Greenhouse gas emissions during co-composting of calf mortalities with manure

Composting may be a viable on-farm option for disposal of cattle carcasses. This study investigated greenhouse gas emissions during co-composting of calf mortalities with manure. Windrows were constructed that contained manure + straw (control compost [CK]) or manure + straw + calf mortalities (CM) using two technologies: a tractor-mounted front-end loader or a shredder bucket. Composting lasted 289 d. The windrows were turned twice (on Days 72 and 190), using the same technology used in their creation. Turning technology had no effect on greenhouse gas emissions or the properties of the final compost. The CO2 (75.2 g d(-1) m(-2)), CH4 (2.503 g d(-1) m(-2)), and N2O (0.370 g d(-1) m(-2)) emissions were higher (p < 0.05) in CM than in CK (25.7, 0.094, and 0.076 g d(-1) m(-2) for CO2, CH4, and N2O, respectively), which reflected differences in materials used to construct the compost windrows and therefore their total C and total N contents. The final CM compost had higher (p < 0.05) total N, total C, and mineral N content (NO3*+ NO2* + NH4+) than did CK compost and therefore has greater agronomic value as a fertilizer.     

Vegetation and carbon sequestration and their relation to water resources in an inland river basin of Northwest China

In the Heihe River Basin in the arid inland area of northwest China, the distribution of water resources in vegetation landscape zones controls the ecosystems. The carbon sequestration capacity of vegetation is analyzed in relation to water resources and vegetation growing conditions. During the last 20 years, the vegetation ecosystems have degenerated in the Heihe River Basin. Simulation using the C-FIX model indicates that, at present, the total amount of NPP of vegetation accounts for about 18.16 TgC, and the average value is 106 gC/m(2)/yr over the whole basin. NPP has generally the highest value in the upperstream mountain area, middlestream artificial oases area, downstream river bank area, alluvial fan and the terminal lake depression where vegetation grows relatively well. The lowest value is found in the vast downstream desert and Gobi area. Protection of vegetation ecosystems and enhancement of carbon sequestration require such inland river basins as the Heihe River Basin to be brought under management in a comprehensive way, taking water as a key, to carry out a rational and efficient allocation and utilization of water resources.     

To roll or not to roll: nyctinastic behavior in young leaves of sacred lotus,Nelumbo nucifera

The Science of Nature -     

皖南地区铜陵市大气颗粒物污染特征及潜在源研究

利用2018年3月—2021年2月环境和气象数据对皖南地区铜陵市大气颗粒物的污染特征和潜在贡献源进行了系统性研究.铜陵市大气颗粒物污染具有明显的季节变化特征,冬季污染物浓度最高,PM_2.5和PM₁₀平均为（60.3±31.0）μg·m^-3和（89.2±42.2）μg·m^-3.计算发现PM_2.5/PM₁₀超过0.5,铜陵市的大气颗粒物污染问题与细颗粒物关系密切.后向轨迹聚类分析表明铜陵市大气颗粒物的输送路径具有季节性差异.春季以西北、东北和西南方向气流为主,占比83.73%;夏季以东南和南部方向气流为主,占比82.90%;秋季以东北气流为主,占比51.00%;冬季则是以北方和西北气流为主,占比69.81%.其中,冬季气流轨迹所对应的PM_2.5和PM₁₀的浓度最高,平均为59.7和92.0μg·m^-3;夏季最低,平均为23.8和43.8μg·m^-3.潜在源贡献因子（WPSC...     

基于形态与in vitro方法的铬污染土壤生物可给性研究

铬（Cr）是电镀类场地的主要污染物.开展土壤中Cr（III）和Cr（VI）的生物可给性研究对于准确评估Cr污染场地风险,克服污染场地过度修复问题十分关键.本研究采集我国栗钙土、红壤、潮土3种典型土壤,通过添加相同浓度污染物的方式制备成Cr（III）或Cr（VI）污染土壤.随后利用5种体外方法（in vitro）,对3种土壤经口摄入的Cr生物可给性进行比较与健康风险评估.进而从土壤理化性质、Cr赋存形态、土壤矿物组成方面,对不同土壤在溶解度生物可给性研究联盟（SBRC）方法中的生物可给性差异进行分析.结果表明,基于生物可给性的Cr污染土壤健康风险评估能够显著降低风险水平,提高风险控制值,其中,SBRC方法在评估中更具有保守性.3种土壤在相同的Cr（III）和Cr（VI）污染浓度下,栗钙土相较于红壤和潮土在肠期具有更高的生物可给性和健康风险.此外,土壤黏粒、有机质含量及迁移系数能够影响土壤Cr的生物可给性,土壤矿物种类赋存不同也是造成Cr（III）和Cr（VI）在不同土壤中生物可给性差异的重要因素.     

