Progress in developing an ANN model for air pollution index forecast

An air pollution index (API) reporting system is introduced to selected cities of China for public communication on air quality data. Shanghai is the first city in China providing daily average API reports and forecasts. This paper describes the development of an artificial neural network (ANN) model for the API forecasting in Shanghai. It is a multiple layer perceptron (MLP) network, with meteorological forecasting data as the main input, to output the next day average API values. However, the initial version of the MLP model did not work well. To improve the model, a series of tests were conducted with respect to the training method and structure optimization. Based on the test results, the training algorithm was modified and a new model was built. The new model is now being used in Shanghai for API forecasting. Its performance is shown reasonably well in comparison with observation. The application of the old model was only weakly correlated with observation. In 1-year application, the correlation coefficients were 0.2314, 0.1022 and 0.1710 for TSP, SO₂ and NO_x, respectively. But for the new model, for over 8 months application, the correlation coefficients are raised to 0.6056, 0.6993 and 0.6300 for PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO₂. Further, the new algorithm does not rely on manpower intervention so that it is now being applied in several other Chinese cities with quite different meteorological conditions. The structure of the model and the application results are presented in this paper and also the problems to be further studied.     

Comparison on surface properties and desulfurization of MnO2 and pyrolusite blended activated carbon by steam activation

In this study, MnO₂ and pyrolusite were used as the catalysts to prepare modified activated carbon, that is, AC-Mn and AC-P, respectively, from coals by blending method and steam activation. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) results indicated that the AC-P had higher surface areas and micropore volumes than the AC-Mn with the same blending ratio. The relative contents of basic functional groups (i.e., C = O, π-π*) on AC-P were slightly lower than those on AC-Mn, while both contained the same main metal species, namely, MnO. The desulfurization results showed that with 3 wt% of blending ratio, AC-Mn3 and AC-P3 had higher sulfur capacities at 220 and 205 mg/g, respectively, which were much higher than for the blank one (149.6 mg/g). Moreover, the AC-P had relatively higher sulfur capacity than the AC-Mn with the same contents of Mn, which might be attributed to the existence of other metals in pyrolusite. After the desulfurization process, MnO were gradually transferred into MnSO₄, and the relative contents of basic functional groups decreased evidently for both AC-Mn3 and AC-P3. The results demonstrated that pyrolusite could be one good alternative to MnO₂ to prepare modified activated carbon for desulfurization.

Implications: MnO₂ and pyrolusite were used as the additives to prepare modified activated carbon from coals by a blending method and by steam activation, that is, AC-Mn and AC-P, respectively. The AC-P had higher surface areas and micropore volumes than the AC-Mn with the same blending ratio. The AC-Mn and AC-P had higher sulfur capacities than a blank one. Moreover, the AC-P had relatively higher sulfur capacity than the AC-Mn with the same contents of Mn. The results demonstrated that pyrolusite could be one good alternative to MnO₂ to prepare modified activated carbon for desulfurizatio.     

采用TSF技术改善电力变压器运行的安全性

分析了无功功率和高次谐波对电力变压器的危害,介绍了晶闸管投切滤波器(TSF)装置的特点、结构原理．提出了TSF装置在工厂实际应用中的主电路结构,操作及控制方案。实践证明,TSF晶闸管投切滤波器装置起到了高效节能、优化电能质量的作用,保证了电网的安全运行。     

Combined toxicity of imidacloprid,acetochlor, and tebuconazole to zebrafish ( Danio rerio ): acute toxicity and hepatotoxicity assessment

