An empirical analysis of energy efficiency measures applicable to cities,regions, and local governments,based on the case of South Korea’s local energy saving program

As highlighted in the outcome of the Paris Agreement at the 21st Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change there has been a recent push for the stronger mitigation actions of cities, regions, and local governments. Energy efficiency is a tool that can be leveraged by not only industry or national governments but also cities, regions, and local governments for mitigation purposes. However, studies on energy efficiency as a mitigation tool thus far have focused on the national or transnational scale, and on certain sectors of industry. The purpose of this paper is to find the most cost-efficient energy efficiency measures (EEMs) at the city, region, and local government level. To that end, this paper examines the yearly energy savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction intensity, as well as energy savings and GHG reduction efficiency, in the case of EEMs conducted by South Korean local governments. Yearly energy savings intensity and GHG reduction intensity are estimated to be in the range of 0.094～0.375 tonne of oil equivalent (TOE)/M-KRW (million Korean won) and 0.287～1.180 tCO2e/M-KRW. Results show that inverter installation at water and sewage treatment plants and improvement of pump efficiency are the most cost-efficient EEMs. Moreover, energy savings efficiency and GHG reduction efficiency are within the range of 18.29～45.31 %, at an average of 30.5 % GHG reduction potential. If this reduction potential is applied to the buildings and facilities regulated and run by cities/local governments, there is a worldwide reduction potential of 1.023 billion tCO₂ compared to 2020 business as usual levels.     

基于PFC对含断续节理岩质边坡静力荷载下破坏形式的研究

在含断续节理岩质边坡的破坏中,阶梯状破坏尤其显著,是一种常见的失稳破坏形式。借助二维颗粒流软件(PFC2D5.0)进行简单地质结构模型下的边坡数值模拟,通过采用PFC软件中的人工合成岩体技术,研究了7种不同组合形式下含断续节理岩质边坡的破坏形式及其内部微观接触力场的演变规律。首先对PFC软件中采用的微观力学性质参数进行了验证模拟,通过对完整岩块进行双轴压缩试验和巴西劈裂试验的模拟,得出其应力-应变曲线和强度包络线,从而计算出完整岩块的内聚力、内摩擦角等宏观力学参数;然后通过对含裂隙的颗粒集合体进行直剪试验的模拟,得出其剪应力-剪切位移曲线以及峰值强度和残余强度与正应力的关系曲线,从而计算出裂隙的内聚力和内摩擦角;最后对含上述微观力学性质参数的边坡进行静力荷载下破坏形式的模拟,得出裂隙萌生前应力集中、裂隙萌生后应力释放,以及可将潜在滑动面上方的坡体位移分成4个区,即坡脚处最大位移区、坡肩处较大位移区、坡体内部较小位移区、坡体后缘最小位移区,并验证了萌生的裂隙一般会近垂直于岩桥向坡体表面扩展,切割潜在滑动面以上坡体。     

一株耐铬细菌的鉴定及其还原铬性能分析

从浙江温州工业区六价铬废水污染的土壤中采样分离得到一株耐铬细菌Y73.16S rRNA基因序列分析表明,该菌株为Staphylococcus(葡萄球菌)属菌,最高可在加有1600 mg·L^-1六价铬(K₂Cr₂O₇)的 LB培养基中生长.该菌为好氧生长,但在3种不同的氧压力下,包括有氧、无氧和兼性无氧(先有氧生长)的条件下都可以还原六价铬,而在兼性无氧(先有氧生长)的条件下达到最高还原效率,可在96 h内将1000 mg·L^-1的六价铬还原83%.另外,该菌株能在较宽的pH值(5~11)和温度(10~50℃)范围内还原六价铬,而最佳反应条件是pH=7 和30℃.随着接种量的增加,六价铬的还原率增加,但接种量超过10%时再增加接种量对六价铬还原的影响不明显.供试的大多数金属离子(50 mg·L^-1)对该菌株还原六价铬的影响也不明显.上述结果说明,菌株Y73有其独特的还原铬性能,以及在处理六价铬污染废水中的应用潜力.     

