Uncovering the evolution of tin use in the United States and its implications

• US tin use decreases as the GDP value added by manufacturing sector increases. • Global and China’s tin use increases as the GDP added by manufacturing increases. • A sigmoid curve can fit the US tin use data well. • US tin use patterns is not due to the finite tin reserves or resources. • Policies, substitutions, etc. play key roles in the changing tin use patterns. Tin is of key importance to daily life and national security; it is considered an essential industrial metal. The United States (US) is the world’s largest economy and consumer of natural resources. Therefore, the analysis of historical tin use in the US is helpful for understanding future tin use trends in the world as a whole and in developing countries. Time series analysis, regression analysis with GDP or GDP/capita, and historical data fitted with logistic and Gompertz models are employed in this study. Historical tin use in the US shows three stages—increase-constant-decrease, as GDP per capita has increased. Tin use in the US is negatively correlated with the GDP value added by the manufacturing sector, while the use of tin worldwide and in China continues to increase along with the GDP value added by the manufacturing sector. Although a sigmoid curve can fit the US tin use data well, that use is not directly related to the limited tin reserves or resources. Rather, policies, economic restructuring, substitutions, new end-use markets, etc. have played key roles in the changing tin use patterns. This work contributes to understanding future tin use at both the global and national levels: tin use will continue to increase with GDP at the global level, but use patterns of tin at the national level can be changed through human intervention.     

Environmental effects and risk control of antibiotic resistance genes in the organic solid waste aerobic composting system: A review

• ARGs were detected in livestock manure, sludge, food waste and fermentation dregs. • The succession of microbial community is an important factor affecting ARGs. • Horizontal transfer mechanism of ARGs during composting should be further studied. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been diffusely detected in several kinds of organic solid waste, such as livestock manure, sludge, antibiotic fermentation residues, and food waste, thus attracting great attention. Aerobic composting, which is an effective, harmless treatment method for organic solid waste to promote recycling, has been identified to also aid in ARG reduction. However, the effect of composting in removing ARGs from organic solid waste has recently become controversial. Thus, this article summarizes and reviews the research on ARGs in relation to composting in the past 5 years. ARGs in organic solid waste could spread in different environmental media, including soil and the atmosphere, which could widen environmental risks. However, the conventional composting technology had limited effect on ARGs removal from organic solid waste. Improved composting processes, such as hyperthermophilic temperature composting, could effectively remove ARGs, and the HGT of ARGs and the microbial communities are identified as vital influencing factors. Currently, during the composting process, ARGs were mainly affected by three response pathways, (I) “Microenvironment-ARGs”; (II) “Microenvironment-microorganisms-ARGs”; (III) “Microorganisms-horizontal gene transfer-ARGs”, respectively. Response pathway II had been studied the most which was believed that microbial community was an important factor affecting ARGs. In response pathway III, mainly believed that MGEs played an important role and paid less attention to eARGs. Further research on the role and impact of eARGs in ARGs may be considered in the future. It aims to provide support for further research on environmental risk control of ARGs in organic solid waste.     

卸载破碎区域气动喷雾联合抑尘网除尘的数值模拟研究

为了有效治理安家岭煤矿输煤系统中卸载破碎区域的粉尘污染,提出卸载坑外围设置柔性抑尘网及坑口处设置气动喷雾的防尘方案。采用现场测试与三维数值模拟相结合的方法,得出卸载坑粉尘逸散规律。通过对卸载坑气动喷雾的雾化效果和设置抑尘网后的风速分布的数值模拟,分析该方案的除尘机理,并通过在安家岭煤矿的现场试验,验证该方案的可行性。结果表明:坑口处的气动喷雾能有效抑制坑内粉尘飞扬,外围设置的柔性抑尘网能有效控制坑口处的风速,防止粉尘受外界气流影响,有效降低粉尘污染浓度,其降尘效率达到90%以上,该综合除尘方案为输煤系统卸载破碎区域的粉尘治理提供理论依据。     

湘江流域岳麓山周边地区不同水体中氢氧稳定同位素特征及相互关系

不同水体中稳定同位素的差异性组成对认识区域水文过程,如水体的补给机制、不同水体间的相互作用具有重要意义。论文基于2010—2013年湘江流域岳麓山周边地区降水、地表水、浅层土壤水和地下水中δD和δ¹⁸O的逐日数据及相关气象资料,分析了不同水体中稳定同位素的组成,揭示了不同水稳定同位素间的相互作用关系。结果表明：地表水、浅层土壤水和地下水中δD和δ¹⁸O对日降水中δD和δ¹⁸O的响应存在时滞,地表水和浅层土壤水的滞后时间较短,地下水的滞后时间较长;在天气尺度下,降水中δD和δ¹⁸O存在很好的线性关系,二者的相关系数达0.98;地表水、浅层土壤水和地下水中δD和δ¹⁸O的线性相关系数分别为0.95、0.90和0.90,均超过0.001的信度;在δD-δ¹⁸O关系中,地表水水线（SWL）、浅层土壤水水线（SSWL）和地下水水线（GWL）的斜率及截距都小于长沙大气水线（LMWL）,表明降水是区域地表水、浅层土壤水和地下水的主要补给水源,且在补给过程中,存在一定程度的蒸发,同时与其他水体存在混合交换作用;在季节尺度下,同一水体的水线斜率与截距具有正比关系,即斜率越大,截距越大;但LMWL斜率和截距的关系存在季节和年际的差异;对比同一类水线旱雨季的斜率,仅有LMWL的斜率旱季小于雨季,反映出旱季干燥的大气条件下,降落雨滴云下二次蒸发强烈的特点。     

Arsenic trophodynamics along the food chains/webs of different ecosystems: a review

In drinking water, arsenic (As) food chain accumulation may pose a risk to human health. An attempt was made to synthesise the published information concerning As trophic transfer along the food chain/web of various marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Some investigations included As speciation. Further objectives were to outline the factors potentially influencing As trophodynamics and to understand the consequence of As trophic transfer in the environment.     

