Odor compounds released from different zones of two adjacent waste treatment facilities: Interactive influence and source identification

An integrated approach was applied to identify the key odorants comprising emissions from different zones in two adjacent waste treatment facilities (an aerobic biological treatment plant and an anaerobic landfill site), identify their precise sources, and distinguish the interactive influences between them. Seven odor families were investigated, including alcohols, terpenes, carbonyls, aromatics, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), sulfur compounds, and ammonia. Principal components analysis, characteristic molecular ratios, and ternary diagrams were used to differentiate the interactive influence of the odor sources. Among typical biotic compounds, terpenes were found to be more suitable as odor markers for their better fingerprinting character than sulfur compounds and VFAs. Ratios of p-cymene at sampling locations related to the biological treatment plant (aerobic status) were between 0.00 and 0.25, whereas those at landfill-related sampling points (anaerobic status) were between 0.25 and 1.0. The molecular ratio of terpenes was also found to be an appropriate means to differentiate between homologous and similar odor sources such as an aerobic biological treatment plant and anaerobic landfill.

Implications:?The aim of this work is to identify the key odorants comprising emissions from different zones in two adjacent waste treatment facilities, identify their precise sources, and distinguish the interactive influences between them. The emission of gaseous pollutants greatly affects the living quality of nearby residents, and odor complaints are becoming a major problem. In this study we utilized various pretreatment and analytical methods to obtain integrated emission information of gaseous pollutants. The results showed terpenes were found to be more suitable as odor markers for their better fingerprinting character than sulfur compounds and VFAs.     

复合絮凝剂APAC中铝形态分布及絮凝性能研究

用慢速滴碱法合成聚合氯化铝的过程中加入酸改性的凹凸棒,制备了新型絮凝剂APAC。采用Al-Ferron逐时络合比色法和烧杯絮凝实验法分别研究了APAC复合絮凝剂中铝的形态分布和絮凝性能。结果表明,Ala随盐基度的升高而逐渐降低;Alb随盐基度的升高而升高;Alc则先随盐基度的升高而升高,达到最大值后,再随盐基度的升高而降低。在相同实验条件下,盐基度愈高,混凝效果愈好,Alb含量愈高,混凝效果并不一定愈好。因此,APAC的质量控制以及追求目标应当是尽量提高Alc的含量,而不是Alb的含量。     

Theoretical evaluation of the configurations and Raman spectra of 209 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners

Though polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have distributed as threats in the environment to human beings for several decades, monitoring of trace level PCBs in-field is still a challenge. As a potential method for monitoring PCBs at trace levels, Raman spectroscopy has been used to detect several PCBs in the laboratory. To facilitate the development of rapid detection of PCBs by Raman spectroscopy, it is essential to investigate the Raman spectra of all PCB congeners. Herein, the stable configurations and vibrational spectra of all the PCB congeners were calculated by Gaussian 03 program package. Based on molecular symmetry, PCBs are classified into seven groups. The structural features and the normal vibration modes for each group are discussed. Taking the C(2)-2 group as an example, the wavenumber ranges of the various normal vibration modes in the Raman spectra of PCBs were analyzed. The accuracy of calculated results was verified by experimental Raman spectra of PCB77 standard. This study can elucidate further information to promote the development of Raman spectroscopy in environmental monitoring.     

Flood management: prediction of microbial contamination in large-scale floods in urban environments

With a changing climate and increased urbanisation, the occurrence and the impact of flooding is expected to increase significantly. Floods can bring pathogens into homes and cause lingering damp and microbial growth in buildings, with the level of growth and persistence dependent on the volume and chemical and biological content of the flood water, the properties of the contaminating microbes, and the surrounding environmental conditions, including the restoration time and methods, the heat and moisture transport properties of the envelope design, and the ability of the construction material to sustain the microbial growth. The public health risk will depend on the interaction of these complex processes and the vulnerability and susceptibility of occupants in the affected areas. After the 2007 floods in the UK, the Pitt review noted that there is lack of relevant scientific evidence and consistency with regard to the management and treatment of flooded homes, which not only put the local population at risk but also caused unnecessary delays in the restoration effort. Understanding the drying behaviour of flooded buildings in the UK building stock under different scenarios, and the ability of microbial contaminants to grow, persist, and produce toxins within these buildings can help inform recovery efforts. To contribute to future flood management, this paper proposes the use of building simulations and biological models to predict the risk of microbial contamination in typical UK buildings. We review the state of the art with regard to biological contamination following flooding, relevant building simulation, simulation-linked microbial modelling, and current practical considerations in flood remediation. Using the city of London as an example, a methodology is proposed that uses GIS as a platform to integrate drying models and microbial risk models with the local building stock and flood models. The integrated tool will help local governments, health authorities, insurance companies and residents to better understand, prepare for and manage a large-scale flood in urban environments.     

Atmospheric oxidation mechanisms of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins are different from those of benzene and dibenzofuran: a theoretical prediction

The reaction mechanisms of dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD) and 2,3,7,8-TCDD with OH radical have been studied using density functional theory calculations. Under the atmospheric conditions, ca 42% of DD + OH reaction proceeds as formation of DD − OH-β adduct, which will react with O₂ slowly; while the rest will proceed as formation of DD − OH-γ adduct, which will decompose to the substituted phenoxy radical P1 by the fused-ring C-O bond cleavage. For 2,3,7,8-TCDD + OH, the reaction will predominantly form the substituted phenoxy radical P2. The reaction mechanisms are drastically different from the peroxy mechanism for the atmospheric oxidations of benzene and dibenzofuran.     

