Sustainable construction: composite use of tyres and ash in concrete

An investigation was carried out to establish the physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics of a non-standard (unprocessed) pulverised fuel ash (PFA) and waste tyres from a former landfill site at the Power Station Hill near Church Village, South Wales, United Kingdom. Investigations are on-going to establish the suitability of the fly ash and/or tyres in road construction (embankment and pavement) and also in concrete to be used in the construction of the proposed highway. This paper reports on concrete-based construction where concrete blends (using various levels of PFA as partial replacement for Portland cement (PC), and shredded waste tyres (chips 15-20mm) as aggregate replacement) were subjected to unconfined compressive strength tests to establish performance, hence, optimising mix designs. Strength development up to 180 days for the concrete made with PC-PFA blends as binders (PC-PFA concrete), with and without aggregate replacement with tyre chips, is reported. The binary PC-PFA concrete does not have good early strength but tends to improve at longer curing periods. The low early strength observed means that PC-PFA concrete cannot be used for structures, hence, only as low to medium strength applications such as blinding, low-strength foundations, crash barriers, noise reduction barriers, cycle paths, footpaths and material for pipe bedding.     

TiO_2/PTh/Fe_3O_4催化剂制备及光催化与磁回收性能

以聚噻吩磁性微珠PTh/Fe3O4(PF)为载体,采用低温水热法(170℃,pH=7±0.2)在其表面负载TiO2,制备了壳/壳/核结构的磁载光催化剂TiO2/PTh/Fe3O4(TPTF)。用透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、傅里叶红外分光光度计(FT-IR)、振动样品磁强计(VSM)对催化剂的形貌、物相组成、表面性质、磁学性质进行了表征。以苯酚为模拟污染物,评价其光催化活性;通过自制的磁回收装置,考察其磁回收特性。结果表明,TiO2晶粒大小在4~6 nm之间,具有混晶结构(锐钛矿型占93.6%,金红石型占6.4%);当nTiO2∶n噻吩单体∶nFe3O4=75∶2.5∶1时,TPTF的催化活性最佳;P25、纯TiO2、TPTF(nTiO2∶n噻吩单体:nFe3O4=75∶2.5∶1)和TiO2/Fe3O4(TF)光催化降解苯酚的速率常数分别是0.0371、0.0302、0.0253和0.0106 min-1;TPTF循环使用5次,其反应速率常数、饱和磁化强度以及磁回收率为0.0205 min-1、1.59emu/g和89.3%,比第1次的0.0253 min-1、1.85 emu/g和94.7%略有降低。     

羽毛角蛋白海绵材料对亚甲基蓝的吸附去除

以羽毛角蛋白提取后产生的残渣为原料,采用简单物理法制得角蛋白海绵材料,通过扫描电镜和红外光谱对其表观形貌和表面结构进行表征,同时以亚甲基蓝染料作为实验对象,考察制得的海绵材料对其吸附特性和去除效果。结果表明,当吸附平衡时间为1 440 min、亚甲基蓝溶液初始浓度为100 mg/L、海绵材料投加量为0.06 g、反应温度为25℃、溶液pH为7.0时,海绵材料对亚甲基蓝的吸附去除率可达98%以上,同时由Langmuir等温吸附模型拟合结果可知,海绵材料对亚甲基蓝的最大吸附量可达151.5 mg/g。因此,将羽毛角蛋白提取后产生的残渣可制备良好的染料吸附剂,取得良好的环境效益。     

混合液回流比对改良A~2O工艺效果的调控作用

考察了不同混合液回流比(Ri)条件下,改良A2O工艺的效果。COD去除率受Ri的影响较小,Ri=200%、300%和400%时的COD去除率分别为83.3%、79.9%和84.3%。氮的去除率受其影响明显。不同Ri所引起的缺氧池硝态氮负荷以及实际水力停留时间的变化,使得TN和NH3-N的去除率呈现相互制约的关系。此外,硝酸盐作为反硝化除磷过程的电子受体,Ri为200%和300%时,其浓度较高,对应的TP平均去处率可分别高达73.3%和85.3%;而缺氧池硝酸盐浓度相对较低时(Ri=400%),TP平均去处率仅为54.4%。应对不同进水水质情况对系统脱氮除磷效率提出的要求,可选择适当的Ri,协调工艺对TN、NH3-N以及TP的去除能力,同时,满足较高出水标准的要求。     

