Theoretical versus observed gas-particle partitioning of carbonyl emissions from motor vehicles

A state-of-the-science thermodynamic model describing gas-particle absorption processes was used to predict the gas-particle partitioning of mixtures of approximately 60 carbonyl compounds emitted from low-emission gasoline-powered vehicles, three-way catalyst gasoline-powered vehicles, heavy-duty diesel vehicles under the idle-creep condition (HDDV idle), and heavy-duty diesel vehicles under the five-mode test (HDDV 5-mode). Exhaust was diluted by a factor of 120-580 with a residence time of approximately 43 sec. The predicted equilibrium absorption partitioning coefficients differed from the measured partitioning coefficients by several orders of magnitude. Time scales to reach equilibrium in the dilution sampling system were close to the actual residence time during the HDDV 5-mode test and much longer than the actual residence time during the other vehicle tests. It appears that insufficient residence time in the sampling system cannot uniformly explain the failure of the absorption mechanism to explain the measured partitioning. Other gas-particle partitioning mechanisms (e.g., heterogeneous reactions, capillary adsorption) beyond the simple absorption theory are needed to explain the discrepancy between calculated carbonyl partitioning coefficients and observed partitioning. Both of these alternative partitioning mechanisms imply great challenges for the measurement and modeling of semi-volatile primary organic aerosol (POA) species from motor vehicles. Furthermore, as emitted particle concentrations from newer vehicles approach atmospheric background levels, dilution sampling systems must fundamentally change their approach so that they use realistic particle concentrations in the dilution air to approximately represent real-world conditions. Samples collected with particle-free dilution air yielding total particulate matter concentrations below typical ambient concentrations will not provide a realistic picture of partitioning for semi-volatile compounds.     

Atmospheric deposition of phthalate esters in a subtropical city

In Chinese cities, air pollution has become a serious and aggravating environmental problem undermining the sustainability of urban ecosystems and the quality of urban life. Bulk atmospheric deposition samples were collected two-weekly, from February 2007 to January 2008, at three representative areas, one suburban and two urbanized, in the subtropical city, Guangzhou, China, to assess the deposition fluxes and seasonal variations of phthalate esters (PAEs). Sixteen PAE congeners in bulk deposition samples were measured and the depositional fluxes of ∑₁₆PAEs ranged from 3.41 to 190 μg m^?2 day^?1, and were highly affected by local anthropogenic activities. The significant relationship between PAEs and particulate depositional fluxes (correlation coefficient R² = 0.72, P < 0.001) showed PAEs are associated primarily with particles. Temporal flux variations of PAEs were influenced by seasonal changes in meteorological parameters, and the deposition fluxes of PAEs were obviously higher in wet season than in dry season. Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), Di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) dominated the PAE pattern in bulk depositions, which is consistent with a high consumption of the plasticizer market in China. PAE profiles in bulk deposition showed similarities exhibited in both time and space, and a weak increase of high molecular weight PAE (HMW PAE) contribution in the wet season compared to those in the dry season. Average atmospheric deposition fluxes of PAEs in the present study were significantly higher than those from other studies, reflecting strong anthropogenic inputs as a consequence of rapid industrial and urban development in the region.     

Resident Motivations and Willingness-to-Pay for Urban Biodiversity Conservation in Guangzhou (China)

The monetary assessment of biodiversity measures the welfare damages brought by biodiversity losses and the cost-benefit analysis of conservation projects in a socio-economic context. The contingent valuation method could include motivational factors to strengthen economic analysis of nature conservation. This study analyzed Guangzhou residents’ motivations and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for an urban biodiversity conservation program in the National Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area (BMSA). The peri-urban natural site, offering refuge to some endemic species, is under increasing development pressures for recreational and residential use. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Guangzhou metropolitan area during June to October 2007. We interviewed face-to-face 720 stratified sampled households to probe residents’ attitudes towards the city’s environmental issues, motivations for urban nature conservation, and WTP for biodiversity conservation. Principal component analysis identified five motivational factors, including environmental benefit, ecological diversity, nature-culture interaction, landscape-recreation function, and intergenerational sustainability, which illustrated the general economic values of urban nature. Logistic regression was applied to predict the probability of people being willing to pay for the urban biodiversity conservation in BMSA. The significant predictors of WTP included household income and the factor nature-culture interaction. The median WTP estimated RMB149/household (about US$19.5/household) per year and an aggregate of RMB291 million (approximately US$19.5/household) per year and an aggregate of RMB291 million (approximately US38.2 million) annually to support the urban conservation project. Including public motivations into contingent valuation presents a promising approach to conduct cost-benefit analysis of public projects in China.     