草酸改性零价铁活化过硫酸盐降解地下水中2,4-DNT的研究

2,4-二硝基甲苯(2,4-DNT)作为重要的化工原料,由于储存和生产过程中的“跑冒滴漏”,已然成为地下水中常见有毒有害污染物之一,对人体健康和生态环境安全造成极大威胁. 以草酸与商品零价铁为原料,通过球磨法制备草酸化零价铁(OA-ZVIbm),并研究其活化过硫酸盐(PS)降解2,4-DNT的性能. 采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)对活化剂进行表征,并考察活化剂和PS投加量、溶液初始pH及无机阴离子对2,4-DNT降解效果的影响. 结果表明:①通过球磨改性,零价铁表面氧化层被草酸亚铁壳层代替,加速铁核腐蚀生成Fe2+催化PS. ②在pH=7、0.2 g/L OA-ZVIbm和5 mmol/L PS的条件下,4.0 h内对50 mg/L 2,4-DNT降解率达到87.6%,降解过程符合准一级动力学方程. ③2,4-DNT降解率随OA-ZVIbm和PS投加量增加以及溶液初始pH的降低增加,但高浓度PS会抑制2,4-DNT的降解;NO₃?、CO₃2?、Cl?和SO₄2?通过淬灭自由基或者与亚铁离子发生共沉淀,对降解产生不同程度的抑制效果. ④自由基淬灭试验表明,体系中同时产生SO₄? ?、·OH和1O₂,但SO₄? ?在降解过程中起主导作用. ⑤降解中间产物鉴定表明,通过脱硝和氧化反应,2,4-DNT被降解成包括间苯二酚、丙二酸在内的毒性较小分子,可生化性显著提高. 研究显示,OA-ZVIbm能够高效活化PS,实现对地下水2,4-DNT的显著降解,具有一定的应用前景.      

Potassium ferrate pretreatment promotes short chain fatty acids yield and antibiotics reduction in acidogenic fermentation of sewage sludge

During the acidogenic fermentation converting waste activated sludge (WAS) into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), hydrolysis of complex organic polymers is a limiting step and the transformation of harmful substances (such as antibiotics) during acidogenic fermentation is unknown. In this study, potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄) oxidation was used as a pretreatment strategy for WAS acidogenic fermentation to increase the hydrolysis of sludge and destruct the harmful antibiotics. Pretreatment with K₂FeO₄ can effectively increase the SCFA production during acidogenic fermentation and change the distribution of SCFA components. With the dosage of 0.2 g/g TS, the maximum SCFA yield was 4823 mg COD/L, which is 28.3 times that of the control group; acetic acid accounts for more than 90% of the total SCFA. The higher dosage (0.5 g/g TS) can further increase the proportion of acetic acid, but inhibit the overall performance of SCFA production. Apart from the promotion of hydrolysis and acidogenesis, K₂FeO₄ pretreatment can also simultaneously oxidizes and degrades part of the antibiotics in the sludge. When the dosage is 0.5 g/g TS, the degradation efficacy of antibiotics is the most significant, and the contents of ofloxacin, azithromycin, and tetracycline in the sludge are reduced by 69%, 42%, and 50%, respectively. In addition, K₂FeO₄ pretreatment can also promote the release of antibiotics from sludge flocs, which is conducive to the simultaneous degradation of antibiotics in the subsequent biological treatment process.     

Chemical characterization and source identification of PM2.5 in Luoyang after the clean air actions

Luoyang is a typical heavy industrial city in China, with a coal-dominated energy structure and serious air pollution. Following the implementation of the clean air actions, the physicochemical characteristics and sources of PM_2.5 have changed. A comprehensive study of PM_2.5 was conducted from October 16, 2019 to January 23, 2020 to evaluate the effectiveness of previous control measures and further to provide theory basis for more effective policies in the future. Results showed that the aerosol pollution in Luoyang in autumn and winter is still serious with the average concentration of 91.1 μg/m³, although a large reduction (46.9%) since 2014. With the contribution of nitrate increased from 12.5% to 25.1% and sulfate decreased from 16.7% to 11.2%, aerosol pollution has changed from sulfate-dominate to nitrate-dominate. High NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio and the increasing of NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio with the aggravation of pollution indicating vehicle exhaust playing an increasingly important role in PM_2.5 pollution in Luoyang, especially in the haze processes. Secondary inorganic ions contributed significantly to the enhancement of PM_2.5 during the pollution period. The high value of Cl⁻/Na⁺ and EC concentration indicate coal combustion in Luoyang is still serious. The top three contributor sources were secondary inorganic aerosols (33.3%), coal combustion (13.6%), and industrial emissions (13.4%). Close-range transport from the western and northeastern directions were more important factors in air pollution in Luoyang during the sampling period. It is necessary to strengthen the control of coal combustion and reduce vehicle emissions in future policies.     

Wall losses of oxygenated volatile organic compounds from oxidation of toluene: Effects of chamber volume and relative humidity

Vapor wall losses can affect the yields of secondary organic aerosol. The effects of surface-to-volume (S/V) ratio and relative humidity (RH) on the vapor-wall interactions were investigated in this study. The oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) were generated from toluene-H₂O₂ irradiations. The average gas to wall loss rate constant (k_gw) of OVOCs in a 400 L reactor (S/V = 7.5 m⁻¹) is 2.47 (2.41 under humid conditions) times higher than that in a 5000 L reactor (S/V = 3.6 m⁻¹) under dry conditions. In contrast, the average desorption rate constant (k_wg) of OVOCs in 400 L reactor is only 1.37 (1.20 under humid conditions) times higher than that in 5000 L reactor under dry conditions. It shows that increasing the S/V ratio can promote the wall losses of OVOCs. By contrast, the RH effect on k_gw is not prominent. The average k_gw value under humid conditions is almost the same as under dry conditions in the 400 L (5000 L) reactor. However, increasing RH can decrease the desorption rates. The average k_wg value under dry conditions is 1.45 (1.27) times higher than that under humid conditions in the 400 L (5000 L) reactor. The high RH can increase the partitioning equilibrium timescales and enhance the wall losses of OVOCs.