Formic acid as an alternative reducing agent for the catalytic nitrate reduction in aqueous media

Formic acid was used for the nitrate reduction as a reductant in the presence of Pd:Cu/γ-alumina catalysts. The surface characteristics of the bimetallic catalyst synthesized by wet impregnation were investigated by SEM, TEM-EDS. The metals were not distributed homogeneously on the surface of catalyst, although the total contents of both metals in particles agreed well with the theoretical values. Formic acid decomposition on the catalyst surface, its influence on solution pH and nitrate removal efficacy was investigated. The best removal of nitrate (50 ppm) was obtained under the condition of 0.75 g/L catalyst with Pd:Cu ratio (4:1) and two fold excess of formic acid. Formic acid decay patterns resembled those of nitrate removal, showing a linear relationship between kf (formic acid decay) and k (nitrate removal). Negligible amount of ammonia was detected, and no nitrite was detected, possibly due to buffering effect of bicarbonate that is in situ produced by the decomposition of formic acid, and due to the sustained release of H2 gas.     

2,2′-二硝基联苄生产废水的处理研究

对十六烷基三甲基溴化铵改性凹凸棒土、凹凸棒土负载TiO2采用XRD、FTIR以及TG等手段进行了分析和表征,对比了改性凹凸棒土、活性炭、大孔树脂等不同吸附剂和凹凸棒土负载TiO2对二硝基联苄生产废水的处理效果。结果表明:十六烷基三甲基溴化铵改性凹凸棒土的废水中污染物的去除率比凹凸棒土提高了2.5倍;凹凸棒土负载TiO2在波长λ=254 nm下光照0.5 h,对废水中污染物的去除率是凹凸棒土的2.0倍;投加量为3%活性炭在pH为2.0⁵.0时,对该类废水中污染物的去除率可达80%以上。     

贵州省危险废物处理现状分析及防治对策

本文介绍了贵州省危险废物的类别、产生的行业、区域分布等,对我省危险废物处理现状以及存在的问题进行了分析,提出了可行的污染防治对策及建议。     

A comprehensive review of climate adaptation in the United States: more than before, but less than needed

We reviewed existing and planned adaptation activities of federal, tribal, state, and local governments and the private sector in the United States (U.S.) to understand what types of adaptation activities are underway across different sectors and scales throughout the country. Primary sources of review included material officially submitted for consideration in the upcoming 2013 U.S. National Climate Assessment and supplemental peer-reviewed and grey literature. Although substantial adaptation planning is occurring in various sectors, levels of government, and the private sector, few measures have been implemented and even fewer have been evaluated. Most adaptation actions to date appear to be incremental changes, not the transformational changes that may be needed in certain cases to adapt to significant changes in climate. While there appear to be no one-size-fits-all adaptations, there are similarities in approaches across scales and sectors, including mainstreaming climate considerations into existing policies and plans, and pursuing no- and low-regrets strategies. Despite the positive momentum in recent years, barriers to implementation still impede action in all sectors and across scales. The most significant barriers include lack of funding, policy and institutional constraints, and difficulty in anticipating climate change given the current state of information on change. However, the practice of adaptation can advance through learning by doing, stakeholder engagements (including “listening sessions”), and sharing of best practices. Efforts to advance adaptation across the U.S. and globally will necessitate the reduction or elimination of barriers, the enhancement of information and best practice sharing mechanisms, and the creation of comprehensive adaptation evaluation metrics.     

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Human Noroviruses in Korean Groundwater Between 2008 and 2010

