Effect of air-exposed biocathode on the performance of a Thauera-dominated membraneless single-chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC)

To investigate the effect of air-exposed biocathode(AEB) on the performance of singlechamber microbial fuel cell(SCMFC), wastewater quality, bioelectrochemical characteristics and the electrode biofilms were researched. It was demonstrated that exposing the biocathode to air was beneficial to nitrogen removal and current generation. In Test 1 of 95%AEB, removal rates of ammonia, total nitrogen(TN) and chemical oxygen demand(COD)reached 99.34% ± 0.11%, 99.34% ± 0.10% and 90.79% ± 0.12%, respectively. The nitrogen removal loading rates were 36.38 g N/m~3/day. Meanwhile, current density and power density obtained at 0.7 A/m3 and 104 m W/m~3 respectively. Further experiments on opencircuit(Test 2) and carbon source(Test 3) indicated that this high performance could be attributed to simultaneous biological nitrification/denitrification and aerobic denitrification, as well as bioelectrochemical denitrification. Results of community analysis demonstrated that both microbial community structures on the surface of the cathode and in the liquid of the chamber were different. The percentage of Thauera, identified as denitrifying bacteria, maintained at a high level of over 50% in water, but decreased gradually in the AEB. Moreover, the genus Nitrosomonas, Alishewanella, Arcobacter and Rheinheimera were significantly enriched in the AEB, which might contribute to both enhancement of nitrogen removal and electricity generation.     

Water level fluctuations influence microbial communities and mercury methylation in soils in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Reservoirs tend to have enhanced methylmercury(MeHg) concentrations compared to natural lakes and rivers, and water level fluctuations can promote MeHg production. Until now, little research has been conducted on the effects of microorganisms in soils for the formation of MeHg during different drying and flooding alternating conditions in the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR). This study aimed to understand how water level fluctuations affect soil microbial composition and mercury concentrations, and if such microbial variations are related to Hg methylation. The results showed that MeHg concentrations and the ratios of MeHg to THg(MeHg%) in soils were higher in the seasonally drying and flooding alternating areas(DFAs, 175–155 m) than those in the non-inundated(NIAs, 175 m) and inundated areas(IAs, 145 m). However, MeHg% in all samples was less than 1%, indicating that the Hg methylation activity in the soils of the TGR was under a low level. 454 highthroughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene amplicons showed that soil bacterial abundance and diversity were relatively higher in DFA compared to those in NIA and IA, and microbial community composition varied in these three areas. At the family level, those groups in Deltaproteobacteria and Methanomicrobia that might have many Hg methylators were also showed a higher relative abundance in DFA, which might be the reason for the higher MeHg production in these areas. Overall, our results suggested that seasonally water level fluctuations can enhance the microbial abundance and diversity, as well as MeHg production in the TGR.     

基于CMAQ与前馈神经网络的区域大气污染物浓度快速响应模型

建立大气污染可控源排放-复合污染水平的函数关系,实现给定排放情景下环境污染物浓度的实时响应,是大气污染物浓度预测与减排效果评估等的重要技术前提.本研究对污染物浓度影响因子变化空间进行拉丁超立方采样,使用CMAQ区域多尺度空气质量模型的预测值作为输入数据,通过前馈神经网络模型构建基于统计机器学习的长三角区域污染物浓度快速响应模型.结果表明经过模型结构选择与参数调整,基于前馈神经网络的快速响应模型能够快速准确还原出不同减排情景下长三角区域PM_(2.5)浓度的预测值.外部验证情景下相关系数CORR达到0.999以上,MB与ME均值达到了-0.046μg·m~(-3)和0.6162μg·m~(-3),实现了比RSM更加快速与准确的预测,不同时段与不同污染物浓度的准确预测则验证了其普适性.     

海坛岛群综合承载力分区评价

以海坛岛及周边岛屿为研究对象,构建基于生态环境保护-社会经济发展双导向的岛群综合承载力评价指标体系,采用遥感影像解译和GIS综合评价方法,评价岛群综合承载力的空间分布状况,将研究区划分为较高承载区域、中等承载区域、低承载区域。结果表明:在研究区范围内,较高承载区域占38.66%,大部分分布在海坛岛中部和近岸海域;中等承载区域占53.81%,分布在海坛岛南部及周边海域;低承载区域占7.53%,分布在南部岛群、东庠岛近岸海域。从可持续发展角度区域开发中应科学合理地维护林地、湿地等重要生态源地的系统性与联系性,从宏观尺度上应引导城镇聚集并对城镇化的不良后果予以积极预防和有效调控,从而降低城镇化的生态风险,提高综合承载能力。     

和田市城区PM2.5化学组成特征及来源分析

为了解中国极干旱区域和田市城区大气PM_2.5的组成特征及污染水平,于2014年1-12月采集和田市城区大气PM_2.5样品,并用气相色谱-质谱联用仪（GC-MS）、离子色谱仪（IC）、电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（ICP-MS）及元素分析仪分析其中PAHs（多环芳烃）、金属元素、水溶性无机离子、OC（有机碳）和EC（元素碳）等化学组分.结果表明,采样期间和田市城区大气PM_2.5质量浓度年均值为（770.11±568.01）μg/m3,呈夏季最高、冬季最低趋势;金属元素、水溶性无机离子、OC、EC、∑₁₆ PAHs（总多环芳烃）分别占PM_2.5质量浓度的15.292%、9.789%、4.246%、0.331%、0.015%.利用PMF（正交矩阵因子分解法）分别对PM_2.5中PAHs和金属元素、水溶性无机离子、OC、EC进行来源解析表明,PAHs主要来源为煤和汽油燃烧排放（13.91%）、生物质燃烧（33.98%）、天然气燃烧（52.11%）;金属元素、水溶性无机离子、OC、EC的主要来源为土壤尘（56.49%）、油类燃烧（25.49%）、机动车排放（10.09%）、燃煤及生物质燃烧（7.93%）.研究显示,采样期间沙尘对和田市城区大气PM_2.5组成影响较大,是该地区大气污染来源的主要因素.      

