Insights into metals in individual fine particles from municipal solid waste using synchrotron radiation-based micro-analytical techniques

Excessive inter-contamination with heavy metals hampers the application of biological treatment products derived from mixed or mechanically-sorted municipal solid waste (MSW). In this study, we investigated fine particles of < 2 mm, which are small fractions in MSW but constitute a significant component of the total heavy metal content, using bulk detection techniques. A total of 17 individual fine particles were evaluated using synchrotron radiation-based micro-X-ray fluorescence and micro-X-ray diffraction. We also discussed the association, speciation and source apportionment of heavy metals. Metals were found to exist in a diffuse distribution with heterogeneous intensities and intense hot-spots of < 10 μm within the fine particles. Zn-Cu, Pb-Fe and Fe-Mn-Cr had significant correlations in terms of spatial distribution. The overlapped enrichment, spatial association, and the mineral phases of metals revealed the potential sources of fine particles from size-reduced waste fractions (such as scraps of organic wastes or ceramics) or from the importation of other particles. The diverse sources of heavy metal pollutants within the fine particles suggested that separate collection and treatment of the biodegradable waste fraction (such as food waste) is a preferable means of facilitating the beneficial utilization of the stabilized products.     

Insights into metals in individual fine particles from municipal solid waste using synchrotron radiation-based micro-analytical techniques

Excessive inter-contamination with heavy metals hampers the application of biological treatment products derived from mixed or mechanically-sorted municipal solid waste(MSW). In this study, we investigated fine particles of 2 mm, which are small fractions in MSW but constitute a significant component of the total heavy metal content, using bulk detection techniques. A total of 17 individual fine particles were evaluated using synchrotron radiation-based micro-X-ray fluorescence and micro-X-ray diffraction. We also discussed the association, speciation and source apportionment of heavy metals. Metals were found to exist in a diffuse distribution with heterogeneous intensities and intense hot-spots of 10 μm within the fine particles. Zn–Cu, Pb–Fe and Fe–Mn–Cr had significant correlations in terms of spatial distribution. The overlapped enrichment, spatial association, and the mineral phases of metals revealed the potential sources of fine particles from size-reduced waste fractions(such as scraps of organic wastes or ceramics) or from the importation of other particles. The diverse sources of heavy metal pollutants within the fine particles suggested that separate collection and treatment of the biodegradable waste fraction(such as food waste) is a preferable means of facilitating the beneficial utilization of the stabilized products.     

以植被生物完整性评价梁子湖湖滨湿地生态系统健康

湖滨湿地植被是湖滨带生态系统的主要特征,以湖滨湿地植被为对象可评价湖滨带生态系统健康状况。通过对梁子湖湖滨湿地植被的详细调查,共鉴定出植物182种,隶属于52科128属,其中湿生植物147种,水生植物35种。水生植物中有20种挺水植物,6种浮叶植物和9种沉水植物。采用植被生物完整性(VIBI)方法评价梁子湖湖滨湿地生态系统健康,对21个备选指标进行筛选分析,建立了以挺水植物物种数、多年生植物物种数、外来物种百分比、香农多样性指数、植物区系质量指数FQAI、耐受性物种百分比、敏感性物种百分比为核心指标的评价体系,三分法对指标进行赋值,将梁子湖湖滨湿地划分为健康、良好、一般和较差4个等级。评价结果表明,梁子湖湖滨湿地22个调查位点中,处于健康状态的有3个位点,良好6个,共占总位点数的41%,一般和较差分别为7个和6个,共占59%。总体上看,东梁子湖和牛山湖湖滨湿地位点健康状况较好,而西梁子湖湖滨湿地差异性较大,山坡湖南部湖湾和前江大湖北部位点健康状况良好,张桥湖湖滨湿地健康状况一般,评价较差的6个位点集中在宁港湖周围和前江大湖南部沿岸。底质和人类活动如水位调控、围网养殖、放牧等是影响梁子湖湖滨湿地植被生物完整性的主要原因。     

Effect of working time on environmental pressures: empirical evidence from EU-15, 1970–2010

There is growing interest in the correlation between working time and environmental pressures, but prior empirical studies mostly focused on static methodologies. This article used dynamic panel regression approaches to examine and compare the relationship among western, southern, and northern European countries over the period 1970–2010, and proved the existence of strongly significant relationships in all models. Furthermore, this article detected the relationship between working hours and environmental indicators (carbon emission and energy use) at different phases. We contribute to a further understanding of the environmental effects of the working time reduction policy by comparing the differences among various periods and country groups in a system generalized method of moments (GMM) dynamic framework.     

Identification and characterization of Fe3O4/peroxodisulfate advanced oxidation products from sulfameter

Sulfonamides (SAs) are one of the most widely used antibiotics and their residuals in the environment could cause some negative environmental issues. Advanced oxidation such as Fenton-like reaction has been widely applied in the treatment of SAs polluted water. Degradation rates of 95%-99.7% were achieved in this work for the tested 8 SAs, including sulfisomidine, sulfameter (SME), phthalylsulfathiazole, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfisoxazole, sulfachloropyridazine, and sulfadimethoxine, in the Fe₃O₄/peroxodisulfate (PDS) oxidation system after the optimization of PDS concentration and pH. Meanwhile, it was found that a lot of unknown oxidation products were formed, which brought up the uncertainty of health risks to the environment, and the identification of these unknown products was critical. Therefore, SME was selected as the model compound, from which the oxidation products were never elucidated, to identify these intermediates/products. With liquid chromatography-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS), 10 new products were identified, in which 2-amino-5-methoxypyrimidine (AMP) was confirmed by its standard. The investigation of the oxidation process of SME indicated that most of the products were not stable and the degradation pathways were very complicated as multiple reactions, such as oxidation of the amino group, SO₂ extrusion, and potential cross-reaction occurred simultaneously. Though most of the products were not verified due to the lack of standards, our results could be helpful in the evaluation of the treatment performance of SAs containing wastewater.     

