Pollution characteristics of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the southeast coastal cities of China

With the rapid urbanization, the southeast coastal cities of China are facing increasing air pollution in the past decades. Large emissions of VOCs from vehicles and petrochemical factories have contributed greatly to the local air quality deterioration. Investigating the pollution characteristics of VOCs is of great significance to the environmental risk assessment and air quality improvement. Ambient VOC samples were collected simultaneously from nine coastal cities of southeast China using the Tedlar bags, and were subsequently preprocessed and analyzed using a cryogenic preconcentrator and a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry system, respectively. VOC compositions, spatial distributions, seasonal variations and ozone formation potentials (OPFs) were discussed. Results showed that methylene chloride, toluene, isopropyl alcohol and n-hexane were most abundant species, and oxygenated compounds, aromatics and halogenated hydrocarbons were most abundant chemical classes (62.5–95.6 % of TVOCs). Both industrial and vehicular exhausts might contribute greatly to the VOC emissions. The VOC levels in the southeast coastal cities of China were sufficiently high (e.g., 6.5 μg?m^?3 for benzene) to pose a health risk to local people. A more serious pollution state was found in the southern cities of the study region, while higher VOC levels were usually observed in winter. The B/T ratio (0.26?±?0.09) was lower than the typical ratio (ca. 0.6) for roadside samples, while the B/E (1.6–7.6) and T/E (7.2–26.8) ratios were higher than other cities around the world, which indicated a unique emission profile in the study region. Besides, analysis on ozone formation potentials (OFPs) indicated that toluene was the most important species in ozone production with the accountabilities for total OFPs of 22.6 to 59.6 %.     

Biotreatment of chromite ore processing residue by Pannonibacter phragmitetus BB

Chromite ore processing residues (COPR) is the source of the Cr(VI) contamination in the environment. Pannonibacter phragmitetus BB was used to treat two different types of COPRs in this research. The water-soluble Cr(VI) of COPR A and B is 3,982.9 and 1,181.4 mg/kg, respectively. In the column biotreatment process, P. phragmitetus BB can reduce Cr(VI) in the leachate to an undetectable level at the flow rate of 1 and 2 ml/min. In the direct biotreatment process, Cr(VI) in the liquid supernatant of COPR A and B decreased from 265 and 200 mg/l to 145 and 40 mg/kg after 240 h of incubation. In one-step and two-step biotreatment processes, Cr(VI) in the liquid supernatant of both COPRs can be reduced to an undetectable level. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure results indicate that the Cr(VI) concentration of treated COPR A (3.48 mg/l) is lower than the identification standards for hazardous wastes of China (5 mg/l) (GB 5085.6-2007). The information obtained in this study has significance for the application of P. phragmitetus BB to remediate COPR contamination.     

Residues of persistent organic pollutants in frequently-consumed vegetables and assessment of human health risk based on consumption of vegetables in Huizhou,South China

Concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 16 phthalate esters (PAEs), eight organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 17 frequently-consumed varieties of vegetables collected from 48 sites in Huizhou were measured. Concentrations of PAHs and PAEs of leafy vegetables were higher than those of gourd and fruit vegetables but it was the opposite for OCPs and PCBs. A questionnaire of 450 local residents on vegetable consumption showed that the total vegetable ingested rates of females and males were 278.80 g person⁻¹ d⁻¹ and 282.92 g person⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively. The weight-specific daily intakes of pollutants by females were higher than those by males because of differences in body weight. Twenty-seven pollutants were used to assess the potential risk to human health by calculating target hazard quotient (THQ) values. Results showed that the risk to females was higher than for males. OCPs were the major contributors to the risk for both females and males. The main risks were from consumption of eggplant, Chinese lettuce and luffa and were significantly related to the contents of di-nonyl phthalate, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, p,p-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and p,p-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethane in vegetables. Although the THQ values induced by individual pollutants were relatively low, the total THQ values induced by 27 pollutants were above 1 in some administrative regions of Huizhou, which might give cause for concern.     

Assessing benzene-induced toxicity on wild type Euglena gracilis Z and its mutant strain SMZ

Benzene is a representative member of volatile organic compounds and has been widely used as an industrial solvent. Groundwater contamination of benzene may pose risks to human health and ecosystems. Detection of benzene in the groundwater using chemical analysis is expensive and time consuming. In addition, biological responses to environmental exposures are uninformative using such analysis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to employ a microorganism, Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) as a putative model to monitor the contamination of benzene in groundwater. To this end, we examined the wild type of E. gracilis Z and its mutant form, SMZ in their growth rate, morphology, chlorophyll content, formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage in response to benzene exposure. The results showed that benzene inhibited cell growth in a dose response manner up to 48 h of exposure. SMZ showed a greater sensitivity compared to Z in response to benzene exposure. The difference was more evident at lower concentrations of benzene (0.005–5 μM) where growth inhibition occurred in SMZ but not in Z cells. We found that benzene induced morphological changes, formation of lipofuscin, and decreased chlorophyll content in Z strain in a dose response manner. No significant differences were found between the two strains in ROS formation and DNA damage by benzene at concentrations affecting cell growth. Based on these results, we conclude that E. gracilis cells were sensitive to benzene-induced toxicities for certain endpoints such as cell growth rate, morphological change, depletion of chlorophyll. Therefore, it is a potentially suitable model for monitoring the contamination of benzene and its effects in the groundwater.     

