Effects of CH4 and CO on the reduction of nitric oxide to nitrogen in a discharge reactor

Additives are often added to enhance the efficiency of NO removal. This study uses a radio frequency (rf) discharge to consider the effect of added CH4 and CO to simulated NO/N2/O2/H2O mixtures on the elevation of NO conversion and the reduction of NO into N2. The enhancement levels of NO conversion when using various additives were found to be in this order: +CH4 > +CO > no additive. NO conversion reached 99.3%, 86.2%, and 77.6% when adding CH4, CO, and without additive, respectively, at inlet additive/NO molar ratio (R) = 5 and at 120 W. Moreover, the fraction of total N atoms converted from NO into N2 (FN2) was very high, reaching 99.4% and 99.5% when adding CH4 and CO, respectively, at R = 1 and at 120 W. The better operating conditions are using CH4 as the additive at R > or = 1 and a power of > 60 W to reach a higher NO conversion with a higher FN2. However, it should be noted that this rf plasma approach is not practical at this stage because of its relative low pressure.     

The evolution of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions in international trade for major economies: a perspective from the global supply chain

Employing global multi-regional input–output models, this paper revisits the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission trade (including exports and imports) and assesses their positions in the national emissions of 14 major countries with large national emissions or large emission trades during 1995–2009. It especially explores the evolution of the emission trades of these countries from both continuous time series and comparative perspectives, in order to provide an explanation for CO₂ emission spillovers across countries. The main findings obtained were as follows: (1) China was the largest CO₂ exporter to other countries, accounting for over 20 % of global exports since 2005; the CO₂ exports of the United States of America (USA), Germany, and Japan varied slightly over this time period, but overall, their proportions had decreased. (2) The CO₂ imports of the USA were the largest, occupying around 20 % of the global CO₂ imports; meanwhile, China’s CO₂ imports increased rapidly and ranked the second largest. (3) For Chinese Taiwan, its proportion of CO₂ exports in production-based emissions ranked the highest while that of the USA ranked the lowest; highly CO₂ import-dependent countries with an over 40 % proportion of CO₂ imports in its consumption-based emissions included France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, while China, India, and Russia remained the lowest, distinguished from their physical energy imports. These results suggested that the global policy makers should take the CO₂ emissions in trade into consideration when carefully accounting for national emissions inventories.     

Stabilization of residues obtained from the treatment of laboratory waste: Part 2--transformation of plasma vitrified slag into composites

The Sustainable Environment Research Center of National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan has set up a treatment plant to dispose of laboratory waste. In the treatment process, the residue from the incineration system and the physical and chemical system is vitrified by a plasma melting system. Part 1 of this study described the treatment path of metals during vitrification. In Part 2, plasma vitrified slag is reused by using a molding technology. Unsaturated polyester resin and glass fiber were used as the molding material and additive, respectively, in the molding process. With an appropriate mixing ratio of unsaturated polyester resin, glass fiber, and slag, the physical properties of composites improved, and the ultimate tensile strength reached 17.6 MPa. However, an excess amount of slag reduced the strength and even retarded the production of composites. Differential thermal analysis and the water bathing test results show that the composite decomposed at 80 degrees C and that it vaporized at 187 degrees C. Although the unsaturated polyester resin decomposed, the metal encapsulated in the slag did not leach out. The results show that the reuse of slag using molding technology should be taken into consideration.     

Role of sodium ions in the vitrification process: Glass matrix modification,slag structure depolymerization,and influence of metal immobilization

This study investigates the role of Na ions, a common flux, in the vitrification process. Artificial glass systems composed of Al₂O₃, CaO, and SiO₂ with various Na concentrations were melted at 1450 °C. The specimens were cooled by air cooling and water quenching and the metal mobility was evaluated using a sequential extraction procedure. The X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy observations showed that Na ions governed the air-cooled slag’s structure. Na ions initially depolymerized CaSiO₃-linked chains into CaSiO₃ chains, and further cut them into shorter and nonuniform ones, making the slag structure amorphous. With even more Na ions, CaSiO₃ chains were divided into single SiO₄ tetrahedrons and formed Na-related crystals (Na₂Ca₃Si₂O₈ and NaAlSiO₄). The phase distributions of Al, Cr, Cu Mn, and Ni showed that Na has a positive effect on the immobilization of heavy metals at suitable concentrations, but a negative effect when in excess amounts.

