Control strategies of atmospheric mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in China

Atmospheric mercury (Hg) emission from coal is one of the primary sources of anthropogenic discharge and pollution. China is one of the few countries in the world whose coal consumption constitutes about 70% of total primary energy, and over half of coals are burned directly for electricity generation. Atmospheric emissions of Hg and its speciation from coal-fired power plants are of great concern owing to their negative impacts on regional human health and ecosystem risks, as well as long-distance transport. In this paper, recent trends of atmospheric Hg emissions and its species split from coal-fired power plants in China during the period of 2000-2007 are evaluated, by integrating each plant's coal consumption and emission factors, which are classified by different subcategories of boilers, particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) control devices. Our results show that the total Hg emissions from coal-fired power plants have begun to decrease from the peak value of 139.19 t in 2005 to 134.55 t in 2007, though coal consumption growing steadily from 1213.8 to 1532.4 Mt, which can be mainly attributed to the co-benefit Hg reduction by electrostatic precipitators/fabric filters (ESPs/FFs) and wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD), especially the sharp growth in installation of WFGD both in the new and existing power plants since 2005. In the coming 12th five-year-plan, more and more plants will be mandated to install De-NO(x) (nitrogen oxides) systems (mainly selective catalytic reduction [SCR] and selective noncatalytic reduction [SNCR]) for minimizing NO(x) emission, thus the specific Hg emission rate per ton of coal will decline further owing to the much higher co-benefit removal efficiency by the combination of SCR + ESPs/FFs + WFGD systems. Consequently, SCR + ESPs/FFs + WFGD configuration will be the main path to abate Hg discharge from coal-fired power plants in China in the near future. However advanced specific Hg removal technologies are necessary for further reduction of elemental Hg discharge in the long-term.     

Bioaccessibility of arsenic in various types of rice in an in vitro gastrointestinal fluid system

Rice can be a major contributor to dietary arsenic exposure because of the relatively high total arsenic concentration compared to other grains, especially for people whose main staple is rice. This study employed in vitro gastrointestinal fluid digestion to determine bioaccessible or gastrointestinal fluid extractable arsenic concentration in rice. Thirty-one rice samples, of which 60 % were grown in the United States, were purchased from food stores in New York City. Total arsenic concentrations in these samples ranged from 0.090 ± 0.004 to 0.85 ± 0.03 mg/kg with a mean value of 0.275 ± 0.161 mg/kg (n = 31). Rice samples with relatively high total arsenic (>0.20 mg/kg, n = 18) were treated by in vitro artificial gastrointestinal fluid digestion, and the extractable arsenic ranged from 53 % to 102 %. The bioaccessibility of arsenic in rice decreases in the general order of extra long grain, long grain, long grain parboiled, to brown rices.     

Performance of hybrid vertical up- and downflow subsurface flow constructed wetlands in treating synthetic high-strength wastewater

The performance and temporal variation of hybrid vertical-subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) in response to two-stage combinations of vertical upflow (VUF) and vertical downflow (VDF) were analyzed in this research. The results of high carbon (C) treatment and high nitrogen (N) treatment were similar. The Lythrum salicaria treatment showed higher removal efficiency than CWs planted with Acorus calamus. Under high C- and N-loading treatments, the optimum two-stage combination was VDF-VUF VFCWs planted with A. calamus. Furthermore, the highest nutrient removal efficiencies were achieved in late summer (July and August) and early autumn (September). The chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen removal efficiencies were significantly affected (P?<?0.05) by season, system, and wetland plant.     

Effects of pH, Fe, and Cd on the uptake of Fe2+ and Cd2+ by rice

The rhizosphere plays an important role in altering cadmium (Cd) solubility in paddy soils and Cd accumulation in rice. However, more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism controlling rice Cd solubility and bioavailability under different rhizosphere conditions to explain the discrepancy of previous studies. A rice culture with nutrient solution and vermiculite was conducted to assess the effects of pH, Eh, and iron (Fe) concentration on Cd, Fe fractions on the vermiculite/root surface and their uptake by rice. The solution pH was set from 4.5 to 7.5, with additions of Fe (30 and 50 mg L^?1) and Cd (0.5 and 0.9 mg L^?1). At pH 5.5, the Eh in the rice rhizosphere was higher whereas transpiration, Cd²⁺, and Fe²⁺ adsorption on the vermiculite/root surface and accumulation in rice were lower than the other pH treatments. Cadmium addition had no impact on pH and Eh in rice rhizosphere while Fe addition decreased pH and increased Eh significantly. Compared with control, Fe addition resulted in the decrease of rhizosphere Cd, Fe solubility and bioavailability. Higher redox potential in the rice rhizosphere resulted in the decline of transpiration, Cd, and Fe accumulation in the rice tissues, suggesting that the transfer of two elements from soil to rice was depressed when the rhizosphere was more oxidized.     

