Biodegradation of benzene, toluene; and other aromatic compounds by Pseudmonas sp. D8

Pseudmonas sp. D8 strain, which has the potential to utilize toluene as a sole carbon source, was isolated. At a concentration of 100 mg/l, this strain was found to efficiently degrade toluene and benzene (both individually and in mixture) in culture medium at 30°C and pH7. Following a two-hour lag phase, complete biodegradation of 100 mg/l toluene or benzene occurred within 6 to 8 hours. The addition of nitrate, phosphate, or sulfate at various concentrations were found to have significant influence on both toluene and benzene degradation. In addition, results show that the D8 strain has the ability to degrade monochlorophenols, nitrophenols, and phenol, but not aliphatic compounds. Inoculation of groundwater samples containing 100 mg/1 toluene or benzene with Pseudmonas sp. D8 resulted in rapid degradation within 24 33 hours.     

Bio-oxidation of airborne volatile organic compounds in an activated sludge aeration tank

An activated sludge aeration tank (40 x 40 x 300 cm, width x length x height) with a set of 2-mm orifice air spargers was used to treat gas-borne volatile organic compounds (VOCs; toluene, p-xylene, and dichloromethane) in air streams. The effects of liquid depth (Z), aeration intensity (G/A), the overall mass-transfer rate of oxygen in clean water (KLaO2), the Henry's law constant of the tested VOC (H), and the influent gaseous VOC concentration (C0) on the efficiency of removal of VOCs were examined and compared with a literature-cited model. Results show that the measured VOC removal efficiencies and those predicted by the model were comparable at a G/A of 3.75-11.25 m3/m2 hr and C0 of approximately 1000-6000 mg/m3. Experimental data also indicated that the designed gas treatment reactor with KLaO2 = 5-15 hr(-l) could achieve > 85% removal of VOCs with H = 0.24-0.25 at an aerated liquid depth of 1 m and > 95% removal of dichloromethane with H = 0.13 at a 1-m liquid depth.     

Interactive analysis of waste recycling and energy recovery program in a small-scale incinerator

Conflicting goals affecting solid waste management are explored in this paper to find the best implementation of resource recovery with a small-scale waste-to-energy process. Recycling paper and plastic material often leaves a shortage of thermal energy to support incineration that forces operators to supplement the process with auxiliary fuels. Although there are considerable profits to be made from material recovery, the increase of fuel usage causes conflict given that it is cost prohibitive. A series of trials performed on a small-scale 1.5-t/day incineration plant with a cyclone heat recovery system found that material recycling can impede performance. Experimental results are expressed as empirical regression formulas with regard to combustion temperature, energy transfer, and heat recovery. Process optimization is possible if the waste moisture content remains <30%. To test the robustness of the optimization analysis, a series of sensitivity analyses clarify the extent of material recycling needed with regard to plastic, paper, and metal. The experiments also test whether the moisture in the waste would decrease when recycling paper because of its exceptional capacity to absorb moisture. Results show that recycling paper is strongly recommended when the moisture content is >20%, whereas plastic recycling is not necessary at that moisture condition. Notably, plastic recovery reduces the heat needed to vaporize the water content of the solid waste, thus it is recommended only when the moisture content is <10%. For above-normal incineration temperatures, plastic recycling is encouraged, because it removes excess energy. Metal is confirmed as an overall priority in material recycling regardless of the moisture content of the incoming waste.     

生物质型煤成型技术开发实验研究

通过原有成型方式的工业成型观察和模压成型实验，提出并验证了完全利用生物质纤维的交联作用实现成型的新机制。其于中高压下物料的不可再压缩性和单向挤压也会导致更高的成型压力的新认识，设计和研制成按新机制成型的型轮。经此改进的工业成型试验达到了比模压成型更好的效果：不用预实送料，且成型性能；成型压力降至120MPa以下，成型许可水分成倍提高，适合的生物质配比范围15％－60％；仅利用送料螺旋的预实功能，即可实现纯生物质型块的成型。     

PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs concentrations in breast milk from two areas in Korea: body burden of mothers and implications for feeding infants

We determined breast milk concentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 24 mothers living in Korea, and assessed the maternal body burden based on PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs concentrations in breast milk and an infant intake rate through breast-feeding based on their concentration in breast milk. PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs levels in breast milk from primipara mothers were found to be higher than those from multipara mothers. For total PCDDs/PCDFs TEQ level, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDD was the predominant congener, and the proportion of 2,3,7,8-TCDD was less than 3% of total PCDDs/PCDFs TEQ level. For PCBs TEQ level, PCB-126 was the predominant congener. Maternal body burden levels of PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs based on their concentrations in breast milk were 268-622 TEQ ng. The daily dioxin intakes of mothers were predicted to be 0.78-2.18 TEQ pg/kg/day for PCDDs/PCDFs and 0.34-0.66 TEQ pg/kg/ day for PCBs. For the first year, the body burden of an infant was predicted to be 212 TEQ ng and the daily intake of an infant was predicted to be 85 TEQ pg/kg/day, assuming the mean dioxin-related compounds concentration (27.54 TEQ pg/g fat).     

Transport modeling of copper and cadmium with linear and nonlinear retardation factors

The predictive accuracy of using the one-dimensional advection–dispersion equation to evaluate the fate and transport of solute in a soil column is usually dependent on the proper determination of chemical retardation factors. Typically, the distribution coefficient (K_d) obtained by fitting the linear sorption isotherm has been extensively used to consider general geochemical reactions on solute transport in a low-concentration range. However, the linear distribution coefficient cannot be adequately utilized to describe the solute fate at a higher concentration level. This study employed the nonlinear equilibrium-controlled sorption parameters to determine the retardation factor used in column leaching experiments. Copper and cadmium transportation in a lateritic silty-clay soil column was examined. Through the explicit finite-difference calculations with a third-order total-variation-diminishing (TVD) numerical solution scheme, all results of the theoretical copper and cadmium breakthrough curves (BTCs) simulated by using the Freundlich nonlinear retardation factors revealed good agreement with the experimental observations.     

