The forecasting of municipal waste generation using artificial neural networks and sustainability indicators

The feasibility of modeling municipal waste generation (MWG) for countries at different levels of development using artificial neural networks (ANN) and selected generic indicators of sustainability was investigated. The main goals of this research were to develop ANN-based models for predicting MWG, to overcome the problem of incomplete MWG data, which is notable in developing countries, and to provide a new method for the planning of municipal solid waste management systems as well as for the simulation of various other scenarios. Data from 26 European countries was used in this study as training, test and validation datasets for the developing of ANN models. Since this kind of modeling is particularly important for developing countries where MWG data is missing or incomplete, emphasis was placed on modeling of MWG for Bulgaria and Serbia. Based on a comparison of actual MWG data with predictions given by the model, we show that ANNs can be applied successfully to modeling and forecasting MWG on a national scale. Moreover, the scope for possible application of the model is broad, since it uses generic indicators of sustainability such as gross domestic product, domestic material consumption and resource productivity, and performs well for countries with highly diversified levels of economic development, industrial structure, productivity and output.     

Effects of iron oxide nanoparticles on phenotype and metabolite changes in hemp clones (Cannabis sativa L.)

● Fe₃O₄ NPs increased the biomass and chlorophyll content of hemp clones. ● Fe₃O₄ NPs penetrated and were internalized by root cells. ● Fe₃O₄ NPs induced the alteration of metabolite profiles in hemp leaves. ● The psychoactive compound THC in hemp leaves was significantly down-regulated. We investigated the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs, ~17 nm in size) on the phenotype and metabolite changes in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), an annual crop distributed worldwide. Hemp clones were grown in hydroponic cultures with Fe₃O₄ NPs (50, 100, 200, or 500 mg/L) for four weeks. TEM and ICP-MS were used to determine Fe₃O₄ NPs uptake and translocation. LC-MS-based metabolomics was employed to explore the deep insight into the effect of Fe₃O₄ NPs on hemp plants. The results revealed that plant growth enhanced gradually with increasing concentrations of given NPs up to 200 mg/L, which improved the fresh weight and dry weight by 36.13% and 74.68%, respectively, compared to the control. Even at a high dose (500 mg/L), Fe₃O₄ NPs promoted plant growth, including increased biomass and tissue length. NPs significantly increased the iron and chlorophyll content in plant tissues Increased catalase activity and reduced hydrogen peroxide content in hemp leaves suggested that the Fe₃O₄ NPs activated the defense system. TEM showed that NPs were abundantly attached to the cell wall and dispersed throughout the root cells. Metabolomics revealed that Fe₃O₄ NPs induced metabolic reprogramming in hemp leaves, including the up-regulation of carbohydrates and organic acids, and down-regulation of antioxidants, especially tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The significantly up-regulated metabolites, including peonidin and 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, could be involved in photosynthesis in hemp plants. These results demonstrate the potential of Fe₃O₄ NPs for promoting hemp growth and decreasing the THC content at low doses.     

欧盟化学品环境管理战略研究与启示

贯彻化学物质的全生命周期环境风险管理理念,加强新污染物治理,深入打好污染防治攻坚战,是促进经济社会发展全面绿色转型的重要内容。以欧洲化学品可持续战略为主线,分析欧盟与化学品相关的环境管理战略与行动计划,从化学品的安全可持续设计、环境零化学污染、化学物质风险评估机制和风险管理方法等方面进行研究,通过问题总结、差距比对,分析提出对我国开展化学品环境管理工作的启示,对推动精准治污、科学治污、依法治污,促进生态文明建设,有重要借鉴意义。     

Efficient degradation of semi-coking wastewater in three-dimensional electro-Fenton by CuFe2O4 heterocatalyst

Semi-coking wastewater contains a rich source of toxic and refractory compounds. Three-dimensional electro-Fenton (3D/EF) process used CuFe₂O₄ as heterocatalyst and activated carbon (AC) as particle electrode was constructed for degrading semi-coking wastewater greenly and efficiently. CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS). Factors like dosage of CuFe₂O₄, applied voltage, dosage of AC and pH, which effect COD removal rate of semi-coking waste water were studied. The results showed that COD removal rate reached to 80.9% by 3D/EF process at the optimum condition: 4 V, 0.3 g of CuFe₂O₄, 1 g of AC and pH?=?3. Trapping experiment suggesting that hydroxyl radical (?OH) is the main active radical. The surface composition and chemical states of the fresh and used CuFe₂O₄ were analyzed by XPS indicating that Fe, Cu, and O species are involved into the 3D/EF process. Additionally, anode oxidation and the adsorption and catalysis of AC are also contributed to the bleaching of semi-coking waste water. The possible mechanisms of 3D/EF for degrading semi-coking waste water by CuFe₂O₄ heterocatalyst were proposed.

     

Amylose Modified Starches as Superabsorbent Systems for Release of Potassium Fertilizers

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - High-amylose maize starch (AS) was modified by graft copolymerization with sodium acid maleate and disodium maleate, using the KMnO4-NaHSO3 redox system,...     

Kinetic Modeling of the Post-consumer Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Hydrolysis Catalyzed by Cutinase from Humicola insolens

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The search for a straightforward technology for post-consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PC-PET) degradation is essential to develop a circular economy....     

Efficiency of waste management in municipalities and the importance of waste separation

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The European Union emphasises the need to sever the link between economic growth, resource consumption and waste production and has set targets to...     

泥石流危险等级评价的模糊数学方法

本文在文献[1]泥石流危险度研究的基础上.提出泥石流危险性评价的模糊数学方法。文中首先根据有关资料建立了评定因子的隶属函数以及各因子在评定泥石流危险性中权重的模糊子集,并在此基础上运用模糊综合评判技术提出了确定泥石流危险等级模糊向量的方法。     

On-line controlling system for nitrogen and phosphorus removal of municipal wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR)

The objectives of this study were to establish an on-line controlling system for nitrogen and phosphorus removal synchronously of municipal wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The SBR for municipal wastewater treatment was operated in sequences: filling, anaerobic, oxic, anoxic, oxic, settling and discharge. The reactor was equipped with on-line monitoring sensors for dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and pH. The variation of DO, ORP and pH is relevant to each phase of biological process for nitrogen and phosphorus removal in this SBR. The characteristic points of DO, ORP and pH can be used to judge and control the stages of process that include: phosphate release by the turning points of ORP and pH; nitrification by the ammonia valley of pH and ammonia elbows of DO and ORP; denitrification by the nitrate knee of ORP and nitrate apex of pH; phosphate uptake by the turning point of pH; and residual organic carbon oxidation by the carbon elbows of DO and ORP. The controlling system can operate automatically for nitrogen and phosphorus efficiently removal. __________ Translated from Water & Wastewater Engineering, 2006, 26(5): 728–733 [译自: 给水排水]     

碱消解-P&T-GC-AFS法同时测定土壤中的甲基汞和乙基汞研究

建立了碱消解-吹扫捕集-气相色谱-原子荧光光谱法(P&T-GC-AFS)同时测定土壤中甲基汞和乙基汞的分析方法.样品在90℃条件下经氢氧化钾/甲醇消解2.5 h,调节pH为5.40,并丙基化衍生后,采用P&T-GC-AFS法测定.方法对甲基汞、乙基汞的线性相关系数分别为0.999 7、0.999 6,检出限分别为0.26、0.41 ng·g -1.在不同质量浓度水平上进行加标回收率实验,甲基汞、乙基汞的回收率分别为90.5%~93.3%、86.5%~89.6%.该方法样品前处理简单、检出限低,适合批量测定土壤中甲基汞和乙基汞.