Nutrient removal in tropical subsurface flow constructed wetlands under batch and continuous flow conditions

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of batch versus continuous flow on the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen (N) and total phosphorus (TP) in tropical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (SSF CW). The quantitative role of the higher aquatic plants in nutrient removal in these two operational modes was also investigated. Results indicated no significant difference (p > 0.05) in COD removal between batch and continuous flow modes for either the planted or unplanted treatments. Furthermore, the batch-loaded planted wetlands showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher ammonium removal efficiencies (95.2%) compared with the continuously fed systems (80.4%), most probably because the drain and fill batch mode presented systematically more oxidized environmental conditions. With respect to TP removal, for both planted and unplanted beds, there was significant enhancement (p < 0.05) in batch flow operation (69.6% for planted beds; 39.1% for unplanted beds) as compared to continuous flow operation (46.8% for planted beds; 25.5% for unplanted beds). In addition, at a 4-day hydraulic retention time (HRT), the presence of plants significantly enhanced both ammonia oxidation and TP removal in both batch and continuous modes of operation as compared to that for unplanted beds. An estimation of the quantitative role of aeration from drain and fill operation at a 4-day HRT, as compared to rhizosphere aeration by the higher aquatic plant, indicated that drain and fill operation might account for only less than half of the higher aquatic plant's quantitative contribution of oxygen (1.55 g O2 per m2 per day for batch flow versus 1.13 g O2 per m2 per day for continuous flow).     

Environmental lead pollution threatens the children living in the Pearl River Delta region, China

Introduction and purpose

The objective of this study is to determine children??s blood lead levels and identify sources of lead exposure. Childhood lead exposure constitutes a major pediatric health problem today in China. A blood lead screening survey program for children in the age group of 2?C12?years residing in Pearl River Delta region, south of China, was carried out from Dec 2007 to Jan 2008.

Methods

Blood lead levels and lead isotope ratios of a total of 761 participants were assessed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Measurements of urban environmental samples for source identification of children lead exposure were also performed.

Results and conclusions

The geometric mean value of the children??s blood lead levels was 57.05???g/L, and 9.6% of them were higher than 100???g/L. The blood lead levels were still much higher than those in developed countries. Based on the data of environmental lead source inventories, lead isotopic tracing revealed that there is about 6.7% past used gasoline Pb embedded in Shenzhen residential dust and about 15.6% in Guangzhou dust, respectively.     

高硬度富锶地下水的软化沉淀-超滤膜联用工艺

针对一种高硬度富锶地下水,分别采用石灰和石灰-碳酸钠两种方法,利用药剂软化/超滤膜工艺对其进行软化处理,同时考察了药剂投量对出水锶含量的影响。结果表明,采用石灰软化/超滤膜法,Ca(OH)2最佳投加量为270 mg/L时,出水总硬度(以CaCO3计)由287.12 mg/L降低到96.44 mg/L,硬度去除率为66.41%,出水锶含量也由原水中的0.37 mg/L下降为0.21 mg/L;而采用石灰-碳酸钠软化/超滤膜法,Ca(OH)2和Na2CO3最佳投加量分别为270 mg/L、160mg/L时,出水总硬度降低到60.34 mg/L,硬度去除率达78.98%,锶含量仅为0.02 mg/L。2种处理方法出水总硬度均达到预期目标,石灰软化/超滤膜法可使出水锶含量满足富锶水的要求,而石灰-碳酸钠软化/超滤膜法则造成了对人体有益微量元素锶的大量损失。     

新型活性污泥的培养及其处理高盐有机废水

在好氧反应器中,将海泥通过海水和营养物质培养成新型的活性污泥,在处理含盐废水时有较好的活性和沉降性能,对这种新型的活性污泥我们称其为海洋活性污泥。通过10周的培养,海泥的污泥体积指数（SVI）从最初的19 mL/g升高到70 mL/g,对有机废水处理12 h后高锰酸盐指数（CODMn）降解率达到90%,氨氮降解率达到45%。在污泥培养时,营养物质投加频率为一日一次最有利于污泥的培养,又葡萄糖比淀粉更有利于污泥的培养。对于含盐有机废水的处理,海洋活性污泥也比传统活性污泥有优势,甚至对于含盐量6%的高盐有机废水,处理12 h后能达到CODMn降解率达为70%,氨氮降解率达到30%。当NaCl浓度高于6%,海洋活性污泥仍具有一定的活性,但仍能观察到明显的抑制作用。此外,海洋活性污泥具有比传统活性污泥更强的盐度变化抗性,甚至在低盐度下盐浓度变化时,海洋活性污泥的氨氮降解稳定性也优于传统活性污泥。     

超临界水氧化法处理造纸黑液

采用自制的超临界水氧化反应装置,对造纸工业排放的黑液进行处理。考察了反应温度、反应压力、反应时间、过氧量(初始反应时所加氧气的量与废水完全氧化所需氧气的理论量的比,%)等对黑液中COD去除率的影响。实验结果表明,处理黑液的最佳反应条件为:反应温度500℃,压力26M Pa,过氧量500%,反应时间120s。在此最佳条件下处理COD为85 000m g/L的造纸黑液,COD去除率可达99.9%。     

