Combined effect of adsorption and biodegradation of biological activated carbon on H2S biotrickling filtration

In order to evaluate the combined effect of adsorption and biodegradation of H(2)S on activated carbon surface in biotrickling filtration, four laboratory-scale biofiltration columns were operated simultaneously for 120h to investigate the mechanisms involved in treating synthetic H(2)S streams using biological activated carbon (BAC). The first three columns (A, B, C) contained a mixture of activated carbon and glass beads, with the carbons (BAC or virgin activated carbon (VAC)) and conditions (with or without liquid medium recirculation) differentiated. The last column (D) used 100% glass beads with liquid medium recirculation. Air streams containing 45ppmv H(2)S were passed through the columns at 4s of gas retention time (GRT) and liquid flow rate was set at 0.71mlmin(-1). Column D got its breakthrough in 3min of operation, indicating a negligible contribution of glass beads to the adsorption of H(2)S. The removal efficiency (RE) of Columns B and C using VAC dropped quickly to 30% within the first 8h, and afterwards continued to drop further but slowly. Column A using BAC stayed at 25% of RE throughout the operation time. A thorough investigation of the H(2)S oxidation products, i.e., various S species in both aqueous (recirculation media) and solid phases (BAC and VAC), was conducted using ICP-OES, IC, XRF, and CHNS elemental analyzer. BAC demonstrated a better performance than columns with adsorption only. Water film was found to enhance H(2)S removal. The percentage of sulphate in the total sulphur of the BAC system improved to twice of that of VAC system, indicating sulphate is the main product of H(2)S biofiltration. The observed pH drop in BAC system double confirmed that the presence of biodegradation in the biofilm over carbon surface did profound effect on the oxidation of H(2)S, compare to the systems with adsorption only.     

Land Use and Climate Variability Amplify Carbon,Nutrient, and Contaminant Pulses: A Review with Management Implications

Nonpoint source pollution from agriculture and urbanization is increasing globally at the same time climate extremes have increased in frequency and intensity. We review >200 studies of hydrologic and gaseous fluxes and show how the interaction between land use and climate variability alters magnitude and frequency of carbon, nutrient, and greenhouse gas pulses in watersheds. Agricultural and urban watersheds respond similarly to climate variability due to headwater alteration and loss of ecosystem services to buffer runoff and temperature changes. Organic carbon concentrations/exports increase and organic carbon quality changes with runoff. Nitrogen and phosphorus exports increase during floods (sometimes by an order of magnitude) and decrease during droughts. Relationships between annual runoff and nitrogen and phosphorus exports differ across land use. CH₄ and N₂O pulses in riparian zones/floodplains predominantly increase with: flooding, warming, low oxygen, nutrient enrichment, and organic carbon. CH₄, N₂O, and CO₂ pulses in streams/rivers increase due to similar factors but effects of floods are less known compared to base flow/droughts. Emerging questions include: (1) What factors influence lag times of contaminant pulses in response to extreme events? (2) What drives resistance/resilience to hydrologic and gaseous pulses? We conclude with eight recommendations for managing watershed pulses in response to interactive effects of land use and climate change.     

石家庄市PM_（2.5）的污染现状及防控对策

通过对石家庄市PM2.524 h质量浓度监测结果的分析,发现PM2.5的污染指数范围是84~242,污染指数最高点出现在高新区,最低点出现在封龙山。导致PM2.5高污染指数的影响因素有气象、地理、机动车保有量和石家庄工业结构。因此从减少扬尘、控制机动车尾气排放量、工业污染防治、环保及气象部门协作等方面提出了PM2.5的防控对策。     

松花江哨口至松花江村段浮游植物光合作用产氧模型研究

为研究松花江哨口至松花江村江段的水环境容量,本文从浮游植物光合作用机理出发,利用连续３年多项指标实测资料,采用外包线法,初步确定一种浮游植物光合作用产氧率计算关系式。将这种方法应用于研究江段效果较好,经相关性检验,r＝0.90,r＞r_0.01,相关性极显著。该计算式能否用于哨口至松花江村以外的江段,尚需进一步验证。     

西藏“一江两河”流域中部地区草地资源特点

（西藏“一江两河”流域中部地区是自治区工农业经济最集中发达的地区，畜牧业生产在本区农业经济中占有一定的比重。本文阐述了本区草地的资源状况，生产力特点及草地的分布规律。研究发现：本区草地面积５２５．４万ｈａ，草地类型较复杂，垂直分布明显，牧草组成较丰富，营养价值较高。但草地生产力水平较低，平均产草量为１２７５－１３５０ｋｇ／ｈａ。从草地资源的水平分布格局看，存在着明显的南北差异，雅鲁藏布江以北占６３％以上。从时间分布看，存在着明显的季节性差异，其冬季的草地现存量仅为秋季的１０－３０％，但本区饲草饲料构成、分布格局与畜牧业生产是相协调的，构成了一个相对匹配的草地畜牧业整体。     

