Heavy Metal Contents and Magnetic Properties of Playground Dust in Hong Kong

This study examined the levels of seven heavy metals (namelyzinc, copper, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese and iron) andtheir associations with magnetic properties in playground dustof Hong Kong. Results showed that the playground dust containedhigh concentrations of Zn (mean = 1883 g g^-1), Cu(mean = 143 g g^-1) and Cr (mean = 263 g g^-1).Qualitative examination of dust samples under microscope indicated local traffic as one of the important pollutant sources. Magnetic measurements indicated that these anthropogenicpollutants mainly consisted of coarse-grained multidomain (MD) ferrimagnetic minerals. Superparamagnetic (SP), stable single domain (SSD) ferrimagnetic grains and non-ferrimagnetic mineralswere present in relatively small amounts. Significant correlations between heavy metals and various magnetic parametersindicated a strong affinity of heavy metals to magnetic minerals hence pointed out the potential of magnetic properties for simpleand rapid proxy indications of heavy metal pollution in playground dust.     

Effect of compaction on soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes from tropical peatland in Sarawak,Malaysia

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Tropical peatland stores a large amount of carbon (C) and is an important C sink. In Malaysia, about 25% of the peatland area has been converted to oil...     

空气微生物采样方法的比较

对3种空气微生物采样方法进行了比较。结果表明,在室外自然条件下,大气细菌粒子的沉降量与大气细菌粒子的浓度、大气真菌粒子的沉降量与大气真菌粒子的浓度均呈显著的正相关关系。对大气细菌粒子,用平皿沉降法分别与A·S采样器法、THK－201采样器法测定的结果相比,有非常显著的差异。平皿沉降法测定结果比后二者方法高出2.9倍和4.0倍;A·S采样器和THK－201采样器测定结果之间没有显著性差异。对大气真菌粒子,A·S采样器法和平皿沉降法与THK－201采样器法均有非常显著性差异;平皿沉降法与A·S采样器法测定结果之间没有显著性差异。进一步用直线回归分析的方法,得出了大气细菌粒子浓度与大气细菌粒子沉降量及大气真菌粒子浓度与大气真菌粒子沉降量之间的关系式。     

原料对餐厨垃圾堆肥产品的影响及其绿地应用适宜性分析

以果蔬残余(VW)、食物残余(FL)及混配餐厨垃圾(MIX)为原料,用生化处理机进行堆肥处理,分别测定比较堆肥产品的肥力特性和污染特性,并探讨其绿地应用适宜性。研究表明,总氮、总磷和有机质含量MIX>VW>FL,均值分别为23.8、3.88和525 g/kg,符合相关标准;重金属及可挥发性有机污染物含量很低,除FL产品的镍含量外均未超标;氯离子、动植物油含量均值分别高达11.1 g/kg和37.9 g/kg,施用于绿地时应控制用量;含水率、杂质含量较高,有臭味;种子发芽指数(GI)除MIX外均未达到50%。可见,原料对堆肥终产物有显著影响,VW比FL更适宜用于生产肥料,MIX产品比单一成分堆肥产品养分更均衡,毒性更低;餐厨垃圾肥料的绿地应用具有广阔前景,但需严格控制盐分及油脂含量,并改善堆肥工艺以提高产品质量。     

Residents’ concerns and attitudes toward a municipal solid waste landfill: integrating a questionnaire survey and GIS techniques

The ever-growing industry of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal appeals to the growing need for disposal facilities, and MSW treatment facilities are increasingly an environmental and public health concern. Residents living near MSW management facilities are confronted with various risk perceptions, especially odour. In this study, in an effort to assist responsible decision-makers in better planning and managing such a project, a structured questionnaire was designed and distributed to assess the nearby residents’ concerns and attitudes surrounding the Laogang Landfill in Shanghai. Geographic information system techniques and relevance analysis were employed to conduct the spatial analysis of physical perceptions, especially odour annoyance. The findings of the research indicate that a significant percentage of the responding sample was aware of the negative impacts of landfills on the environment and public health, and residents in close proximity preferred to live farther from the landfill. The results from the spatial analysis demonstrated a definite degree of correlation between odour annoyance and distance to the facility and proved that the benefits of the socially disadvantaged have been neglected. The research findings also direct attention to the important role of public participation, information disclosure, transparency in management, and mutual communication to avoid conflicts and build social trust.     