油气田工程职业病危害控制效果评价常见问题与对策

根据建设项目职业病危害控制效果评价技术导则要求,通过对油气田地面工程职业病危害控制效果评价及职业病防护设施竣工验收的实践经验,归纳评价过程中现场调查及检测常见的实际问题及难点,总结经验,探讨解决对策,使油气田建设项目职业病危害控制效果评价更加科学、公正、客观、真实。     

滨海新区能源消费环境库兹涅茨曲线的实证分析

利用滨海新区2000—2007年人均GDP、单位GDP能耗及能源消费总量等指标的时间序列数据,拟合现状滨海新区能源消费环境库兹涅茨曲线(EKC)。基于情景分析法,预测了2006—2020年滨海新区经济发展与能源消耗响应关系及发展趋势,并对其EKC曲线形状做了进一步分析。结果表明,现阶段滨海新区能源消费总量与人均GDP相关关系不存在EKC假说,并且按目前发展态势,未来能源消费总量仍趋于不断增长。通过强有力的技术进步、结构调整、可再生能源开发利用以及相关法律、政策干预等措施,滨海新区可以在较低的人均GDP水平实现能源消费总量与经济增长的完全"脱钩"。     

Using diatom indices for water quality assessment in a subtropical river, China

Diatoms have been regularly used as bioindicators to assess water quality of surface waters. However, diatom-based indices developed for a specific geographic region may not be appropriate elsewhere. We sampled benthic diatom assemblages in the upper Han River, a subtropical river in China, to evaluate applicability of 14 diatom-based indices used worldwide for water quality assessment. A total of 194 taxa from 31 genera were identified in the dry season and 139 taxa from 23 genera in the wet season. During the dry season, significant relationships were found for all but one of the diatom-based indices (Index Diatom Artois–Picardie) with one or more physical and chemical variables including nutrients and ion concentrations in river waters. The Biological Diatom Index (IBD) and diatom-based eutrophication/pollution index (EPI-D) were strongly related to trophic status and ionic content, while Watanabe’s Index was related to organic pollution and conductivity. Yet, the diatom indices showed weak relationships with physical and chemical variables during the wet season. It suggests that diatom-based indices developed in Europe can be applied with confidence as bioindicators of water quality in subtropical rivers of China, at least during base-flow conditions.     

Degradation of bisphenol A in aqueous solution by persulfate activated with ferrous ion

Degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution was studied with high-efficiency sulfate radical (SO₄ ^?·), which was generated by the activation of persulfate (S₂O₈ ^2?) with ferrous ion (Fe²⁺). S₂O₈ ^2? was activated by Fe²⁺ to produce SO₄ ^?·, and iron powder (Fe⁰) was used as a slow-releasing source of dissolved Fe²⁺. The major oxidation products of BPA were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. The mineralization efficiency of BPA was monitored by total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer. BPA removal efficiency was improved by the increase of initial S₂O₈ ^2? or Fe²⁺ concentrations and then decreased with excess Fe²⁺ concentration. The adding mode of Fe²⁺ had significant impact on BPA degradation and mineralization. BPA removal rates increased from 49 to 97 % with sequential addition of Fe²⁺, while complete degradation was observed with continuous diffusion of Fe²⁺, and the latter achieved higher TOC removal rate. When Fe⁰ was employed as a slow-releasing source of dissolved Fe²⁺, 100 % of BPA degradation efficiency was achieved, and the highest removal rate of TOC (85 %) was obtained within 2 h. In the Fe⁰–S₂O₈ ^2? system, Fe⁰ as the activator of S₂O₈ ^2? could offer sustainable oxidation for BPA, and higher TOC removal rate was achieved. It was proved that Fe⁰–S₂O₈ ^2? system has perspective for future works.     

Fate of caffeine in mesocosms wetland planted with Scirpus validus

Uptake, accumulation and translocation of caffeine by Scirpus validus grown in hydroponic condition were investigated. The plants were cultivated in Hoagland’s nutrient solution spiked with caffeine at concentrations of 0.5–2.0 mg L^?1. The effect of photodegradation on caffeine elimination was determined in dark controls and proved to be negligible. Removal of caffeine in mesocosms without plants showed however that biodegradation could account for about 15–19% of the caffeine lost from solutions after 3 and 7 d. Plant uptake played a significant role in caffeine elimination. Caffeine was detected in both roots and shoots of S. validus. Root concentrations of caffeine were 0.1–6.1 μg g^?1, while the concentrations for shoots were 6.4–13.7 μg g^?1. A significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between the concentration in the root and the initial concentrations in the nutrient solution was observed. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of caffeine for roots ranged from 0.2 to 3.1, while BAFs for shoots ranged from 3.2 to 16.9. Translocation from roots to shoots was the major pathway of shoot accumulation. The fraction of caffeine in the roots as a percentage of the total caffeine mass in solution was limited to 0.2–4.4% throughout the whole experiment, while shoot uptake percentage ranged from 12% to 25% for caffeine at the initial concentration of 2.0 mg L^?1 to 50–62% for caffeine at the initial concentration of 0.5 mg L^?1. However, a marked decrease in the concentration of caffeine in the shoots between d-14 and d-21 suggests that caffeine may have been catabolized in the plant tissues subsequent to plant uptake and translocation.