Compound pollution refers to two or more kinds of pollutants with different properties, a pollutant from different sources, or the simultaneous existence of two or more different types of pollutants in the same environment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the individual and combined toxicity of the insecticide imidacloprid (IMI), the herbicide acetochlor (ACT), and the fungicide tebuconazole (TBZ) to zebrafish. The acute toxicity test results showed that the 96-h LC50 values of IMI, ACT, and TBZ were 276.84 (259.62–294.35) mg active ingredient (a.i.) L−1, 1.52 (1.34–1.74) mg a.i. L−1, and 8.16 (7.7–8.6) mg a.i. L−1, respectively. The combinations of IMI, ACT, and TBZ with toxicity ratios of 1:2:2, 1:4:4, 2:4:1, and 4:1:4 displayed synergistic toxic effects on zebrafish, while the toxicity ratios of 1:1:1, 1:1:2, 2:1:2, 2:2:1, and 4:2:1 of IMI, ACT, and TBZ, respectively, exhibited antagonistic toxic effects on zebrafish. The following experiments were performed with a toxicity ratio of 1:4:4 (IMI:ACT:TBZ). The activities of four enzyme biomarkers related to oxidative stress in the liver, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were evaluated in each exposure group on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Compared with those of the control group, the activities of CAT, SOD, and GST and the MDA content were significantly altered at different time points in the individual and combined exposure groups. Additionally, the activities of CAT, SOD, and GST and the MDA content were significantly altered in the combined group compared with those of the individual group after 14 days or 21 days of exposure. Therefore, it was confirmed that combined toxicity studies are indispensable in risk assessment.     

基于三角随机模拟和ArcGIS的河流水环境健康风险评价模型

基于河流水环境系统中随机性、模糊性等多种不确定性共存或交叉存在的特性,将三角模糊数与随机模拟方法相耦合,构建了三角随机模拟模型,并将其应用到湘江(长沙段)的健康风险评价中。通过将各参数浓度进行三角模糊化和随机模拟,结果表明,各断面污染物造成的健康风险的变化趋势,总体沿湘江上游至下游逐步降低,表现为昭山 > 猴子石 > 五一桥 > 橘子洲 > 乔口 > 三汊矶,且昭山、三汊矶断面和乔口断面均有恶化趋势。相对于常规的确定性方法,本模型能够得出评价区域健康风险的可能值区间及其相应的概率水平等定量信息,更加客观、全面地表征评价区域的风险状态及其空间分布差异,为决策者提供更多有用的信息。     

Cadmium (Cd) distribution and contamination in Chinese paddy soils on national scale

Rice is a staple food by an increasing number of people in China. As more issues have arisen in China due to rice contaminated by cadmium (Cd), Cd contamination in arable soils has become a severe problem. In China, many studies have examined Cd contamination in arable soils on a national scale, but little studies have focused on the distribution of Cd in paddy fields. This study explored the spatial pattern of Cd in paddy soils in China, made a preliminary evaluation of the potential risk, and identified the most critically contaminated regions based on the domestic rough rice trade flow. The results showed that Cd concentrations in paddy soils in China ranged from 0.01 to 5.50 mg/kg, with a median value of 0.23 mg/kg. On average, the highest Cd concentrations were in Hunan (0.73 mg/kg), Guangxi (0.70 mg/kg), and Sichuan (0.46 mg/kg) provinces. Cd concentrations in paddy soils in central and western regions were higher than those in eastern regions, especially the southeastern coastal regions. Of the administrative regions, Cd standard exceedance rate was 33.2 %, and the heavy pollution rate was 8.6 %. Regarding to Cd of paddy soil, soil environmental quality was better in Northeast China Plain than in Yangtze River Basin and southeastern coastal region. Mining activities were the main anthropogenic pollution source of Cd in Chinese paddy soil. Based on rice trade, more of the Chinese population would be exposed to Cd through intake of rice produced in Hunan province. Certain regions that output rice, especially Hunan province, should be given priority in the management and control of Cd contamination in paddy soil.     

