Effects of Environmental Aging on the Durability of Wood-Flour Filled Recycled PET/PA6 Wood Plastic Composites

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Outdoor building materials made of wood require preservatives containing chromated copper arsenate and other carcinogenic substances but still are subject...     

Emissions of C2 – C12 hydrocarbons in the Hsuehshan tunnel, Taiwan

The concentrations of 56 hydrocarbons from C2 to C12 were measured simultaneously in the southbound bore, the northbound bore and the exhaust air shafts of the Hsuehshan tunnel near Yilan, Taiwan for 12 days during 2007 and 2008. A total of 60 integrated air samples were collected using stainless steel canisters and analyzed using GC/FID and GC/MS. The five most abundant species in all samples were ethylene, acetylene, isopentane, propylene and toluene. The exit/entrance ratios of total non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) concentration were 7.8 and 4.8 for the southbound and northbound bores, respectively. Furthermore, the exhaust from the vertical shafts affects air quality in the neighborhood. The most abundant species of emission rate (ER) was toluene (21.93–42.89 mg/sec), followed by isopentane, ethylene, propylene and 1-butene, with ER ranging from 2.50 to 9.31 mg/sec. The species in the three exhaust air shafts showed that the reactivities of these emissions are similar to those of vehicle emissions. Notably, the control of emissions in the vertical shafts of the vehicle tunnel will be important in the future.     

Applying model simulation and photochemical indicators to evaluate ozone sensitivity in southern Taiwan

Ozone sensitivity was investigated using CAMx simulations and photochemical indicator ratios at three sites (Pingtung City, Chao- Chou Town, and Kenting Town) in Pingtung County in southern Taiwan during 2003 and 2004. The CAMx simulations compared fairly well with the hourly concentrations of ozone. Simulation results also showed that Pingtung City was mainly a volatile organic compounds (VOC)-sensitive regime, while Chao-Chou Town was either a VOC-sensitive or a NOx-sensitive regime, depending on the seasons. Measurements of three photochemical indicators (H2O2, HNO3, and NOy) were conducted, and simulated three transition ranges of H2O2/HNO3 (0.5–0.8), O3/HNO3 (10.3–16.2) and O3/NOy (5.7–10.8) were adopted to assess the ozone sensitive regime at the three sites. The results indicated that the three transition ranges yield consistent results with CAMx simulations at most times at Pingtung City. However, both VOC-sensitive and NOx-sensitive regimes were important at the rural site Chao-Chou Town. Kenting Town, a touring site at the southern end of Taiwan, was predominated by a NOx-sensitive regime in four seasons.     

利用场地表征参数研究岷漳地区地震动相对变化趋势

近地表场地条件所引起的地震动差别可以造成不同场地上建筑物震害的显著差异。为了在岷漳地区的震害预测和长期发展规划中考虑场地条件差异性,提出联合V_(s30)和地形标度曲率作为场地表征参数来获得研究区地震动相对变化趋势图的方法。研究表明:土质山体土质河谷基岩山体基岩河谷是研究区地震动变化的基本规律,但因覆盖层厚度和地形条件的不同,具体场地的地震动变化也有不同。总体上,地震动峰值加速度的放大程度主要与近地表V_(s30)相关,V_(s30)越大地震动峰值加速度的放大越小,地震频谱受频率标度地形曲率和覆盖层厚度共同影响,分别在相应的特征频率处放大。该研究可为区域地震动预测提供理论依据,为制定区域长期发展规划和建筑抗震设计提供重要的基础资料,基于场地表征参数研究区域地震动相对变化趋势的方法也可应用于地震烈度速报和地震灾害快速评估等领域。     

Estimation of methane and nitrous oxide emission from paddy fields and uplands during 1990-2000 in Taiwan