油田作业废水高效处理技术中试研究

文章根据新疆油田作业废水特征及油田地处干旱区的地理特点,结合国内外含聚合物污水处理的技术现状,以及油田连续生产稳定运行的要求,在含油污水处理技术的基础上,开展了作业废水处理关键技术研究和工艺优化,采用了"隔油—絮凝气浮—深层过滤"技术。中试试验结果表明:处理后废水COD_(Cr)、石油类、SS可分别由680 mg/L、98.6 mg/L、56.2 mg/L降至98.8 mg/L、5.4 mg/L、4.5 mg/L,去除率分别为85.5%、94.5%、92.0%。     

稠油火驱开采技术节能减排效果分析

火驱作为稠油热采的有效接替技术,与注蒸汽开采技术相比,具有采收率高,能耗低,CO_2排放少的优势。文章从火驱驱油机理特征阐述了火驱与注蒸汽技术的不同点,从燃料开采能耗、热效率、注入剂资源、数据对比四个方面分析火驱比注蒸汽热效率高,无燃料开采成本,能耗是注蒸汽的50%;从CO_2气体排放方式和排放量对比可知,火驱能够减少温室气体排放,为油田节能减排、环保生产起到积极作用。     

层燃螺旋炉排焚烧技术处理含油污泥研究

通过对几种含油污泥无害化处理技术的比选,分析不同处理技术物耗、能耗情况,优选出经济有效的含油污泥焚烧技术,结合新疆油田含油污泥的特点,采用层燃螺旋炉排焚烧技术,利用其燃烧热能生产蒸汽用于原油生产,采用余热吸收急冷与碱液半干法除酸技术,有效控制了二次污染;采用布袋除尘与烟尘固化技术确保了烟气达标排放。年节省成本支出3095.88万元。     

石油污染土壤原位生物修复的强化实验研究

为研究添加营养物质和高效降解石油微生物对油污土壤生物修复的作用,通过分层土柱的方法,连续监测了不同条件下不同土层的含水率、石油烃含量、细菌数量及脱氢酶活性。结果表明:添加营养物质同时接种高效微生物可使降解效果明显改善,降解率比在自然条件下提高近50%,而单纯添加营养物质不接种高效微生物可使降解率比在自然条件下提高约25%。降解初期,上层土壤降解效果较好,而到中后期,中下层降解效果好于上层。微生物数量和脱氢酶活性与石油降解率之间存在良好的相关性,脱氢酶活性比微生物数量更能反映修复过程中微生物的存活状态。添加营养物质和高效降解石油微生物对油污土壤原位生物修复具有强化作用。     

能源利用中烃类气体检测技术研究进展

烃类气体作为地表油气地球化学勘查地下油气藏的直接指标,以及钻井液检测中指导钻井作业的重要因素,在挥发性烃类污染控制中也发挥着重要作用。通过对各类烃类气体检测技术现状和应用情况进行分析与整理,为该类技术针对不同目标的选择与组合提供了依据。     

Immobilization of non-point phosphorus using stabilized magnetite nanoparticles with enhanced transportability and reactivity in soils

Laboratory batch and column experiments were conducted to investigate the immobilization of phosphorus (P) in soils using synthetic magnetite nanoparticles stabilized with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-NP). Although CMC-stabilized magnetite particles were at the nanoscale, phosphorus removal by the nanoparticles was less than that of microparticles (MP) without the stabilizer due to the reduced P reactivity caused by the coating. The P reactivity of CMC-NP was effectively recovered when cellulase was added to degrade the coating. For subsurface non-point P pollution control for a water pond, it is possible to inject CMC-NP to form an enclosed protection wall in the surrounding soils. Non-stabilized “nanomagnetite” could not pass through the soil column under gravity because it quickly agglomerated into microparticles. The immobilized P was 30% in the control soil column, 33% when treated by non-stabilized MP, 45% when treated by CMC-NP, and 73% when treated by both CMC-NP and cellulase.