Effects of visible light radiation on macrophyte litter degradation and nutrient release in water samples from a eutrophic shallow lake

Visible light is a major fraction of the solar spectrum; however, information on visible light radiation of macrophyte detritus is lacking. In this study, we conducted a microcosm experiment to assess the effects of visible light radiation on degradation of two litter species: Potamogeton malaianus (P. malaianus) and Phragmites australis (Ph. australis). This research represents an investigation of mass loss, microbial activity and nutrients released over a period of 168 days. Overall, we found that visible light radiation had significant effects on litter decomposition, but it did not affect the microbial activities which degrade cellulose and lignin. The decomposition rate order of the three components in P. malaianus and Ph. australis in treatments was: cellulose?>?hemicellulose?>?lignin. The visible light radiation mainly affected the degradation of lignin, which is the primary compound in litter susceptible to photodegradation. The exposure to visible light radiation up to 17.6?Wm^?2 stimulated the dissolved organic carbon release and reduced the molecular weight to less reactive. Meanwhile, no obvious difference in nutrient contents (TP, TN, NO₃–N, NO₂–N, and NH₃–N) was observed among different visible light intensities. The results of this study contribute to better understanding of the photochemical behaviour of macrophyte litter in shallow lakes.     

Recent advances in the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide

Fossil fuels are currently the major energy source and are rapidly consumed to supply the increasing energy demands of mankind. CO₂, a product of fossil fuel combustion, leads to climate change and will have a serious impact on our environment. There is an increasing need to mitigate CO₂ emissions using carbon–neutral energy sources. Therefore, research activities are devoted to CO₂ capture, storage and utilization. For instance, photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ into hydrocarbon fuels is a promising avenue to recycle carbon dioxide. Here we review the present status of the emission and utilization of CO₂. Then we review the photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ by TiO₂, modified TiO₂ and non-titanium metal oxides. Finally, the challenges and prospects for further development of CO₂ photocatalytic reduction are presented.     

亚热带水库沉积物钻孔中有机质的历史记录及其环境意义

氢指数(HI)是重要的有机质评价参数,能够反映沉积有机质中脂肪大分子物质的相对含量,并用于反演水生生态系统的历史初级生产力,有助于研究藻类生产力对污染物的富集作用。为了探讨氢指数的环境指示作用,选择了亚热带的3座水库作为研究对象,采用Rock-Eval热解与生物标志物-中性糖方法相结合的研究技术,研究了沉积钻孔有机质的来源与特征;并结合210Pb和137Cs定年技术,综合运用氢指数和总糖含量对水库的初级生产力进行了重建。结果表明:中富营养的增塘和联安水库沉积有机质主要来源于浮游藻类,且受降解的程度较小,而贫营养的新丰江水库钻孔下层有机质主要是受降解作用或陆源高等植物等的影响。近年来,3个水库的HI值都有显著性的增加,且与其对应的总糖含量以及近50年来的滑动平均温度都高度的相关,说明这些水库都经历了气候变暖所引起的初级生产力增长。同时,升高的水库生产力扩大了沉积物剖面中重金属和多环芳烃的累积。     

浓度效应对卡马西平在生物炭上的吸附动力学影响

为了解人工合成药物在生物炭上的吸附动力学特征及其浓度效应的影响,选择卡马西平(CBZ)为目标污染物。探讨不同初始质量浓度(2、4、25、50 mg·L~(-1))在不同裂解温度(200、300、500℃)下制备的生物炭上的吸附动力学特征。结果表明,双室一级动力学模型可以精确地描述CBZ在生物炭上的吸附动力学特征。CBZ的快室吸附对总体吸附的贡献随初始浓度的增大而减小,而慢室吸附贡献则增大。π-π作用可能对CBZ的吸附贡献较大。孔隙填充可以描述慢室吸附过程,可能是吸附速率的控制环节。     

Fe-Mn-sepiolite as an effective heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst for the decolorization of reactive brilliant blue

A study of the decolorization of reactive brilliant blue in an aqueous solution using Fe-Mn-sepiolite as a heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst has been performed. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the catalyst showed bending vibrations of the Fe-O. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the catalyst showed characteristic diffraction peaks of α-Fe₂O₃, γ-Fe₂O₃ and MnO. A four factor central composite design (CCD) coupled with response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to evaluate and optimize the important variables (catalyst addition, hydrogen peroxide dosage, initial pH value and initial dye concentration). When the reaction conditions were catalyst dosage= 0.4 g, [H₂O₂]= 0.3 mL, pH= 2.5, [reactive brilliant blue]_o = 50 mg·L⁻¹, and volume of solution= 500 mL at room temperature, the decolorization efficiency of reactive brilliant blue was 91.98% within 60 min. Moreover, the Fe-Mn-sepiolite catalyst had good stability for the degradation of reactive brilliant blue even after six cycles. Leaching of iron ions (<0.4 mg·L⁻¹) was observed. The decoloring process was reactive brilliant blue specific via a redox reaction. The benzene ring and naphthalene ring were first oxidized to open ring; these were then oxidized to the alcohol and carboxylic acid. The reactive brilliant blue was decomposed mainly by the attack of ·OH radicals including surface-bound ·OH radicals generated on the catalyst surface.