To investigate the greenhouse gases emissions from paddy fields and uplands, methane and nitrous oxide emissions were estimated from local measurement and the IPCC guidelines during 1990-2000 in Taiwan. Annual methane emission from 182,807 to 242,298 ha of paddy field in the first crop season ranged from 8,062 to 12,066 ton, and it was between 16,261 and 25,007 ton for 144,178-211,968 ha in the second crop season with local measurement. The value ranged from 12,132 to 17,465 ton, and from 16,046 to 24,762 ton of methane in the first and second crop season with the IPCC guidelines for multiple aeration treatments, respectively. Annual nitrous oxide emission was between 472 and 670 ton and between 236 and 359 ton in the first and second crop season, respectively. Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from uplands depend on crop, growth season, fertilizer application and environmental conditions. Annual methane emission from upland crops, vegetable, fruit, ornamental plants, forage crops and green manure crops was 138-252, 412-460, 97-100, 3-5, 4-5 and 3-51 ton, respectively. Annual nitrous oxide emission was 1,080-1,976, 1,784-1,994, 2,540-2,622, 31-54, 43-53 and 38-582 ton, respectively. Annual nitrous oxide emission ranged from 91 to 132 ton for 77,593-11,2095 ton of nitrogen-fixing crops, from 991 to 1,859 ton for 3,259,731-6,183,441 ton of non-nitrogen-fixing crops, and from 1.77 to 2.22 Gg for 921,169-1,172,594 ton of chemical fertilizer application. In addition, rice hull burning emitted 19.3-24.2 ton of methane and 17.2-21.5 ton of nitrous oxide, and corn stalk burning emitted 2.1-4.2 ton of methane and 1.9-3.8 ton of nitrous oxide. Methane emission from the agriculture sector was 26421-37914 ton, and nitrous oxide emission was 9810-11,649 ton during 1990-2000 in Taiwan. Intermittent irrigation in paddy fields reduces significantly methane emission; appropriate application of nitrogen fertilization and irrigation in uplands and paddy fields also decreases nitrous oxide emission.     

Catalytic wet oxidation of ammonia: why is N2 formed preferentially against NO3 -?

The role of catalyst and the reason for the preferential formation of N(2) in the catalytic oxidation reaction of ammonia in water over a Ru (3wt.%)/TiO(2) catalyst were elucidated. It was verified that the catalyst in the reaction had no direct relevance to the selective formation of N(2), but was responsible only for the oxidation of aqueous ammonia, NH(3)(aq), finally giving a molecule of nitrous acid. The preferential production of N(2) was experimentally demonstrated due to the homogeneous aqueous phase reaction of the nitrous acid-dissociated NO(2)(-) with NH(4)(+) ions. Even under the highly oxidizing condition, NO(2)(-) was much more likely to react with NH(4)(+) to form N(2) than being oxidized over the catalyst to NO(3)(-) as long as NH(4)(+) was available in solution.     

Adsorption/desorption properties of copper ions on the surface of iron-coated sand using BET and EDAX analyses

This study was conducted to develop a heating process for coating hydrated iron oxide on the sand surface to utilise the adsorbent properties of the coating and the filtration properties of the sand. BET and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were used to investigate the surface properties of the coated layer. An energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) technique of analysis was used for characterising metal adsorption sites on the iron-coated sand surface. The results indicated that the iron-coated sand had more micropores and higher specific surface area because of the attachment of iron oxide. Copper ions could penetrate into the micropores and mesopores of iron oxide on sand surface, and the regeneration of the iron-coated sand could be achieved by soaking with pH = 3.0 acid solution. Besides, the results of EDAX analysis showed that copper ions were chemisorbed on the surface of iron-coated sand. Results of the study developed an innovative technology for coating iron oxide on sand surface for the treatment of heavy metal in water.     

Bifunctional catalysts for heterogeneous electro-Fenton processes: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Fenton processes allow to degrade and mineralize toxic organic contaminants, yet classical Fenton processes require continuously adding hydrogen peroxide and...     

Issues concerning the technology transfer of geographic information systems

Many state and local agencies have begun to adopt computer technology as a means of upgrading existing mapping and related practices. These agencies are faced with the dualism of wanting modern technology within a traditional setting and demanding technological independence at the same time. This article is an account of the art of technology transfers, with discussions about the necessary ingredients and constraints in the identification, adaptation, absorption, implementation, diffusion, and evaluation of new technologies. In general, a systematic approach towards the strengthening of endogenous capabilities with sufficient provision for operational and policy changes may be preferable to the idea of comprehensive planning.     

Integrating Social Marketing into Sustainable Resource Management at Padre Island National Seashore: An Attitude-Based Segmentation Approach

High demand for outdoor recreation and increasing diversity in outdoor recreation participants have imposed a great challenge on the National Park Service (NPS), which is tasked with the mission to provide open access for quality outdoor recreation and maintain the ecological integrity of the park system. In addition to management practices of education and restrictions, building a sense of natural resource stewardship among visitors may also facilitate the NPS ability to react to this challenge. The purpose of our study is to suggest a segmentation approach that is built on the social marketing framework and aimed at influencing visitor behaviors to support conservation. Attitude toward natural resource management, an indicator of natural resource stewardship, is used as the basis for segmenting park visitors. This segmentation approach is examined based on a survey of 987 visitors to the Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) in Texas in 2003. Results of the K-means cluster analysis identify three visitor segments: Conservation-Oriented, Development-Oriented, and Status Quo visitors. This segmentation solution is verified using respondents’ socio-demographic backgrounds, use patterns, experience preferences, and attitudes toward a proposed regulation. Suggestions are provided to better target the three visitor segments and facilitate a sense of natural resource stewardship among them.