Comparison of morphological defences in asexually and sexually reproduced eggs of Daphnia (D. galeata and D. similis) against fish kairomones

In the present study, we investigated morphological changes of hatchlings from asexually and sexually produced eggs of Daphnia galeata and D. similis against fish kairomones. In both species, hatchlings from asexual eggs showed induced traits, such as short body length, long tail spine and high relative tail spine length when influenced by fish kairomones. However, hatchlings from sexual eggs expressed high relative tail spine length regardless of kairomones presence. The results showed that the inducibility of morphological defences depends on the egg type, with inducible defences predominant in asexual eggs while fixed defences are employed by the offspring of sexual eggs in Daphnia.     

Response of photosynthetic and growth characteristic of Mosla chinensis and congenerous weed M. scabra to soil water content

Heterogeneity of precipitation could influence various physiological and ecological processes of plants. We present a comparative study on the ecophysiological responses of two congenerous species, Mosla chinensis (an endemic species) and M. scabra (a weedy species), to four soil water content (20%, 40%, 60% and 90% of water holding capacity (WHC), referred to as W20, W40, W60 and W90, respectively) to understand their ecophysiological responses and ecological differentiation. Results showed that both species grew well from W40 to W90, as they showed higher photosynthetic rate and biomass and bigger plants under these soil water content. However, biomass, chlorophyll a to b ratio (Chl _a/b) and root to shoot ratio (R/S) of M. scabra but not M. chinensis were significantly reduced under W20, indicating M. chinensis showed stronger capacity of sun-acclimation under severe drought than M. scabra. M. chinensis showed priority in adapting severe drought in comparison with M. scabra. We hypothesize that the different adaptive abilities to soil water content are partly responsible for their ecological differentiation observed in the field and may affect their fate in their native habitat.     

Anatomical and physiological responses of Colorado blue spruce to vehicle exhausts

In order to examine whether the leaves of the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) are damaged or not by traffic pollution, the traits of the anatomy and physiology of its leaves are investigated by exposure to vehicle exhausts in a laboratory experiment lasting 30 days. The results show that both the anatomical structures and physiological traits of the leaves are significantly affected by vehicle exhausts. The anatomical structures, including epidermis, cuticle, palisade, and spongy parenchyma are modified when exposed to the high concentrations (≥0.4 mg/m³) of vehicle exhausts. However, physiological traits such as total chlorophyll content are not changed when exposed to different concentrations of vehicle exhaust. Unlike the total chlorophyll content, the electrical conductivities increased, whereas the POD activities decreased when presented in vehicle exhausts. The present study indicates that the Colorado blue spruce changes its anatomical structures and physiological traits to avoid possible damage by vehicle exhausts.     

The influence of long-term fertilization on cadmium (Cd) accumulation in soil and its uptake by crops