化学氧化法脱除石油焦中的硫

分别采用硝酸、硝酸-冰醋酸混合液以及王水作氧化剂脱除石油焦中的硫。实验结果表明:石油焦粒径越小,脱硫率越高;随液固比(氧化剂体积与石油焦质量比,mL/g)增大、反应时间延长、反应温度升高,脱硫率先增大,达到极值后保持稳定。王水的脱硫率高于硝酸和硝酸-冰醋酸混合液。王水脱除石油焦中硫的最佳工艺条件为:石油焦粒径0.1mm,液固比20mL/g,反应时间20h,反应温度50℃。在此最佳条件下,脱硫率达42.3%。经王水在最佳脱硫工艺条件下处理后,可有效脱除石油焦中大部分的噻吩类和硫醇类有机硫以及全部的无机硫。     

Ru-TiO_2光电极对亚甲基蓝的光电催化降解

采用阳极氧化法制备Ru-TiO2光电极,以该电极为工作电极,石墨作对电极,饱和甘汞电极为参比电极,对亚甲基蓝溶液的光电催化降解进行了研究。结果表明:煅烧温度600℃,掺杂1%Ru的Ru-TiO2光电极催化活性最好;以紫外灯(125 W)为光源,当外加偏压0.2 V,pH为5时,Ru-TiO2光电催化亚甲基蓝120 min可使其完全脱色;亚甲基蓝的光电催化降解遵从Langmuir-Hinshelwood动力学模型,测得其反应速率常数k=0.781 mmol/(L.min),吸附常数K=0.225 L/mmol。     

Mycelial growth and solid-state fermentation of lignocellulosic waste by white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium under lead stress

Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant renewable resource difficult to degrade. Its bioconversion plays important roles in carbon cycles in nature, which may be influenced by heavy metals in environment. Mycelial growth and the degradation of lignocellulosic waste by lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium under lead stress were studied. It was shown that P. chrysosporium could grow in liquid media with 400 mg L?1 Pb(II), and mycelial dry weight was reduced by 54% compared to the control. Yellow mycelia in irregular short-strip shape formed in Pb-containing media, whereas the control showed ivory-white regular mycelial pellets. Two possible responses to Pb stress were: dense hyphae, and secretion from mycelia to resist Pb. During solid-state fermentation of straw, fungal colonization capability under Pb stress was positively correlated with the removal efficiency of soluble-exchangeable Pb when its content was higher than 8.2 mg kg?1 dry mass. Carboxymethyl cellulase activity and cellulose degradation were inhibited at different Pb concentrations, whereas low Pb concentrations increased xylanase and ligninolytic enzyme activities and the hemicellulose and lignin degradation. Cluster analyses indicated that Pb had similar effects on the different microbial indexes related to lignin and hemicellulose degradation. The present findings will advance the understandings of lignocellulose degradation by fungi under Pb pollution, which could provide useful references for developing metal-polluted waste biotreatment technology.     

Ru-TiO2光电极对亚甲基蓝的光电催化降解

采用阳极氧化法制备Ru—TiO2光电极,以该电极为工作电极,石墨作对电极,饱和甘汞电极为参比电极,对亚甲基蓝溶液的光电催化降解进行了研究。结果表明：煅烧温度600oC,掺杂1％Ru的Ru-TiO2光电极催化活性最好;以紫外灯（125W）为光源,当外加偏压0．2V,pH为5时,Ru-TiO2光电催化亚甲基蓝120min可使其完全脱色;亚甲基蓝的光电催化降解遵从Langmuir—Hinshelwood动力学模型,测得其反应速率常数k：0．781mmol／（L·min）,吸附常数K=0．225L／mmol。     

Application of integrated GIS and multimedia modeling on NPS pollution evaluation

In Taiwan, nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is one of the major causes of the impairment of surface waters. I-Liao Creek, located in southern Taiwan, flows approximately 90 km and drains toward the Kaoping River. Field investigation results indicate that NPS pollution from agricultural activities is one of the main water pollution sources in the I-Liao Creek Basin. Assessing the potential of NPS pollution to assist in the planning of best management practice (BMP) is significant for improving pollution prevention and control in the I-Liao Creek Basin. In this study, land use identification in the I-Liao Creek Basin was performed by properly integrating the skills of geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS). In this analysis, 35 types of land use patterns in the watershed area of the basin are classified with the aid of Erdas Imagine process system and ArcView GIS system. Results indicate that betel palm farms, orchard farms, and tea gardens dominate the farmland areas in the basin, and are scattered around on both sides of the river corridor. An integrated watershed management model (IWMM) was applied for simulating the water quality and evaluating NPS pollutant loads to the I-Liao Creek. The model was calibrated and verified with collected water quality and soil data, and was used to investigate potential NPS pollution management plans. Simulated results indicate that NPS pollution has significant contributions to the nutrient loads to the I-Liao Creek during the wet season. Results also reveal that NPS pollution plays an important role in the deterioration of downstream water quality and caused significant increase in nutrient loads into the basin's water bodies. Simulated results show that source control, land use management, and grassy buffer strip are applicable and feasible BMPs for NPS nutrient loads reduction. GIS system is an important method for land use identification and waste load estimation in the basin. Linking the information of land utilization with the NPS pollution simulation model may further provide essential information of potential NPS pollution for all subregions in the river basin. Results and experience obtained from this study will be helpful in designing the watershed management and NPS pollution control strategies for other similar river basins.