Implications:Vitrification has been widely used to treat hazardous materials. The Na-bearing additives were often used as a flux to improve the melting process. This study described the role of Na played in the vitrification process. The Na ions acted as glass modifier and depolymerize the chain structure of slag. With adequate addition amount of Na ions, the immobilization of heavy metals was improved. The results provided much information about the crystalline phase variation, metal mobility, and surface characteristics while Na serves as a flux.     

珠江三角洲秋季典型气溶胶污染的过程分析

为了解大气中各物理和化学过程对气溶胶浓度的贡献情况,利用Models-3/CMAQ模式系统对珠江三角洲(以下简称珠三角)秋季典型气溶胶污染进行研究.模拟时间是2012年10月,期间珠三角主要受高压系统的控制,在17日冷锋过境前后高压天气形势发生转变,风向从东北风转为偏东风.结果表明,珠三角秋季PM2.5浓度呈现西高东低的水平分布特征,随着高度的上升浓度高值中心也向西南方向偏移;受大气边界层高度的影响,陆地上PM2.5输送高度呈现白天高夜晚低的变化特征;过程分析结果表明源排放,水平输送和垂直输送是影响近地面PM2.5浓度变化的主要过程;本地污染物排放是城市中心(广州站)PM2.5浓度升高的主要原因,而在下风向位置(江门站)外来污染物的水平输送过程是PM2.5的最主要来源.     

Vitrification for reclaiming spent alkaline batteries

The object of this study is to stabilize spent alkaline batteries and to recover useful metals. A blend of dolomite, limestone, and cullet was added to act as a reductant and a glass matrix former in vitrification. Specimens were vitrified using an electrical heating furnace at 1400 °C and the output products included slag, ingot, flue gas, and fly ash. The major constituents of the slag were Ca, Mn, and Si, and the results of the toxicity leaching characteristics met the standards in Taiwan. The ingot was a good material for use in production of stainless steel, due to being mainly composed of Fe and Mn. For the fly ash, the high level of Zn makes it economical to recover. The distribution of metals indicated that most of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni moved to the ingot, while Al, Ca, Mg, and Si stayed in the slag; Hg vaporized as gas phase into the flue gas; and Cd, Pb, and Zn were predominately in the fly ash. Recovery efficiency for Fe and Zn was >90% and the results show that vitrification is a promising technology for reclaiming spent alkaline batteries.     

沈阳一次雾霾天气颗粒物浓度及光学特征变化

利用2011年10月17～22日连续在线观测沈阳地区大气能见度、颗粒物质量浓度ρ(PM10)、ρ(PM2.5)、ρ(PM1.0)、以及通过太阳光度计测量数据反演得到的气溶胶光学厚度、Angstrom波长指数、气溶胶粒子谱分布数据,结合相对湿度、风速、温度等气象资料,分析了2011 年秋季沈阳一次雾霾天气过程中能见度与颗粒物质量浓度及气溶胶光学特征变化.结果表明:相对温度偏高、小风天气以及颗粒物质量浓度累积是造成沈阳能见度下降、引发雾霾天气的主要因素;雾霾期间细粒子所占比例较高,ρ(PM10)、ρ(PM2.5)、ρ(PM1.0)平均值分别为138.8、103.3、94.9μg/m3,比雾霾过程前均增加约2倍左右,PM2.5/PM10和PM1.0/PM10分别为74.7%和68.6%;当RH0.90),RH >80%时, 能见度与颗粒物浓度间的相关性减弱;雾霾期间气溶胶光学厚度明显增加,雾霾前气溶胶光学厚度和Angstrom波长指数平均值分别为0.82和0.94,雾霾期间气溶胶光学厚度和Angstrom波长指数平均值分别为1.42和1.25;雾霾天气过程中,细模态粒子的峰值浓度约是雾霾前细粒子浓度的2倍,说明沈阳地区大气污染物以细粒子为主,进而影响气溶胶光学特征发生变化.