Alterations in microbial community during the remediation of a black-odorous stream by acclimated composite microorganisms

Microbial application is an efficient, economical, and ecofriendly method for remediating black-odorous rivers. In this study, the field treatment effect and microbial community changes were monitored during remediation by the acclimated complex microorganisms of a typical black-odorous stream. After the treatment, the total phosphorus and ammonia contents decreased by 74.0% and 76.3% and the concentrations of dissolved oxygen increased from 1.65 to 4.90 mg/L, indicating the effectiveness of the acclimated composite microorganisms. The proportion of Bacteroidetes decreased significantly by 48.1% and that of Firmicutes increased by 2.23% on average, and the microbial diversity index first increased and then tended to be uniform. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that the pH, dissolved oxygen, and oxidation-reduction potential together determined the composition of the microbial communities (p < 0.05). These findings showed that the acclimated composite microorganisms can effectively remediate the black odor.     

近10年来我国污染场地再利用的案例分析与环境管理意义

及时掌握污染场地修复过程中所关注污染物和修复后再利用土地类型信息对深化建设用地环境管理具有重要意义. 本文基于文献调研和信息公示平台资料查询等途径获取了我国537个污染场地案例信息数据,分析了我国近10年来污染场地修复与再利用的变化情况. 统计分析结果表明:我国537个污染场地中约有66%集中在北京市、上海市、浙江省、江苏省和重庆市等先行地区;从2016年《土壤污染防治行动计划》颁布实施开始,场地修复管控数量增势凸显,2018年污染场地修复管控数量达到峰值;原用地类型归属化学工业、金属制品、冶炼等行业的比例较大,且重金属、苯系物为主的再利用挥发性有机物、多环芳烃类为主的半挥发性有机物和总石油烃是典型污染物;在GB 36600—2018《土壤环境质量 建设用地土壤污染风险管控标准(试行)》实施前后,包含苯系物、多环芳烃类和总石油烃等污染物的出现频次增加趋势最为明显,而有机农药类和多氯联苯(总量)的出现频次有所减少;污染场地用途大部分是敏感用地类型中的居住用地,且这类场地的原行业类型为化学工业、金属制品等特征污染物危害较大的行业. 研究显示,利好政策和标准的颁布与实施促进了我国经济欠发达地区污染场地的修复管控工作,以多环芳烃类为主的半挥发性有机物是我国未来场地土壤环境治理工作的重点,需要进一步提升对再利用类型为敏感用地类型场地的关注.      

长江中下游河道与岸线演变特点

分析了长江中下游河道岸线变化的主要因素，它们分别是河岸崩塌，泥沙淤积及人类活动等，其中河岸崩塌是河道岸线演变的最主要原因。总的来说长江中下游干流河势是稳定的，但五个河段有各自演变特点和规律，其中宜昌－枝城段河道与河床比较稳定，岸线顺直，但葛洲坝和三峡水利枢纽建成后对河床的冲刷作用较大；荆江段是长江著名的河曲段，其冲淤变化较大；城陵矶至湖口段为节点和分汊河床组成，一般来说节点较为稳定，而分汊河床不太稳定，湖口至江阴河段岸线一般较为稳定，但弯道河床变化较大；河口段不但受江流作用影响，还受潮流与波浪等共同影响，所以河口河床演变迅速，主要表现为汊道主泓迁移摆动。     

外来赤潮生物入侵现状及对赤潮灾害的影响研究

外来赤潮生物入侵加剧了我国近海海域的赤潮灾害。根据2004—2013年的数据统计,分别从赤潮生物优势种、频率、海域分布和赤潮面积4个方面分析了外来赤潮生物对我国近海赤潮灾害的影响,并着重从外来赤潮生物入侵早期预警系统建设、压舱水排放管理和赤潮灾害防治技术3个方面提出应对措施。     

Greenhouse gas emissions from MSW incineration in China: Impacts of waste characteristics and energy recovery

Determination of the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted during municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) is complex because both contributions and savings of GHGs exist in the process. To identify the critical factors influencing GHG emissions from MSWI in China, a GHG accounting model was established and applied to six Chinese cities located in different regions. The results showed that MSWI in most of the cities was the source of GHGs, with emissions of 25–207 kg CO₂-eq t^?1 rw. Within all process stages, the emission of fossil CO₂ from the combustion of MSW was the main contributor (111–254 kg CO₂-eq t^?1 rw), while the substitution of electricity reduced the GHG emissions by 150–247 kg CO₂-eq t^?1 rw. By affecting the fossil carbon content and the lower heating value of the waste, the contents of plastic and food waste in the MSW were the critical factors influencing GHG emissions of MSWI. Decreasing food waste content in MSW by half will significantly reduce the GHG emissions from MSWI, and such a reduction will convert MSWI in Urumqi and Tianjin from GHG sources to GHG sinks. Comparison of the GHG emissions in the six Chinese cities with those in European countries revealed that higher energy recovery efficiency in Europe induced much greater reductions in GHG emissions. Recovering the excess heat after generation of electricity would be a good measure to convert MSWI in all the six cities evaluated herein into sinks of GHGs.