南水北调中线工程对汉江中下游工业发展的影响

南水北调中线工程计划从丹江口水库向我国北方每年调水１４５亿ｍ＾３,汉江丹江口以下地区的水资源量将随之相应减少。汉江中下游地区是湖北省盐化工、机械、石油、食品、化肥、电力的重要生产地区,是湖北省的汽车工业走廊,其经济在湖北省占有举足轻重的地位。由于经济的迅速发展,下世纪工农业生产和人民生活对水资源的需求将从现在的１４０亿ｍ＾３增加到２５０亿ｍ＾３以上,需水量将达到水资源量的５８％,潜伏着严重的水资源     

Experimental study on the effect of fly ash content in cemented paste backfill on its anti-sulfate erosion

ABSTRACT

In order to study the effect of fly ash content in cemented paste backfill (CPB) on its anti-sulfate erosion, the apparent phenomenon, strength development, and hydration products change the law of CPB with different fly ash content under long-term soaking of 5% sodium sulfate solution were studied by the macrotest and microanalysis, in addition, the mechanism of CPB anti-sulfate attack was analyzed by combining with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicated that the effect of sulfate environment on the strength of fly ash cemented paste backfill (FCPB) was mainly determined by the hydration products in the FCPB at different soaking times. In the early soaking stage, the formation of ettringite (AFt) in FCPB could improve its compactness, which was conducive to improving the strength of FCPB. In the late soaking stage, there were ettringite-type erosion damage and gypsum erosion-type damage internal of the FCPB with low content fly ash, resulting in microfracture, cracking of the FCPB, and reducing the strength. CPB with an appropriate content of fly ash could improve the internal structure of the FCPB to achieve the purpose of anti-sulfate erosion.     

Anaerobic Biodegradation of Blends Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol

The presented work deals with blends composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and biopolymers (protein hydrolysate, starch, lignin). PVA does not belong to biologically inert plastics but its degradation rate (particularly under anaerobic conditions) is low. A potential solution to the issue problem lies in preparation of blends with readily degradable substrates. We studied degradation of blow-molded films made of commercial PVA and mentioned biopolymers in an aqueous anaerobic environment employing inoculation with digested activated sludge from the municipal wastewater treatment plant. Films prepared in the first experimental series were to be used for comparing biodegradation of blends modified with native or plasticized starch; in this case effect of plasticization was not proved. The degree of PVA degradation after modification with native or plasticized starch increases in a striking and practically same manner already at a starch level as low as approximately 5 wt.%. Films of the second experimental series were prepared as additionally modified with protein hydrolysate and lignin. Only lignin-modified samples exhibited a somewhat lower degree of biodegradation but regarding the measure of lignin present in blend this circumstance is not essential. Level of biodegradation with all discussed films differed only slightly—within range of experimental error.     

Simulating urban waste compost effects on carbon and nitrogen dynamics using a biochemical index

Composting has emerged as a valuable route for the disposal of urban waste, with the prospect of applying composts on arable fields as organic amendments. Proper management of urban waste composts (UWCs) requires a capacity to predict their effects on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the field, an issue in which simulation models are expected to play a prominent role. However, the parameterization of soil organic amendments within such models generally requires laboratory incubation data. Here, we evaluated the benefit of using a biochemical index based on Van Soest organic matter fractions to parameterize a deterministic model of soil C and N dynamics, NCSOIL, as compared with a standard alternative based on laboratory incubation data. The data included C mineralization and inorganic N dynamics in samples of a silt loam soil (Typic Hapludalf) mixed with various types of UWC and farmyard manure. NCSOIL successfully predicted the various nitrogen mineralization-immobilization patterns observed, but underestimated CO(2) release by 10 to 30% with the less stable amendments. The parameterization based on the biochemical index achieved a prediction error significantly larger than the standard parameterization in only 10% of the tested cases, and provided an acceptable fit to experimental data. The decomposition rates and C to N ratios of compost organic matter varied chiefly according to the type of waste processed. However, 62 to 66% of their variance could be explained by the biochemical index. We thus suggest using the latter to parameterize organic amendments in C and N models as a substitute for time-consuming laboratory incubations.     