Trends and variations of pH and hardness in a typical semi-arid river in a monsoon climate region during 1985–2009

The rapid growth of urbanization and industrialization, along with dramatic climate change, has strongly influenced hydrochemical characteristics in recent decades in China and thus could cause the variation of pH and general total hardness of a river. To explore such variations and their potential influencing factors in a river of the monsoon climate region, we analyzed a long-term monitoring dataset of pH, SO₄ ^2?, NO_x, general total hardness (GH), Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Cl^? in surface water and groundwater in the Luan River basin from 1985 to 2009. The nonparametric Seasonal Kendall trend test was used to test the long-term trends of pH and GH. Relationship between the affecting factors, pH and GH were discussed. Results showed that pH showed a decreasing trend and that GH had an increasing trend in the long-term. Seasonal variation of pH and GH was mainly due to the typical monsoon climate. Results of correlation analysis showed that the unit area usage amounts of chemical fertilizer, NO₃ ^?, and SO₄ ^2? were negatively correlated with pH in groundwater. In addition, mining activity affected GH spatial variation. Acid deposition, drought, and increasing the use of chemical fertilizers would contribute to the acidification trend, and mining activities would affect the spatial variation of GH. Variations of precipitation and runoff in semi-arid monsoon climate areas had significant influences on the pH and GH. Our findings implied that human activities played a critical role in river acidification in the semi-arid monsoon climate region of northern China.     

过硫酸钾-偶氮复合引发体系合成杂化高分子絮凝剂PACS-PAM及其表征

采用过硫酸钾(K2S2O8)-偶氮二异丁咪唑啉盐酸盐(VA-044引发剂)复合引发体系合成了聚硫氯化铝-聚丙烯酰胺(PACS-PAM)杂化高分子絮凝剂。以特性黏度为指标,考察了引发剂配比、引发剂总用量、单体质量浓度、总铝浓度(AlT)、反应温度和反应时间等因素对杂化絮凝剂PASC-PAM的合成影响,结果表明,杂化絮凝剂PACS-PAM的最佳合成条件为引发剂K2S2O8与偶氮VA-044质量比为3:1、引发剂总用量为单体总质量的0.2%、单体质量浓度为0.21 g/mL、总铝浓度(AlT)为0.15 mol/L、反应温度为50 ℃、反应时间为3 h,在最佳条件下合成的杂化高分子的特性黏度为14.70 dL/g。电导率分析、红外光谱(FTIR)分析和热重-差热(DTA-TGA)分析表明,杂化絮凝剂中有机组分同无机组分是通过PAM分子链端的硫酸根离子(—SO42-)的桥连作用以离子键形式连接的。对黄泥悬浊液的絮凝效果研究表明,杂化絮凝剂PASC-PAM的絮凝效果优于复配絮凝剂PASC-PAM。     

紫外-Fenton法处理高盐有机废水

以某电镀厂水回用系统产生的高盐有机废水为对象,对比研究了Fenton、UV-Fenton等工艺去除COD性能,考察了初始pH、H2O2投加量、Fe2+与H2O2摩尔比、反应时间等参数对处理效果的影响。结果表明:UV-Fenton工艺的最佳条件为初始pH=3.0,H2O2的投加量3 mmol/L,RFe2+:H2O2=1:1,反应时间30 min;在此条件下,COD去除率可达到60%以上,分别较Fenton和UV-H2O2工艺提高23.0%和39.3%。UV-Fenton工艺中,Fenton与UV表现出良好的协同效果,其处理效果较单独Fenton和单独UV处理效果之和高14.7%。UV的引入促进Fe(II)/Fe(Ⅲ)循环,可以提高·OH生成量以及Fe2+与H2O2利用率。UV-Fenton是处理高盐有机废水的可行工艺之一。     

强化除磷型A/O-MBR工艺运行稳定性

采用缺氧/好氧膜生物反应器(A/O-MBR)处理合成的生活污水,考察了投加不同浓度的聚合氯化铝(PAC)对该工艺在除磷效能及运行稳定性方面的影响。结果表明,投加PAC可以有效降低出水TP的浓度;在投加量为150 mg/L时,TP的去除率达到最优,为90.1%,出水浓度维持0.48 mg/L左右,达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB18918-2002)的一级A标准。投加一定量的PAC可以有效提高微生物的活性;此外,可以降低污泥絮体的Zeta电位,增大污泥絮体的粒径,降低胞外聚合物(EPS)中多糖的浓度,进而有效延缓膜污染的速率。