Non-UV based germicidal activity of metal-doped TiO2 coating on solid surfaces

A stain-based screening method was developed to screen different catalyst coatings for their germicidal activity. A Baclight dead/live bacteria viability kit （invitrogen, molecular probes） was used for staining the cell. The screening was carried out following a standard procedure. This included loading cell suspension to solid surface and maintaining contact for 30 min, then staining with a mixture containing dyes. The stained cells were observed using an epifluorescent microscope and photographed with a CCD camera under UV. Metal-doped TiO2 coatings on AI plates were prepared and tested for non-UV germicidal activity without using UV. It was tested using model microorganisms such as Bakers Yeast （Saccharomyces cerevisiae）, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida, and Escherichia coli. On the basis of the germicidal activity of catalyst and the degree of damage caused to the cells, the stained cells may appear green （viable）, green with red or yellow nuclei and yellow （compromised） or red （nonviable）. According to their stained color, cells were counted to calculate the percentage of dead, live, and compromised cells. Compromised cells are cells that grow very slowly after reculturing indicating a degree of reversible cell damage. Screening the germicidal activity using this staining method is accurate and efficient, and requires less time than the culture-based method. A modification to the procedure for measuring germicidal activity of rough surfaces or fibrous coatings was developed. Both TiO2 and metal-doped TiO2 （Ag, Pt, Au, Cu） possess non-UV based germicidal activity. The germicidal activity of TiO2 was found to be related with its wetting property and can be improved by UV irradiation before testing. It is not greatly affected by contact time, indicating a fast acting germicidal activity.     

Urban sustainability – a segmentation study of Greater Brisbane,Australia

Setting universal goals for sustainability is problematic and may hinder the adoption of sustainable pathways as different sectors of society often have differing opinions on not just what sustainability means for them, but also what is of priority to them. This paper tests a set of psychographic, behavioural, lifestyle and social identities to segment the public on sustainability. We evaluate general knowledge, apply social-choice tools to identify public priorities, and then apply segmentation to reveal broad strata of community profiles around these choices. We discuss our findings in the context of moving beyond knowledge on sustainability and general public choices, to more nuanced messaging and engagement that respects differences in sustainability orientations. We suggest that by focusing on what matters most for different segments of society, there is potential to design effective processes to engage with people and acquire better ownership of sustainability.     

Cr(Ⅵ)污染土壤的热解还原无害化处理

提出了用热解还原法对含铬土壤进行无害化处理的新技术,研究了热解温度、热解时间及土壤有机质对铬无害化处理的影响,分析了热解前后土壤中铬的元素形态的变化.同时还探讨了热解还原过程中Cr(Ⅵ)的无害化机制.结果表明,土壤中的有机质在热解还原过程中产生的挥发分对Cr(Ⅵ)的无害化起核心作用;在200～600℃范围内,Cr(Ⅵ)的还原量随着热解温度升高而增大,500.0℃最适合于经济有效地实现Cr(Ⅵ)的热解还原处理;Cr(Ⅵ)的热解还原过程较快.铬的形态分析结果表明,热解后可交换态和碳酸盐结合态铬量大大降低,大部分铬转化成了活性低的残渣态,极大地降低了铬的危害.     

光合细菌强化二级流化床工艺处理焦化废水的研究

采用厌氧酸化加二级流化床组合工艺处理焦化废水。一级反应器内光合细菌与兼性厌氧菌处于共生状态,二级反应器内光合细菌与亚硝酸细菌处于共生状态。一级反应器内光合细菌有充分的小分子有机酸可降解并形成二次酸化,在二级反应器内完成进一步降解。结合反应条件：温度,pH,DO和基质浓度等,将二级反应器内硝化反应控制在亚硝化阶段,有效地保证了废水中碳源的利用。稳定运行了60 d,结果显示,出水COD和NH₃-N浓度分别为105～135 mg/L和14～20 mg/L,去除率分别稳定在90.3%～92.5%和92%～95%。TN去除率稳定在83%～86%。酚、氰化物和BOD5的去除率均在95%以上。     

Sustainable construction--the role of environmental assessment tools

Construction has been accused of causing environmental problems ranging from excessive consumption of global resources both in terms of construction and building operation to the pollution of the surrounding environment, and research on green building design and using building materials to minimise environmental impact is already underway. However, relying on the design of a project to achieve the goal of sustainable development, or to minimise impacts through appropriate management on site, is not sufficient to handle the current problem. The aim for sustainability assessment goes even further than at the design stage of a project to consider its importance at an early stage, before any detailed design or even before a commitment is made to go ahead with a development. However, little or no concern has been given to the importance of selecting more environmentally friendly designs during the project appraisal stage; the stage when environmental matters are best incorporated. The main objectives of this paper are to examine the development, role and limitations of current environmental building assessment methods in ascertaining building sustainability used in different countries which leads to discuss the concept of developing a. sustainability model for project appraisal based on a multi-dimensional approach, that will allow alternatives to be ranked is discussed in detail in the paper.     