市政污泥与不同烟煤混合燃烧特性

使用非等温热重法,研究了淮北烟煤和神华烟煤在6种不同市政污泥掺混比条件下对混合燃烧特性的影响,并对混合燃烧过程的动力学特性进行了分析。实验结果表明:污泥与煤的混合燃烧特性从总体上表现为污泥与煤共同作用的结果,最优的污泥掺混比受到煤种的影响。在不同煤中污泥掺烧比少于20%对煤的活性影响较小。活化性能较差的淮北烟煤在污泥掺混比为30%时,在不同的温度区间分别表现出污泥与煤的反应特征。活化性能较好的神华烟煤在污泥掺混比为40%时表现这一趋势。     

Selective redox degradation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds by Fenton reaction in pyrite suspension

Selective redox degradation of chlorinated aliphatics by Fenton reaction in pyrite suspension was investigated in a closed system. Carbon tetrachloride (CT) was used as a representative target of perchlorinated alkanes and trichloroethylene (TCE) was used as one of highly chlorinated alkenes. Degradation of CT in Fenton reaction was significantly enhanced by pyrite used as an iron source instead of soluble Fe. Pyrite Fenton showed 93% of CT removal in 140 min, while Fenton reaction with soluble Fe(II) showed 52% and that with Fe(III) 15%. Addition of 2-propanol to the pyrite Fenton system significantly inhibited degradation of TCE (99% to 44% of TCE removal), while degradation of CT was slightly improved by the 2-propanol addition (80-91% of CT removal). The result suggests that, unlike oxidative degradation of TCE by hydroxyl radical in pyrite Fenton system, an oxidation by the hydroxyl radical is not a main degradation mechanism for the degradation of CT in pyrite Fenton system but a reductive dechlorination by superoxide can rather be the one for the CT degradation. The degradation kinetics of CT in the pyrite Fenton system was decelerated (0.13-0.03 min⁻¹), as initial suspension pH decreased from 3 to 2. The formation of superoxide during the CT degradation in the pyrite Fenton system was observed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The formation at initial pH 3 was greater than that at initial pH 2, which supported that superoxide was a main reductant for degradation of CT in the pyrite Fenton system.     

含铁物质对燃煤污染特性的影响

利用DTA-TG-DTG设备实验研究了FeCl₃、FeCl₂和Fe₂O₃等含铁物质对燃煤污染特性的影响.结果表明:实验所用的几种含铁化合物均能够改变燃煤污染物的排放规律,但不同种类的含铁物质对燃煤污染特性影响机理不同,所取得的污染物减排效果也不同.在煤燃烧以及煤中S与N向SO₂及NO转化的过程中,FeCl₃既起到催化剂的作用,同时又起吸收剂的作用.FeCl₃催化作用表现在降低了SO₂和NO生成反应的表观活化能,使SO₂和NO能够在较低温度时迅速形成,加快了SO₂和NO生成反应的速率.FeCl₃的催化效果与S在煤中的存在形态有关.FeCl₃的吸收作用表现在FeCl₃本身能够参与SO₂的吸收反应生成FeSO₄或Fe₂(SO₄)₃.此外,FeCl₃还能够改变CO的排放特性,即能够改变煤的燃烧特性.FeCl₂对烟气中SO₂、NO和CO排放特性的影响与FeCl₃相似,但影响效果比FeCl₂₃略差.Fe₂O₃也能够降低烟气中SO₂和NO的体积分数,但Fe₂O₄只是吸收剂,对SO₂和NO的生成过程没有催化作用.Fe₂O₃对CO排放特性的影响不大.     

Carbon emissions from the peat fire problem—a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Peat fires in tropical peatland release a substantial amount of carbon into the environment and cause significant harm to peatlands and the ecology,...     

Residential Preferences for River Network Improvement: An Exploration of Choice Experiments in Zhujiajiao,Shanghai, China

River networks have both ecological and social benefits for urban development. However, river networks have suffered extensive destruction as a result of urbanization and industrialization, especially in China. River restoration is a growth business but suffers poor efficiency due to a lack of social understanding. Assessing the benefits of river system restoration and recognizing public preferences are critical for effective river ecosystem restoration and sustainable river management. This study used a choice experiment with a multinomial logit model and a random parameter logit model to assess respondents’ cognitive preferences regarding attributes of river networks, and their possible sources of heterogeneity. Results showed that riverfront condition was the attribute most preferred by respondents, while stream morphology was the least preferred. Results also illustrated that the current status of each of three river network attributes was not desirable, and respondents would prefer a river network with a “branch pattern,” that is “limpid with no odor,” and “accessible with vegetation.” Estimated willingness to pay was mainly affected by household monthly income, residential location, and whether respondents had household members engaged in a water protection career. The assessment results can provide guidance and a reference for managers, sponsors, and researchers.