive tubule epithelium. Further findings show that the inherent variability of a number of natural parameters, particularly in the reference sites, produced less effective results when biological responses in the reference organisms were compared with the polluted ones. The assessment of the two conditions was most valuable when they referred to the 25-75% range of values comprised within the seasonal medians, recorded respectively in control and polluted sites. Impaired from steady states were most effectively distinguished when the control values were medians from two reference locations. Lately, the overall results indicate that both biomarkers are more suitably deployed through the translocation approach, revealing it to be more sensitive than traditional biomonitoring, at least in the sense that it may overcome problems related to the adaptation of native organisms to sub lethal chronic pollution levels.     

Multi‐Criteria Decision Support Systems for Flood Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Response in Urban Watersheds1

Abstract: Flood management problems are inherently complex, time‐bound and multi‐faceted, involving many decision makers (with conflicting priorities and dynamic preferences), high decision stakes, limited technical information (both in terms of quality and quantity), and difficult tradeoffs. Multi‐Criteria Decision Support Systems (MCDSS) can help to manage this complexity and decision load by combining value judgments and technical information in a structured decision framework. A brief overview of MCDSS is presented, an original MCDSS architecture is put forth, and future research directions are discussed, including extensions to Multi‐Criteria Spatial Decision Support Systems and group MCDSS (as flood management involves shared resources and broad constituencies). With application to the September 11‐12, 2000 Tokai floods in Japan, the proposed multi‐criteria decision support instruments enhance communication among stakeholders and improve emergency management resource allocation. In summary, by making the links among flood knowledge, assumptions and choices more explicit, MCDSS increases stakeholder satisfaction, saves lives, and reduces flood management costs, thereby increasing decision‐making effectiveness, efficiency and transparency.     

地震类突发事件中公共财政应急机制分析

通过对我国地震应急组织体系及财政应对地震类灾害的流程分析,结合国外应对地震类突发事件的成功经验,分析了我国公共财政应对过程中存在的不足,最后建立了5个应对地震类突发事件的财政应急机制,分别是公共财政日常运行机制、震前预警防范机制、震时响应机制、震后恢复重建机制和财政监督检查机制。