固相微萃取-气相色谱/质谱联用法测定饮用水中苯类化合物

用固相微苹取(ＳＰＭＥ)－气相色谱/质谱联用法测定饮用水中苯类化合物,以１００μｍ ＰＤＭＳ(聚二甲基硅氧烷)萃取针提取、浓缩、分离与测定九种目标化合物．萃取时间经优化选定为８ｍｉｎ,而热解析时间设定为２ｍｉｎ． 本方法的相对标准偏差小于５%,线性范围宽(２０ｎｇ·ｍｌ－１－１００００ｎｇ·ｍｌ－１),多数化合物的检测限低于５μｇ·ｌ－１．饮用水样品检测显示,样品加标回收率范围在８４%至１１０%内．     

Assessment of urban sustainability efficiency based on general data envelopment analysis: a case study of two cities in western and eastern China

Sustainable urban development focuses on enhancing urban well-being, while also balancing the demands of urban social and economic development, natural resource consumption, and environmental pollution. This work used general data envelopment analysis to assess the urban sustainability efficiency (USE) and sustainability potential (SP) in Lanzhou and Xiamen, two cities that are characteristic of urban areas in western and eastern China. The assessment indicator system included important natural and urban welfare factors as input and output indices, respectively. The results showed that overall urban sustainability efficiency increased in Lanzhou and Xiamen from 1985 to 2010, but that the sustainability of natural resources clearly decreased. The urban sustainability efficiency of Xiamen was higher than that of Lanzhou, and the sustainability potential of Xiamen was lower than that of Lanzhou; this indicates that Xiamen performed better in terms of urban sustainable development. The urban sustainability efficiency in Xiamen has increased with increasing urban population, and the rate and scale of economic development have been higher than in Lanzhou. The assessment and analysis performed in this study show that cities with different natural resources and development characteristics have different forms, patterns, and trajectories of sustainable development.     

Occurrence and characterization of selected organochlorine contaminants in outdoor dust collected from Xinxiang,a fast developing city in North China

As facile “environmental media”, the outdoor dust may reflect the changes of contaminants in environment more promptly. In the present study, selected organochlorine contaminants (OCs) include hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) were detected in 20 outdoor dust samples collected from Xinxiang City. The concentrations of ΣHCHs, ΣDDTs, HCB, and PeCB in dust were in the range of 0.18–5.05 ng/g dry weight, 0.44–13.50 ng/g dry weight, 0.13–51.61 ng/g dry weight and ND-0.74 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Long-range transport, historical use, and recent impact of impure pesticides might be the main sources of OCs in the outdoor dust. The results of this study indicated that impure pesticide application maybe an important source of DDTs and HCB in the environment.     

Chemical compositions and sources of atmospheric PM10 in heating, non-heating and sand periods at a coal-based city in northeastern China

Mass concentrations and chemical components (18 elements, 9 ions, organic carbon [OC] and elemental carbon [EC]) in atmospheric PM(10) were measured at five sites in Fushun during heating, non-heating and sand periods in 2006-2007. PM(10) mass concentrations varied from 62.0 to 226.3 μg m(-3), with 21% of the total samples' mass concentrations exceeding the Chinese national secondary standard value of 150 μg m(-3), mainly concentrated in heating and sand periods. Crustal elements, trace elements, water-soluble ions, OC and EC represented 20-47%, 2-9%, 13-34%, 15-34% and 13-25% of the particulate matter mass concentrations, respectively. OC and crustal elements exhibited the highest mass percentages, at 27-34% and 30-47% during heating and sand period. Local agricultural residuals burning may contribute to EC and ion concentrations, as shown by ion temporal variation and OC and EC correlation analysis. Heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu and Mn) from coal combustion and industrial processes should be paid attention to in heating and sand periods. The anion/cation ratios exhibited their highest values for the background site with the influence of stationary sources on its upper wind direction during the sand period. Secondary organic carbon were 1.6-21.7, 1.5-23.0, 0.4-17.0, 0.2-33.0 and 0.2-21.1 μg m(-3), accounting for 20-77%, 44-88%, 4-77%, 8-69% and 4-73% of OC for the five sampling sites ZQ, DZ, XH, WH and SK, respectively. From the temporal and spatial variation analysis of major species, coal combustion, agricultural residual burning and industrial emission including dust re-suspended from raw material storage piles were important sources for atmospheric PM(10) in Fushun at heating, non-heating and sand periods, respectively. It was confirmed by principal component analysis that coal combustion, vehicle emission, industrial activities, soil dust, cement and construction dust and biomass burning were the main sources for PM(10) in this coal-based city.