Continuous application of organic and inorganic fertilizers can affect soil and food quality with respect to heavy metal concentrations. The risk of cadmium (Cd) contamination in a long-term (over 20 years) experimental field in North China with an annual crop rotation of winter wheat and summer maize was investigated. The long-term experiment had a complete randomized block design with seven fertilizer treatments and four replications. The seven fertilizer treatments were (1) organic compost (OM), (2) half organic compost plus half chemical fertilizer (OM?+?NPK), (3) NPK fertilizer (NPK), (4–6) chemical fertilizers without one of the major nutrients (NP, PK, and NK), and (7) an unamended control (CK). Soil samples from 0 to 20 cm were collected in 1989, 1999, and 2009 to characterize Cd and other soil properties. During the past 20 years, various extents of Cd accumulation were observed in the soil, and the accumulation was mainly affected by atmospheric dry and wet deposition and fertilization. In 2009, the average Cd concentration in the soil was 148?±?15 μg kg^?1 and decreased in the order of NPK?≈?OM?+?NKP?≈?PK?>?NP?≈?NK?>?OM?≈?CK. Sequential extraction of Cd showed that the acid-soluble fraction (F1, 32?±?7 %) and the residual fraction (F4, 31?±?5 %) were the dominant fractions of Cd in the soil, followed by the reducible fraction (F2, 22?±?5 %) and oxidizable fraction (F3, 15?±?6 %). The acid-soluble Cd fraction in the soil and Cd accumulation in the crops increased with soil plant available K. Fraction F3 was increased by soil organic C (SOC) and crop yields, but SOC reduced the uptake of soil Cd by crops. The long-term P fertilization resulted in more Cd buildup in the soil than other treatments, but the uptake of Cd by crops was inhibited by the precipitation of Cd with phosphate in the soil. Although soil Cd was slightly increased over the 20 years of intensive crop production, both soil and grain/kernel Cd concentrations were still below the national standards for environmental and food safety.     

The association between maternal nonylphenol exposure and parity on neonatal birth weight: A cohort study in Taiwan

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the association between NP exposure and parity and their effect on neonatal birth weight.

Methods

A cohort of pregnant women was established in a medical center in North Taiwan. Urinary NP concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescent detection and adjusted using creatinine. A multivariable regression model was fit to determine the association between the maternal NP level in each trimester and neonatal birth weight. The odds ratios (ORs) of infant birth weight below the 10th, 25th, and 50th percentiles, comparing pregnant women with the different NP exposure levels, was estimated using a logistic regression.

Results

Of the 162 pregnant women in the study, 99 were multiparas and 63 were primiparas. After adjusting for other covariates, the NP level in the second trimester had a significant association with birth weight in the primiparas (β = −182.49 g, p value = 0.02). The OR of low infant birth weight, comparing pregnant women with different NP levels, was increased by decreasing the cutoff percentile for birth weight (OR = 1.18 for the 50th percentile, 2.12 for the 25th percentile, and 7.81 for the 10th percentile). The odds of primiparas with high NP level having a low neonatal birth weight increased to 3.87, 11.77, and 9.40 for the three different percentiles (p value < 0.05).

Conclusion

Maternal NP exposure level is associated with an increased risk of low neonatal weight. Primiparas are especially at risk, and the second trimester of pregnancy may be the critical stage of exposure.     

Prevalence of low chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofurans in human serum

Mono- to tri-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofurans (DD/Fs) have not been studied as extensively as the 17 toxic 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners. In this study for the first time, mono- to octa-chlorinated DD/Fs were analyzed for seventy one human serum samples collected from incinerator workers as well as residents living near and far from the facility. The mean concentrations of ∑Cl_1–8DD/Fs and 17-toxic congeners were 1890 and 398 pg g^?1 lipid (11.9 TEQ pg g^?1 lipid), respectively. 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, and 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD were predominant congeners that accounted for more than 78% of the TEQ concentrations. The profile for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) was dominated by the most chlorinated congener, OCDD (>58%), while decreasing concentrations with increasing degree of chlorination were seen for polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs); MoCDFs (>83%) and DiCDFs (>6%). ∑Cl_1–3DD/Fs accounted for 77% of the serum concentrations of ∑Cl_1–8DD/Fs. These findings confirm that human beings are exposed to a large amount of ∑Cl_1–3DD/Fs. Moreover, MoCDFs contributed more than 60% of the ∑Cl_1–8DD/Fs and was highly correlated with ∑Cl_1–8DD/Fs. Thus, 2-MoCDF could be a predictive indicator for ∑Cl_1–8DD/Fs (r_s = 0.96), and the combination of 2-MoCDF and OCDD could explain the 95.9% variation in the serum of ∑Cl_1–8DD/Fs. These results suggest that low chlorinated DD/Fs should be studied extensively until these low chlorinated congeners will have been elucidated for their toxicities.