Control strategies of atmospheric mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in China

Atmospheric mercury (Hg) emission from coal is one of the primary sources of anthropogenic discharge and pollution. China is one of the few countries in the world whose coal consumption constitutes about 70% of total primary energy, and over half of coals are burned directly for electricity generation. Atmospheric emissions of Hg and its speciation from coal-fired power plants are of great concern owing to their negative impacts on regional human health and ecosystem risks, as well as long-distance transport. In this paper, recent trends of atmospheric Hg emissions and its species split from coal-fired power plants in China during the period of 2000-2007 are evaluated, by integrating each plant's coal consumption and emission factors, which are classified by different subcategories of boilers, particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) control devices. Our results show that the total Hg emissions from coal-fired power plants have begun to decrease from the peak value of 139.19 t in 2005 to 134.55 t in 2007, though coal consumption growing steadily from 1213.8 to 1532.4 Mt, which can be mainly attributed to the co-benefit Hg reduction by electrostatic precipitators/fabric filters (ESPs/FFs) and wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD), especially the sharp growth in installation of WFGD both in the new and existing power plants since 2005. In the coming 12th five-year-plan, more and more plants will be mandated to install De-NO(x) (nitrogen oxides) systems (mainly selective catalytic reduction [SCR] and selective noncatalytic reduction [SNCR]) for minimizing NO(x) emission, thus the specific Hg emission rate per ton of coal will decline further owing to the much higher co-benefit removal efficiency by the combination of SCR + ESPs/FFs + WFGD systems. Consequently, SCR + ESPs/FFs + WFGD configuration will be the main path to abate Hg discharge from coal-fired power plants in China in the near future. However advanced specific Hg removal technologies are necessary for further reduction of elemental Hg discharge in the long-term.     

非农就业、社会保障与农户土地转出——基于30镇49村476个农民的实证分析

基于江苏省沭阳县的调查数据,对农民非农就业、社会保障与其土地转出意愿与行为的关系进行了实证分析。首先,结构方程模型(SEM)研究结果表明,土地所具有的多重功能价值对农民的土地流转意愿具有重要影响。其中土地的直接经济价值与农民土地转出意愿呈现出负相关关系;土地转出预期价值对农民土地转出意愿的影响最大,农民土地转出的预期回报对意愿具有显著的正向影响;若有完善的非农就业环境与社会保障制度能代替土地本身承载的就业价值与社会保障功能,则会对农民土地转出意愿产生积极的正向作用。其次,Probit和Tobit模型计量检验结果表明,具有非农就业经验以及家庭非农劳动力越多的农民转出其土地的可能性越大,转出的面积也越多;农民参加的社会保障水平越高,土地的保障性功能相对就越小,农民对土地的依赖性越低,从而转出其土地的可能性越大,转出的面积也越多。在此基础上,得出了要大力发展非农产业,营造良好的外部就业环境,进一步完善农村社会保障体系等政策启示。     

太湖流域上游河流污染空间分布特征研究

为把握太湖流域上游西北部河网区域水体的N、P污染特征及其空间分布,2010年8月在该区域内的武进港 直湖港水系、洮滆水系、丹扁孟河（丹金溧漕运河、扁担河及孟津河）以及宜溧河水系的河网,监测了39个河流断面的水质。研究表明,4水系TN平均浓度分别为388、283、291及193 mg/L,DTN占TN比重分别为9180%、7843%、7001%及8444%,河网氮输出均以DTN为主。在DTN中NO-3 N浓度所占比重分别为6747%、5275%、7748%及4281%,NH+4 N浓度所占比重分别为1633%、3316%、1127%及4351%。TP平均浓度分别为059、030、026及015 mg/L,DTP所占比重分别为6213%、4019%、4673%及3197%,而PO3-4 P浓度占DTP比重分别为2073%、5461%、4327%及7772%。武进港 直湖港水系N平均浓度显著（〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗<001）高于宜溧河水系,与其它两水系无显著差异,P平均浓度显著（〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗<005）高于宜溧河水系和丹扁孟河,与洮滆水系无显著差异。影响太湖流域上游西北部区域河流水网水质的主导因素为氮污染,而其中以DTN污染最为严重。太湖西北部是蓝藻水华暴发的重灾区,上游区域DTN的大量输入,将成为引发太湖水体生态系统灾变的潜在风险     

Regional medical waste management in China: a case study of Shenyang

Medical waste management is of great importance due to its potential environmental and public health risks, especially in developing countries where both financial and technological resources on medical waste management are still lacking. Although many studies have focused on country-scaled medical waste management, few have paid close attention to regional (city-scale) management, particularly in China. This paper fills such a gap by employing a case study approach. Due to its representative nature, Shenyang was selected as the case study. After a review of China’s medical waste management, an empirical study in Shenyang was conducted in order to analyze the current state as well as identify key challenges on regional medical waste management. Based upon the local realities and aiming to better manage medical wastes, an integrated medical waste management framework is developed. Such a platform encourages the establishment of a specific medical waste management authority, a city scaled capacity building program on improving the general public’s awareness, an information platform, application of state-of-the-art technologies, as well as creation of an effective financial system. The combination of such initiatives can significantly improve the overall eco-efficiency of medical waste management at the regional level and should be promoted to other developing cities.     