RT-PCR, nucleotide sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis were performed for genotyping and molecular characterization of noroviruses isolated from Korean groundwater. Among 160 samples collected from 80 sites between 2008 and 2010, 14 samples (8.7?%) from 12 sites were positive for noroviruses (NoVs). The percentages of NoV-positive samples in 2008, 2009, and 2010 were 22.2, 3.2, and 0?%, respectively, representing a yearly decrease. GII-positive samples (n?=?9, 5.6?%) outnumbered GI-positive samples (n?=?5, 3.1?%). The genotypes of the GI NoVs were GI.2, GI.5, and GI.6, and the genotypes of the GII NoVs were all GII.4. One sample, HM623465, was very similar to CUK-3 and CBNU2 and two GII.4 sequences isolated from the stool of Korean gastroenteritis patients. A BLASTN search revealed several nucleotide sequences highly similar to those of NoVs isolated in this study. The original isolation sources for these similar NoVs were mostly stool (n?=?731, 80.0?%) and groundwater (n?=?135, 14.8?%), and all the countries from which they were isolated were almost in Asia (96.0?%); specifically, China (n?=?192, 21.0?%), Japan (n?=?383, 41.9?%), Korea (n?=?296, 32.4?%), and other Asian countries (n?=?6, 0.7?%). These results suggest that Korean groundwater might be contaminated with NoVs from the stool of infected patients and that these NoVs in turn cause new cases of gastroenteritis through a typical fecal-oral route with region-specific circulation. Therefore, it is important to properly treat sewage, which may include waterborne viruses and manage point sources in groundwater for national health and sanitation. In addition, continuous molecular surveillance remains important for understanding circulating NoVs.     

Predicting the transfer of 137Cs to rice plants by a dynamic compartment model with a consideration of the soil properties

The factors governing chlorine transfer from Phaeozem and Greyzem soils to various important crop species (foodstuff and forage) were determined in natural conditions in the Kiev region of Ukraine. The stable chlorine concentration ratio (CR) values were the lowest in apple (0.5+/-0.3) and strawberry (2+/-1), higher in vegetables (5+/-3), seeds (15+/-7) and reached a maximum in straw (187+/-90). The average CR values of 36Cl were estimated for the most important crops using all experimental data on 36Cl and stable chlorine transfer into plants from various soils. It was experimentally shown that boiling potatoes in water leads to an equilibrium between 36Cl specific content in the water and moisture in the cooked potato. The 36Cl processing factor (PF) for boiling various foodstuffs is equal to the ratio of water mass in the cooked foodstuff to the total water mass (in the food and the decoction). 36Cl PF for cereal flour can be estimated as 1. The 36Cl processing factor for dairy products is equal to the ratio of residual water mass in the product to initial water mass in milk. At a 36Cl specific activity in soil of 1 Bq kg-1, the estimated annual dietary 36Cl intake into human organism (adult man) is about 10 kBq. Sixty to seventy percent of the above amount will be taken in via milk and dairy products, 7-16% via meat, 14-16% via bread and bakery items and 8-12% via vegetables. The highest annual 36Cl intake, 10.7 kBq, is predicted for 1-year-old children. The expected effective doses from annual 36Cl intake are higher for younger age groups, increasing from 0.008 mSv in adults to 0.12 mSv in 1-year-old children.     

Natural and man-made organobromine compounds in marine biota from Central Norway

Brominated organic pollutants were found in selected samples of mollusk tissue, fish liver, as well as in the eggs and livers of shag from three sites in Central Norway. More than 80 organobromines were identified owing to the defined isotope ratio acquired by GC/ECNI-MS. However, only a few peaks could be assigned to anthropogenic brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). Most of the organobromine compounds detected were unknown or halogenated natural products. The known halogenated natural products MHC-1 and TBA were abundant in all samples and usually between equally abundant, and up to 50 fold more concentrated than the major polybrominated diphenyl ether congener BDE 47. The halogenated natural products BC-2 (2-MeO-BDE 68) and BC-3 (6'-MeO-BDE 47), were on level with BDE 100 which was the second most abundant BDE congener in many samples. The previously identified natural polybrominated hexahydroxanthene derivatives (PBHDs) were detected for the first time in bird eggs. Being major contaminants in bird eggs, PBHDs were only present at low levels in bird liver from nestlings originating from the same clutch. Such differences were detected for several other major contaminants. One unknown tetrabromo compound particularly abundant in mussels from Munkholmen was studied by GC/MS and the molecular ion was detected at m/z 446. The abundance of the most important unknown compounds did not correlate with BDEs and they most likely represent halogenated natural products. This study supports that halogenated natural products have to be treated as serious contaminants of marine coastal waters. Our data suggest that their abundance is highest in habitats along the shoreline. Thorough examination of these compounds in environmental samples is an important task.