Indoor and outdoor air quality investigation at schools in Hong Kong

Five classrooms in Hong Kong (HK), air-conditioned or ceiling fans ventilated, were chosen for investigation of indoor and outdoor air quality. Parameters such as temperature, relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), respirable particulate matter (PM10), formaldehyde (HCHO), and total bacteria counts were monitored indoors and outdoors simultaneously. The average respirable particulate matter concentrations were higher than the HK Objective, and the maximum indoor PM10 level exceeded 1000 microg/m3. Indoor CO2 concentrations often exceeded 1000 microl/l in air-conditioning and ceiling fan classrooms, indicating inadequate ventilation. Maximum indoor CO2 level reached 5900 microl/l during class at the classroom with cooling tower ventilation. Increasing the rate of ventilation or implementation of breaks between classes is recommended to alleviate the high CO2 level. Other pollution parameters measured in this study complied with the standards. The two most important classroom air quality problems in Hong Kong were PM10 and CO2 levels.     

Simultaneous removal of nitrogen oxide/nitrogen dioxide/sulfur dioxide from gas streams by combined plasma scrubbing technology

Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) [nitrogen oxide (NO) + nitrogen dioxide (NO2)] and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are removed individually in traditional air pollution control technologies. This study proposes a combined plasma scrubbing (CPS) system for simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOx. CPS consists of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and wet scrubbing in series. DBD is used to generate nonthermal plasmas for converting NO to NO2. The water-soluble NO2 then can be removed by wet scrubbing accompanied with SO2 removal. In this work, CPS was tested with simulated exhausts in the laboratory and with diesel-generator exhausts in the field. Experimental results indicate that DBD is very efficient in converting NO to NO2. More than 90% removal of NO, NOx, and SO2 can be simultaneously achieved with CPS. Both sodium sulfide (Na2S) and sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) scrubbing solutions are good for NO2 and SO2 absorption. Energy efficiencies for NOx and SO2 removal are 17 and 18 g/kWh, respectively. The technical feasibility of CPS for simultaneous removal of NO, NO2, and SO2 from gas streams is successfully demonstrated in this study. However, production of carbon monoxide as a side-product (approximately 100 ppm) is found and should be considered.     

铅锌尾矿砂污染下的岩溶土壤微生物群落碳源代谢特征

以广西阳朔思的村铅锌矿尾砂污染的水稻田、玉米地、柑橘园以及对照(旱地)土壤为研究对象,采用碳素利用法和18S rRNA变性梯度凝胶电泳技术探究岩溶区重金属污染下土壤微生物群落碳源代谢特征以及土壤真菌与土壤有机碳的交互关系.结果表明,广西阳朔思的村铅锌矿尾砂污染区土壤重金属总体含量(Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd)依次为:水稻田玉米地柑橘园对照;同时地累积综合指数显示该区重金属污染以Pb、Cd为主,其中Cd带来的环境风险最高.受Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd等重金属复合污染物影响,土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物熵和碳源代谢速率表现出随总体重金属质量分数增加而降低的变化规律,但土壤总有机碳质量分数却表现为:水稻田对照柑橘园或玉米地.DGGE结果进一步显示对照组土壤存在担子菌门多孔菌目Pycnoporus sp.ZW02.30,柑橘园和玉米地土壤存在镰刀菌属Fusarium solani和Fusarium oxysporum以及柑橘园土壤存在青霉属Penicillium decumbens.然而,上述参与淀粉、纤维素、半纤维素、木质素等糖类降解过程的真菌没有在水稻田土壤检出.加之,水稻田土壤微生物功能多样性指数和微生物熵最低而土壤有机碳质量分数最高,说明铅锌尾矿砂通过影响不同样地土壤微生物糖类代谢过程,进而调节土壤碳在微生物特别是真菌作用下的矿化速率.     

基于ICE-SSD联用的地下水中苯并[a]芘生态风险评价——以下辽河平原地下水为例

借鉴地表水生态风险评价框架,尝试构建地下水生态风险评价方法,以下辽河平原地下水为例,开展地下水中苯并[a]芘(BaP)的生态风险评价工作.通过开展示范区地下水生态系统特征分析,筛选出用于地下水生态风险评价的代表性物种,共计5门9科.基于种间关系模型(ICE),推导地下水代表性物种的毒性数据.选取日本三角涡虫作为地下水典型物种,模拟地下水条件开展急性毒性试验,测试结果与模型推导数据间具有较好的一致性,初步验证了模型推导数据的可靠性;同时将测试结果应用于模型数据的校正,以降低方法的不确定性.基于此,构建地下水生态系统物种敏感度曲线(SSD);参考EPA方法构建地表水生态系统SSD曲线;地下水生态系统和地表水生态系统对于BaP 5%物种有害浓度(HC5)值分别为0.11μg·L~(-1)和0.58μg·L~(-1),初步表明地下水物种对BaP胁迫更为敏感.结合下辽河平原区地下水中BaP的暴露浓度水平,开展地下水生态系统风险评价,结果表明:处于高风险水平(RQ1)的概率为0.61%,表明胁迫因子BaP对下辽河平原地下水生态系统影响有限.