不同碳源添加量对垂直流人工湿地污水处理效果的影响

以垂直流人工湿地小试系统为研究对象,采用碱处理过的千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria)作为反硝化碳源补充材料,探讨了不同碳源添加量对系统COD及氮、磷去除效果的影响。结果表明,一定剂量经过碱处理的千屈菜材料可以为人工湿地系统脱氮提供反硝化所需要的碳源,而且具有缓效持续释放的特点。添加此碳源材料可明显提高系统的脱氮效率,最高可提升30.85%,但随着C/N比的增加,硝态氮去除率逐渐降低,C/N比为3、5、8时分别为91.20%、87.72%和84.19%。添加碳源量达到C/N比为3时系统能够发生最大程度反硝化,此时不仅人工湿地系统脱氮效果得到提高,同时人工湿地除磷能力也有所增强。碱处理过的千屈菜材料在本系统中的最适宜添加量为5 g,即100 g/m2(C/N=3),远低于在进水中为满足反硝化所需调控的C/N比(5～8),可以节约外加碳源成本。     

锆(Ⅳ)负载交联壳聚糖吸附硫酸根的性能

以甲醛、苯甲醛为交联剂,制备交联壳聚糖树脂,再与锆(Ⅳ)离子反应制备锆负载交联壳聚糖吸附剂。采用静态吸附法考察了该吸附剂对水中硫酸根离子(SO24-)的吸附性能。实验发现,吸附时间2 h,SO24-溶液初始浓度500 mg/L,pH值3.0,溶液温度35℃为较优的吸附条件;吸附过程符合Langmuir等温吸附模型,属于优惠吸附型,吸附容量可达78.65 mg/g;吸附过程较好地符合拟二级动力学模型;锆负载前后交联壳聚糖对硫酸根的吸附量提高了约4.5倍;该吸附剂具有良好的耐酸性和再生性能。     

浊度仪法快速测定水体中硫酸盐含量

为了适应野外水质快速测定的要求,根据硫酸钡比浊法的方法原理,采用浊度仪测定浊度的方法,建立了水体中硫酸盐含量的快速测定方法。实验考察了浊度、氯化钡加入形态、摇动时间,静置时间等影响因素。结果表明,浊度在5～25 NTU时,其对硫酸盐的测定几乎没有影响。在实验最佳条件下,氯化钡的加入量为0.2 g,中速手摇40 s,静置时间5min,所建立方法的线性范围为5～90 mg/L,相关系数R2=0.9998,方法的检出限为0.25 mg/L。加标回收率为94.00%～105.25%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.19%～1.75%(n=5),方法便携、简单,适用于野外与浊度同步测定。     

Simultaneous determination of organophosphorus and organonitrogen pesticides residues in Angelica sinensis

Gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorus detector (GC-NPD) was applied to the simultaneous determination of 15 organophosphorus and 6 organonitrogen pesticides residues in Angelica sinensis. The pesticides were extracted by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) techniques, respectively. The experimental variables were optimized through orthogonal array experimental design. Cleanup of extracts was performed with column chromatography using florisil and neutral aluminum as the sorbents. The determination of pesticides in the final extracts was carried out by GC-NPD. Under optimized conditions, the average recoveries obtained from MAE and UAE are in the range of 75.1–129% and 70.6–129%, respectively, and the relative standard deviations of MAE and UAE were 3.1–10.6% and 1.0–17.8%, respectively.     

Arsenic, copper, and zinc contamination in soil and wheat during coal mining, with assessment of health risks for the inhabitants of Huaibei, China

Field studies were conducted to investigate arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) contamination in agricultural soils and wheat crops at two areas in Huaibei, China. Area A is in the proximity of Shuoli coal mine. In area B, three coal mines and a coal cleaning plant were distributed. The potential health risk of As, Cu, and Zn exposure to the local inhabitants through consumption of wheat grains was also estimated. The results showed that significantly higher (p?<?0.05) concentrations of As, Cu, and Zn were found in soils collected from area B than in those from area A. Arsenic concentrations in wheat sampled from area A were negatively correlated with the distance from the coal mine (p?<?0.001). Concentrations of Cu and Zn in wheat seedlings and grains collected from area B were significantly higher (p?<?0.05) than in those collected from area A, with the exception of Zn in wheat seedlings. Concentrations of Cu and Zn in most wheat grain samples were above the permissible limits of Cu and Zn in edible plants set by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. The hazard index of aggregate risk through consumption of wheat grains was 2.3–2.4 for rural inhabitants and 1.4–1.5 for urban inhabitants. The average intake of inorganic As for rural inhabitants in Huaibei was above 10 μg day^?1. These findings indicated that the inhabitants around the coal mine are experiencing a significant potential health risk due to the consumption of locally grown wheat.     

Effects of pH, Fe, and Cd on the uptake of Fe2+ and Cd2+ by rice

The rhizosphere plays an important role in altering cadmium (Cd) solubility in paddy soils and Cd accumulation in rice. However, more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism controlling rice Cd solubility and bioavailability under different rhizosphere conditions to explain the discrepancy of previous studies. A rice culture with nutrient solution and vermiculite was conducted to assess the effects of pH, Eh, and iron (Fe) concentration on Cd, Fe fractions on the vermiculite/root surface and their uptake by rice. The solution pH was set from 4.5 to 7.5, with additions of Fe (30 and 50 mg L^?1) and Cd (0.5 and 0.9 mg L^?1). At pH 5.5, the Eh in the rice rhizosphere was higher whereas transpiration, Cd²⁺, and Fe²⁺ adsorption on the vermiculite/root surface and accumulation in rice were lower than the other pH treatments. Cadmium addition had no impact on pH and Eh in rice rhizosphere while Fe addition decreased pH and increased Eh significantly. Compared with control, Fe addition resulted in the decrease of rhizosphere Cd, Fe solubility and bioavailability. Higher redox potential in the rice rhizosphere resulted in the decline of transpiration, Cd, and Fe accumulation in the rice tissues, suggesting that the transfer of two elements from soil to rice was depressed when the rhizosphere was more oxidized.