Aquatic plant debris improve phosphorus sorption into sediment under anoxic condition

The effects of plant debris on phosphorus sorption by anoxic sediment were investigated. Addition of plant debris significantly enhanced the decrease of soluble relative phosphorus (SRP) in overlying water at both 10 and 30 °C during the 30-day investigation. Both cellulose and glucose, two typical plant components, also clearly enhanced the SRP decrease in anoxic overlying water. The measurement of phosphorus (P) fractions in sediment revealed that the levels of unstable P forms were decreased by plant debris addition, whereas the opposites were true for stable P forms. However, under sterilized condition, plant debris/glucose addition has no effect on the SRP decrease in overlying water. Overall, our results suggested that plant debris improve P sorption into sediment under anoxic condition through a microorganism-mediated mechanism.     

中国排污权有偿使用与交易实证的比较研究

建立排污权有偿使用与交易制度对于解决过高的环境治理成本问题具有重要作用.总结了中国排污权有偿使用与交易试点地区的实践经验,梳理并分析了不同时期、不同地区的交易模式、组织过程和主要方法,以期推动中国排污权交易工作的顺利开展和有序推进,进而推动符合国情的排污权交易政策体系的构建.结果表明,总体而言各试点地区的排污权有偿使用和交易在探索中不断发展,取得了积极成效:促进了环境管理的精细化,为地方经济的发展提供了空间,促进了环境质量改善.最后还指出,中国的排污权有偿使用和交易工作中仍存在政策制度建设支撑不足、交易市场活跃度不高、后期监管不力等问题,今后应依法依规,始终坚持由易到难、积极稳妥、重点突破的原则,由点到面、有序推进试点工作.     

添加VT菌剂和有机物料腐熟齐对堆肥的影响

通过在高温好氧堆肥中分别添加VT菌剂和有机物料腐熟剂,研究接种3％o的VT菌剂和有机物料腐熟剂促进堆肥的作用效果。结果表明,接种VT菌剂的处理与空白和接种有机物料腐熟剂的处理相比,堆肥初期升温更快;高温期更长;堆肥结束时,C／N降低的多,NO3-N增加的多,NH4-N挥发的少,接种VT菌剂和VT有机物料腐熟剂都可促进有机质的充分降解,缩短堆肥时间,加快堆肥腐熟,提高堆肥肥力。     

低浓度LAS对活性污泥性质和去除污染物行为的影响

采用SBR处理模拟废水,考察了不同浓度阴离子表面活性剂——烷基苯磺酸钠（LAS）对反应器活性污泥的影响。实验结果表明,低浓度表面活性剂LAS的投加,有利于提高SBR中活性污泥对COD和氨氮处理效率,并且活性污泥的沉降性以及微生物活性也随着LAS投加浓度的升高而升高。但是,当LAS的投加浓度过高时（1 mg/L）,污泥表面产生起泡、乳化和微粒悬浮等现象,使大量固体陷入漂浮泡沫层,降低曝气池的充氧效率,最终导致污泥解体,沉降性变差,活性下降。     

山地城市合流污水特细砂粒径特征及分布

对山地城市合流污水特细砂粒径特征参数及分布研究的结果表明,晴、雨天合流污水细砂平均粒径D(3,4)均小于250μm,且含量高,属于特细砂;新旧城区排水体制、山地地貌、降雨强度、雨前晴天数、用地性质、水土流失等因素均会对山地城市合流污水特细砂粒径特征和分布等造成影响。涪陵污水处理厂进水含砂量高达183.9 mg/L,平均粒径为182.6μm,粒径偏小,超出沉砂池有效去除范围;大量特细砂进入曝气池后,堵塞管道、磨损设备等,给污水处理厂运行带来一系列不利影响。