CF2ClBr在短紫外光照射下光解离过程的研究

以低压汞为激发光源,气相色谱和红外光谱为主要分析手段,研究了气态ＣＦ２ＣｌＢｒ在１８５ｎｍ紫外光照射下的光解离过程及其人在Ｏ２存在下的光氧化机理,发现ＣＦ２ＣｌＢｒ在１８５ｎｍ紫外光照射下的主要产物ＣＦ２Ｂｒ２ＣＦ２Ｃｌ２和Ｃｌ２,Ｂｒ２,而当Ｏ２存在时,主要光解产物为ＣＦ２Ｏ,在本实验条件下,纯ＣＦ２ＣｌＢｒ极限分解率约为２６％,在ＣＦ２ＣｌＢｒ－Ｏ２体系中,ＣＦ２ＣｌＢｒ的解离为一级反应,速率     

Characteristics of carbonyls and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in residences in Beijing,China

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbonyl compounds were measured both indoors and outdoors in 50 residences of Beijing in heating (December, 2011) and non-heating seasons (April/May, 2012). SUMMA canisters for VOCs and diffusive samplers for carbonyl compounds were deployed for 24 h at each site, and 94 compounds were quantified. Formaldehyde, acetone and acetaldehyde were the most abundant carbonyl compounds both indoors and outdoors with indoor median concentrations being 32.1, 21.7 and 15.3 μg·m⁻³, respectively. Ethane (17.6 μg·m⁻³), toluene (14.4 μg·m⁻³), propane (11.2 μg·m⁻³), ethene (8.40 μg·m⁻³), n-butane (6.87 μg·m⁻³), and benzene (5.95 μg·m⁻³) showed the high median concentrations in indoor air. Dichloromethane, p-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) and toluene exhibited extremely high levels in some residences, which were related with a number of indoor emission sources. Moreover, isoprene, p-dichlorobenzene and carbonyls showed median indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios larger than 3, indicating their indoor sources were prevailing. Chlorinated compounds like CFCs were mainly from outdoor sources for their I/O ratios being less than 1. In addition, indoor concentrations between two sampling seasons varied with different compounds. Carbonyl compounds and some chlorinated compounds had higher concentrations in the non-heating season, while alkanes, alkenes, aromatic compounds showed an increase in the heating season. Indoor concentration of VOCs and carbonyls were influenced by locations, interior decorations and indoor activities, however the specific sources for indoor VOCs and carbonyls could not be easily identified. The findings obtained in this study would significantly enhance our understandings on the prevalent and abundant species of VOCs as well as their concentrations and sources in Beijing residences.     

U-shaped microRNA expression pattern could be a new concept biomarker for environmental estrogen

Many studies have focused on environmental estrogen-related diseases. However, no consistent gene markers or signatures for estrogenicity have been discovered in mammals. This study investigated the estrogenic effects of 17β-estradiol on the prostate in immature male mice. Consistent U-shaped responses were seen in bodyweight, ventral prostate epithelial morphology, and miRNA expression levels. Specifically, most estradiol regulated miRNAs were downregulated at low doses of estradiol (0.2 and 2 mg·kg^–1), and whose expression returned to the control level at a larger dose (200 mg·kg^–1). The function of these regulated miRNAs is related to the prostate cancer and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, which is consistent with the function of estradiol. Furthermore, the miRNA-processing machinery, Drosha, in the prostate was also regulated in a similar pattern, which could be a part of the U-shaped miRNA expression mechanism. All of these data indicate that the prostate is a reliable organ for evaluating estrogenic activity and that the typical nonmonotonic dose-response relationship could be used as a novel biomarker for estrogenicity.

Open image in new window

     

Microalgae cultivation and culture medium recycling by a two-stage cultivation system

Nutrients and water play an important role in microalgae cultivation. Using wastewater as a culture medium is a promising alternative to recycle nutrients and water, and for further developing microalgae-based products. In the present study, two species of microalgae, Chlorella sp. (high ammonia nitrogen tolerance) and Spirulina platensis (S. platensis, high growth rate), were cultured by using poultry wastewater through a two-stage cultivation system for algal biomass production. Ultrafiltration (UF) or centrifuge was used to harvest Chlorella sp. from the first cultivation stage and to recycle culture medium for S. platensis growth in the second cultivation stage. Results showed the two-stage cultivation system produced high microalgae biomass including 0.39 g·L^–1Chlorella sp. and 3.45 g·L^–1S. platensis in the first-stage and second-stage, respectively. In addition, the removal efficiencies of NH₄⁺ reached 19% and almost 100% in the first and the second stage, respectively. Total phosphorus (TP) removal reached 17% and 83%, and total organic carbon (TOC) removal reached 55% and 72% in the first and the second stage, respectively. UF and centrifuge can recycle 96.8% and 100% water, respectively. This study provides a new method for the combined of pure microalgae cultivation and wastewater treatment with culture medium recycling.

Open image in new window

     

Take back and treatment of discarded electronics: a scientific update

This paper indicates that the performance of tack-back and treatment of electronic waste (e-waste) system can be improved substantially. This can be reached by better taking into account in a better way the big variety in material composition and potential toxicity of electrical and electronic products - from a technical, organizational and regulatory perspective. Realizing that there is no ‘one size fit for all’ and combining smart tailor made solutions with economic of sale will result in the best environmental gain/cost ratio. Several examples show how science and engineering have supported or will support this approach.