Enhancement of thermophilic anaerobic digestion of thickened waste activated sludge by combined microwave and alkaline pretreatment

Pretreatment of thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) by combined microwave and alkaline pretreatment (MAP) was studied to improve thermophilic anaerobic digestion efficiency. Uniform design was applied to determine the combination of target temperature (110–210°C), microwave holding time (1–51 min), and NaOH dose (0–2.5 g NaOH/g suspended solids (SS)) in terms of their effect on volatile suspended solids (VSS) solubilization. Maximum solubilization ratio (85.1%) of VSS was observed at 210°C with 0.2 g-NaOH/g-SS and 35 min holding time. The effects of 12 different pretreatment methods were investigated in 28 thermophilic batch reactors by monitoring cumulative methane production (CMP). Improvements in methane production in the TWAS were directly related to the microwave and alkaline pretreatment of the sludge. The highest CMP was a 27% improvement over the control. In spite of the increase in soluble chemical oxygen demand concentration and the decrease in dewaterability of digested sludge, a semi-continuous thermophilic reactor fed with pretreated TWAS without neutralization (at 170°C with 1 min holding time and 0.05 g NaOH/g SS) was stable and functioned well, with volatile solid (VS) and total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) reductions of 28% and 18%, respectively, which were higher than those of the control system. Additionally, methane yields (L@STP/g-CODadded, at standard temperature and pressure (STP) conditions of 0°C and 101.325 kPa) and (L@STP/g VSadded) increased by 17% and 13%, respectively, compared to the control reactor.     

Removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution using red loess as an adsorbent

The adsorption behaviors of heavy metals onto novel low-cost adsorbent, red loess, were investigated. Red loess was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectra. The results indicated that red loess mainly consisted of silicate, ferric and aluminum oxides. Solution pH, adsorbent dosage, initial metal concentration, contact time and temperature significantly influenced the efficiency of heavy metals removal. The adsorption reached equilibrium at 4 hr, and the experimental equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir monolayer adsorption model. The adsorption of Cu(II) and Zn(II) onto red loess was endothermic, while the adsorption of Pb(II) was exothermic. The maximum adsorption capacities of red loess for Pb(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) were estimated to be 113.6, 34.2 and 17.5 mg/g, respectively at 25°C and pH 6. The maximum removal efficiencies were 100% for Pb(II) at pH 7, 100% for Cu(II) at pH 8, and 80% for Zn(II) at pH 8. The used adsorbents were readily regenerated using dilute HC1 solution, indicating that red loess has a high reusability. All the above results demonstrated that red loess could be used as a possible alternative low-cost adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution.     

化学品测试合格实验室体系建设与发展

根据《新化学物质环境管理办法》要求,为新化学物质申报目的提供测试数据的境内测试机构,应当为环境保护部公告的化学物质测试机构,并接受环境保护部的监督和检查。拟通过借鉴国际合格实验室规范(GLP)基本原则和国内其他GLP认证工作经验做法,结合环境保护部已开展的检查考核工作和化学品测试实验室实际情况,探讨化学品测试合格实验室的管理现状和存在的问题,旨在为推动我国化学品测试合格实验室体系建设提供新的管理思路。     

论经济欠发达地区如何建设生态工业园区——以千里山工业园区为例

资源和环境问题已成为各界关注的焦点,工业园区向现代生态工业因区建设转变是新形势生态文明下的必然要求。文章以内蒙古乌海市海勃湾区千里山工业园区为例,阐述了该工业园区建立生态型工业园区的可行性。     

环境保护基层行政管理部门的执法完善

文章针对我国环境保护基层管理部门在执法过程中遇到的问题,分析了基层环保部门执法力度不足的主要原因,并就此进行了探讨,提出了提高执法效能的若干建议。通过分析解决问题,力求加大基层环保执法力度,促进环境保护制度的发展。     

含油废水处理技术

概述了含油废水的来源、特点、分类及危害,介绍了含油废水的处理方法的原理、优势及存在的问题,同时简述了各种处理方法的最新研究成果,最后提出了含油废水发展趋势。     

Primary neuronal-astrocytic co-culture platform for neurotoxicity assessment of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Plastics such as polyvinyl chlorides （PVC） are widely used in many indoor constructed environments; however, their unbound chemicals, such as di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalates （DEHP）, can leach into the surrounding environment. This study focused on DEHP＇s effect on the central nervous system by determining the precise DEHP content in mice brain tissue after exposure to the chemical, to evaluate the specific exposure range. Primary neuronal-astrocyte co-culture systems were used as in vitro models for chemical hazard identification of DEHP. Oxidative stress was hypothesized as a probable mechanism involved, and therefore the total reactive oxygen species （ROS） concentration was determined as a biomarker of oxidative stress. In addition, NeuriteTracer, a neurite tracing plugin with ImageJ, was used to develop an assay for neurotoxicity to provide quantitative measurements of neurological parameters, such as neuronal number, neuron count and neurite length, all of which could indicate neurotoxic effects. The results showed that with 1 nmol/L DEHP exposure, there was a significant increase in ROS concentrations, indicating that the neuronal-astrocyte cultures were injured due to exposure to DEHP. In response, astrocyte proliferation （gliosis） was initiated, serving as a mechanism to maintain a homeostatic environment for neurons and protect neurons from toxic chemicals. There is a need to assess the cumulative effects of DEHP in animals to evaluate the possible uotake and effects on the human neuronal system from exoosure to DEHP in the indoor environment.     

Efectiveness of national air pollution control policies on the air quality in metropolitan areas of China

Understanding the efectiveness of national air pollution controls is important for control policy design to improve the future air quality in China. This study evaluated the efectiveness of major national control policies implemented recently in China through a modeling analysis. The sulfur dioxide(SO2) control policy during the 11th Five Year Plan period(2006–2010) had succeeded in reducing the national SO2emission in 2010 by 14% from its 2005 level, which correspondingly reduced ambient SO2and sulfate(SO4 2) concentrations by 13%–15% and 8%–10% respectively over east China. The nitrogen oxides(NOx) control policy during the 12th Five Year Plan period(2011–2015) targets the reduction of the national NOx emission in 2015 by 10% on the basis of 2010. The simulation results suggest that such a reduction in NOx emission will reduce the ambient nitrogen dioxide(NO2), nitrate(NO3), 1-hr maxima ozone(O3) concentrations and total nitrogen deposition by 8%, 3%–14%, 2% and 2%–4%, respectively over east China. The application of new emission standards for power plants will further reduce the NO2, NO3, 1-hr maxima O3concentrations and total nitrogen deposition by 2%–4%, 1%–6%, 0–2% and 1%–2%, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the inter-provincial impacts of emission reduction in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Yangtze River Delta, which indicated the need to implement joint regional air pollution control.     

V2O5/TiO2催化剂脱除NO的研究

采用了等体积浸渍法制备二氧化钛负载钒氧化物催化剂（V2O5/TiO2）,研究了V2O5负载量、反应温度、烟气流量、氨氮比以及运行时间各因素对NH3选择性催化还原NO反应（SCR）效率的影响.研究结果表明：经过500℃温度下煅烧,烟气流量为200ml/min,负载量为7wt％的V2O5/TiO2催化剂,在400℃温度下反应,NO脱除率可达70.5％.     

从雾霾防治的环境保护执法问题看行政能力建设

雾霾是近年出现的因空气质量恶化引起的气象灾害,我国多地区均出现过不同程度的雾霾天气。雾霾天气使社会各界对环境的忧虑提升到了空前的高度。本文拟从环境保护行政执法的角度浅谈雾霾防治,阐述了当前雾霾防治的环保执法问题和相关建议。