Effect of copper(II) on biodegradation of benzo[a]pyrene by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) biodegradation by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was studied under the influence of co-existed Cu(II) ions. About 45% degradation was achieved within 3 d when dealing with 1 mg L^?1 BaP under initial natural pH at 30 °C; degradation reached 48% in 2 d at 35 °C. Efficacy of BaP biodegradation reached the highest point at pH 4. In the presence of 10 mg L^?1 Cu(II) ions, the BaP removal ratio was 45% on 7th day, and maintained stable from 7 to 14 d at 30 °C under natural pH. The favorable temperature and pH for BaP removal was 25 °C and 6.0 respectively, when Cu(II) ions coexisted in the solutions. Experiments on cometabolism indicated that S. maltophilia performed best when sucrose was used as an additional carbon source. GC–MS analysis revealed that the five rings of BaP opened, producing compounds with one or two rings which were more bioavailable.     

养殖固体废物在硝酸和磷酸溶液中的水解特性

养殖固体废物掺杂磷肥工艺中养殖固体废物与酸的反应直接影响其有机组成。以鸡粪为研究对象,采用L16(45)正交试验研究了鸡粪粒径、酸浓度、鸡粪与酸溶液质量比、反应温度和反应时间对鸡粪在硝酸和磷酸溶液中水解过程的影响。结果表明,硝酸溶液中影响因素显著性依次为鸡粪与硝酸质量比、反应时间、硝酸浓度、鸡粪粒径、反应温度,最优工艺条件为鸡粪粒径0.20mm、硝酸质量分数15%、鸡粪与硝酸质量比0.2∶1.0、反应温度95℃、反应时间4h;在磷酸溶液中影响因素显著性依次为鸡粪与磷酸质量比、反应温度、鸡粪粒径、磷酸浓度、反应时间,鸡粪水解率与反应温度间呈正相关关系,最优工艺条件为鸡粪粒径0.40mm、磷酸质量分数60%、鸡粪与磷酸质量比0.1∶1.0、反应温度95℃、反应时间8h。鸡粪比表面积及其单位质量耗酸量、美拉德反应是制约鸡粪在硝酸和磷酸中水解反应的内因。研究结果为养殖固体废物掺杂有机磷肥的研发和推广提供了理论基础。     

基于环境与经济发展协调度评价的生态镇建设探讨——以徐州市大沙河镇为例

随着人地关系的矛盾越来越突出,处理好经济发展与环境保护的关系,将两者高度融合,做到环境与经济的持续协调发展逐渐受到各方重视.以徐州市大沙河镇为例,在区域环境与经济发展协调度评价的基础上探索生态镇的建设模式.结果表明,2010年大沙河镇的环境综合发展指数为1.584,经济综合发展指数为1.182,环境与经济发展的协调度为0.88,处于良好协调状态.最后在评价结果的基础上分析了大沙河生态镇建设的模式.     

离子交换法选择性回收污泥厌氧消化液中的磷

为探讨高效选择性回收污泥厌氧消化液中磷的离子交换方法,采用静态实验和动态实验研究了4种阴离子交换树脂（D213、D202、D301和DSQ）的磷回收性能,筛选了适合富磷污泥厌氧消化液选择性磷回收的高交换容量树脂。实验结果表明,D213、D202、D301和DSQ 4种树脂对正磷浓度为70 mg/L的厌氧消化液进行动态处理时,其最大穿透体积分别为3、7、17和90 BV;DSQ树脂磷交换容量远高于其他3种树脂,达到6 860 mg P/L湿树脂,是目前报道的高磷交换容量树脂的3~4倍;DSQ树脂能有效地抵抗厌氧消化液中有机质和硫酸根等阴离子的干扰;用NaOH溶液再生DSQ树脂并回收磷,磷洗脱率超过96%,洗脱液是高浓度含磷液,可作为磷矿石的优质替代品。研究表明,DSQ树脂是一种高效选择性分离磷的树脂,适用于污泥厌氧消化液的磷回收。     

金属负载型催化剂对烟气脱硫性能的影响

介绍了国内外烟气脱硫催化剂的研究现状,研究了金属氧化物负载型催化剂对烟气脱硫性能的影响。以活性炭(AC)为载体,选用8种不同的金属硝酸盐作为浸渍液,采用等体积浸渍法制备金属氧化物负载型催化剂。以脱硫效果较好的Fe2O3/AC为例,研究了不同焙烧温度、金属负载量以及焙烧时间对催化剂脱硫性能的影响。实验结果表明,Fe2O3/AC催化剂脱硫率随着金属负载量的增加呈递增趋势,最优金属负载量为10.0%(质量分数);脱硫率随着焙烧温度的增加显著提高,最优焙烧温度为350℃;脱硫率随着焙烧时间的增加而提高,最优焙烧时间为3.0h。