Differences in the effects of simulated sea aerosol on water relations, salt content, and leaf ultrastructure of rock-rose plants

White-leaf rock-rose (Cistus albidus L.) and Montpellier rock-rose (C. monspeliensis L.) plants were sprayed 2 to 3 min per day over a 7-d period, in an unheated plastic greenhouse, with different aqueous solutions containing deionized water alone (control); an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate 82.5%, 50 mg L(-1)) (S1); a solution simulating the composition of sea aerosol (S2); and a solution simulating sea aerosol with anionic surfactant (S3). White-leaf rock-rose was more sensitive to sea aerosol, showing greater leaf damage and markedly decreased growth, and the presence of surfactant enhanced the phytotoxic effect leading to greater increases in mortality. Montpellier rock-rose did not appear to be more adversely affected when surfactant was used in combination with sea aerosol, and manifested slight or less severe symptoms than white-leaf rock-rose. There was a significant increase in leaf turgor potential in the plants treated with both sea aerosol treatments by osmotic adjustment effect. The decrease in photosynthesis level seems to be due to both stomatal and nonstomatal factors. The results of microscopical analysis of Montpellier rock-rose plants show that sea aerosol treatment caused alterations in the chloroplast structure, reducing the starch grain and swelling the thylakoid membranes. The results of this study indicated that Montpellier rock-rose was more tolerant to sea aerosol than white-leaf rock-rose, showing a lower reduction in plant growth and less leaf damage, probably because of its ability to compartmentalize the toxic ions at the intracellular level.     

A new method for testing the sensitivity of active biomonitoring: an example of its application to a terrestrial moss

For the first time, the concepts of limit of detection and limit of quantification, commonly used in analytical chemistry, are applied to the field of active biomonitoring with terrestrial mosses, using the controls as blanks so that the limits indicate the error associated with the transplant technique. The application of these concepts to data corresponding to Hg concentrations in the surroundings of a chlor-alkali plant and a power plant, makes interpretation of the results easier by providing better spatial and temporal coherence. This procedure may allow improvement in the standardization of active biomonitoring techniques as it is applicable to all kinds of biomonitors. One disadvantage of the application of the limit of detection and limit of quantification is that they only take into account the alpha error, or risk of false positives, and do not take into account the beta error, or risk of false negatives.     

Mineralisation of Monuron photoinduced by Fe(III) in aqueous solution

The degradation of Monuron (3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) photoinduced by Fe(III) in aqueous solution has been investigated. The rate of degradation depends on the concentration of Fe(OH)2+, the most photoreactive species in terms of *OH radical formation. These *OH radicals are able to degrade Monuron until total mineralisation. The primordial role of the speciation of Fe(III)-hydroxy complex in aqueous solution, for the efficiency of the elimination of pollutant, was shown and explained in detail. The formation of Fe(II) in the irradiated solution was monitored and correlated with the total organic carbon evolution. Degradation photoproducts were identified and a mechanism of degradation is proposed.     

Assessment of contamination by heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments of Montevideo Harbour (Uruguay)

As part of the first environmental assessment within Montevideo Harbour, in summer and winter of 1998, sediments samples were collected at eight locations to determine the spatial distribution of anthropogenic pollutants. Muddy sediments with high organic matter content dominate the study area. Heavy metal levels indicated that sediments were highly polluted with Zn (overall mean: 312+/-102 microg g(-1) dry sediment), Pb (85+/-31), Cu (89+/-25), Cr (162+/-62), and Hg (0.63+/-0.3) and moderately with Ni (30+/-2) and Ag (1.2+/-0.4). Depending on location and season, aliphatic hydrocarbons reached from 21 to 120 microg g(-1), while the unresolved complex mixture represented up to 76% of the total aliphatic fraction. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 1.56 to 90.44 microg g(-1); except at one location, petroleum derivatives were identified as main local source. The results pointed out that almost all the harbour area presented some substances that can cause adverse biological effects, especially in the inner region where all metals are above PEL levels. Principal components analysis confirmed that the inner harbour region is most severely affected by the pollutants and it was possible to differentiate three regions according to their environmental quality.     

Uranium-238 and thorium-232 series concentrations in soil, radon-222 indoor and drinking water concentrations and dose assessment in the city of Aldama, Chihuahua, Mexico

High-resolution gamma spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th series in soil samples taken from areas surrounding the city of Aldama, in Chihuahua. Results of indoor air short-time sampling, with diffusion barrier charcoal detectors, revealed relatively high indoor radon levels, ranging from 29 to 422 Bq/m3; the radon concentrations detected exceeded 148 Bq/m3 in 76% of the homes tested. Additionally, liquid scintillation counting showed concentrations of radon in drinking water ranging from 4.3 to 42 kBq/m3. The high activity of 238U in soil found in some places may be a result of the uranium milling process performed 20 years ago in the area. High radon concentrations indoor and in water may be explained by assuming the presence of uranium-bearing rocks underneath of the city, similar to a felsic dike located near Aldama. The estimated annual effective dose of gamma radiation from the soil and radon inhalation was 3.83 mSv.