Persistent organochlorine residues in human breast milk from Hanoi and Hochiminh City, Vietnam: contamination, accumulation kinetics and risk assessment for infants

Despite the ban on persistent organochlorines (OCs) in most of the developed nations, their usage continued until recently in many Asian developing countries including Vietnam, for agricultural purposes and vector-borne disease eradication programs. In this study, we collected human breast milk samples from the two big cities in Vietnam: Hanoi (n=42) and Hochiminh (n=44) and determined the concentrations of persistent OCs such as PCBs, DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordane compounds (CHLs) and tris-4-chlorophenyl-methane (TCPMe). The contamination pattern of OCs was in the order of DDTs > PCBs > HCHs > CHLs approximately HCB approximately TCPMe. Compilation of available data indicated that DDT residue levels in human breast milk from Vietnam were among the highest values reported for Asian developing countries as well as developed nations. This result suggests recent usage of DDTs in both north and south Vietnam. Interestingly, in both cities, the p,p'-DDT portion was higher in multiparas than those in primiparas. Considering the fact that the interval between the first and the second child of a mother in Vietnam is usually short, this result probably indicates continuous intake of DDTs in the population. Analysis of infant exposure to DDTs via breast milk suggested that the daily intake rates for number of individuals are close to or above the threshold for adverse effects which may raise concern on children health.     

土壤体系中的化学动力学方程及其应用

本文介绍了土壤体系中常用的化学动力学方程，分析和比较了它们的适用条件，并探讨了它们在土壤肥力与环境保护中的实际应用。     

城区大气污染物—NOx浓度预测预报模式研究

利用道路边大气污染的常年监测数据，对风向与无限线源成任意角的高斯内插大气扩散模式进行了系统测试，分析了影响预报精度的主要因素，在分析武汉市气象因素和天气状况的基础上，对模式进行了恰当地修正，经实测数据验证，预报准确度有了明显地提高。     

Incinerating volatile organic compounds with ferrospinel catalyst MnFe2O4: an example with isopropyl alcohol

This paper concerns the incineration of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) using the ferrospinel catalyst MnFe2O4. It covers the preparation of the ferrospinel catalyst, the screening of catalytic activity, catalytic incineration testing, and 72-hr decay testing of the catalyst. The experimental results of catalyst screening reveal that the Mn/Fe catalyst is the best of five prepared catalysts (chromium/iron [Cr/Fe], manganese/iron [Mn/Fe], zinc/iron [Zn/Fe], nickel/iron [Ni/Fe], and pure magnetite [Fe3O4]). In tests of the catalytic incineration system used to convert IPA, 98% conversion was obtained at a space velocity of 24,000 hr(-1), an oxygen (O2) content of 21%, 1700 ppm of IPA, and a reaction temperature of 200 degrees C.     

Optimization of a wet scrubber with electrolyzed water spray—Part II: Airborne culturable bacteria removal

Airborne microorganisms, especially the pathogenic microorganisms, emitted from animal feeding operations (AFOs) may harm the environment and public health and threaten the biosecurity of the farm and surrounding environment. Electrolyzed water (EW), which was considered to be an environmentally friendly disinfectant, may be a potential spraying medium of wet scrubber for airborne microorganism emission reduction. A laboratory test was conducted to investigate the airborne bacteria (CB) removal efficiency of the wet scrubber by EW spray with different designs and operating parameters. Both the available choline (AC) initial loss rate and AC traveling loss rate of acidic electrolyzed water (AEW; pH = 1.35) were much higher than those of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW; pH = 5.50). Using one spraying stage with 4 m sec^?1 air speed in the duct, the no detect lines (NDLs) of SAEW (pH = 5.50) for airborne Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enteritidis removal were all 50 mg L^?1, whereas the NDLs of AEW (pH = 1.35) for airborne E. coli, S. aureus, and S. enteritidis removal increased to 70, 90, and 90 mg L^?1, respectively. The NDLs of SAEW (pH = 5.50) for airborne E. coli, S. aureus, and S. enteritidis were lower than those of AEW (pH = 1.35) at single spraying stage. Increase in the number of stages lowered the NDLs of both SAEW (pH = 5.50) and AEW (pH = 1.35) for airborne E. coli, S. aureus, and S. enteritidis. EW with a higher available chlorine concentration (ACC) was needed at air speed of 6 m sec^?1 to reach the same airborne CB removal efficiency as that at air speed of 4 m sec^?1. The results of this study demonstrated that EW spray wet scrubbers could be a very effective and feasible airborne CB mitigation technology for AFOs.

Implications: It is difficult to effectively reduce airborne bacteria emitted from animal feeding operations (AFOs). Electrolyzed water (EW) with disinfection effect and acidity is a potential absorbent for spray in wet scrubber to remove microorganisms and ammonia. Based on the field test results, a laboratory experiment we conducted this time was to optimize the design and operation parameters to improve the airborne bacteria removal efficiency. A better understanding of the EW application in the wet scrubber can contribute to the mitigation of airborne bacteria from animal houses and improve the atmosphere air quality.