Fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectra coupled with parallel factor and regional integration analysis to characterize organic matter humification

The present several humification indexes cannot provide the whole fluorescence information on organic matter composition and the evaluation results from them are inconsistent sometimes. In this study, fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectra coupled with parallel factor analysis and fluorescence regional integration analysis were utilized to investigate organic matter humification, and the projection pursuit cluster (PPC) model was applied to form a suitable index for overcoming the difficulties in multi-index evaluation. The result showed that the ratio between the volume of humic- and fulvic-like fluorescence region and the volume of protein-like fluorescence region not only revealed the heterogeneity of organic matter, but also provided more accurate information on organic matter humification. In addition, the results showed that the PPC model could be used to characterize integrally the humification, and the projected characteristic value calculated from the PPC model could be used as the integrated humification evaluation index.     

Aqueous stabilization of carbon nanotubes: effects of surface oxidization and solution chemistry

Surface oxygen functional groups can affect the morphological characteristics, aggregation kinetics, and adsorption capacity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). However, little is known about the quantitative relationship between oxygen content and the dispersion stability of MWCNTs. To investigate the effects of surface oxidization, MWCNTs were oxidized using concentrated H₂SO₄/HNO₃ acids for 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 h, respectively. Experimental results showed that the oxygen content of MWCNTs increased with surface oxidization time. Linear correlations were found to exist between the oxygen content, critical coagulation concentration (CCC) for NaCl, and critical coagulation pH values of MWCNTs detected by optical density at 800 nm. The CCC values for CaCl₂ increased with oxygen contents for unmodified MWCNTs and lowly oxidized MWCNTs, while which decreased after further increasing the surface oxidization. CCC ratios in the presence of Ca²⁺ to Na⁺ were consistent with the empirical Schulze–Hardy rule for unmodified MWCNTs and lowly oxidized MWCNTs; however, which were much lower than the expected values for highly oxidized MWCNTs. Fulvic acid can clearly increase the stability of MWCNT suspension with unmodified MWCNTs and lowly oxidized MWCNTs, while it cannot affect the dispersion of highly oxidized MWCNTs. This study implied that the oxidation and presence of fulvic acid will possibly increase the mobility, exposure, bioavailability, and toxicity of MWCNTs.     

Biodegradability of a polyacrylate superabsorbent in agricultural soil

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) are used, inter alia, as soil amendment to increase the water holding capacity of soils. Biodegradability of soil conditioners has become a desired key characteristic to protect soil and groundwater resources. The present study characterized the biodegradability of one acrylate based SAP in four agricultural soils and at three temperatures. Mineralisation was measured as the ¹³CO₂ efflux from ¹³C-labelled SAP in soil incubations. The SAP was either single-labelled in the carboxyl C-atom or triple-labelled including additionally the two C-atoms interlinked in the SAP backbone. The dual labelling allowed estimating the degradation of the polyacrylate main chain. The ¹³CO₂ efflux from samples was measured using an automated system including wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Based on single-labelled SAP, the mean degradation after 24 weeks varied between 0.45 % in loamy sand and 0.82 % in loam. However, the differences between degradation rates in different soils were not significant due to a large intra-replicate variability. Similarly, mean degradation did not differ significantly between effective temperature regimes of 20° and 30 °C after 12 weeks. Results from the triple-labelled SAP were lower as compared to their single-labelled variant. Detailed results suggest that the polyacrylate main chain degraded in the soils, if at all, at rates of 0.12–0.24 % per 6 months.     

The effects of sinusoidal leading edge of turbine blades on the power coefficient of horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT)

In order to improve the aerodynamic performance of horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT), a sinusoidal shape is applied to turbine blade. In this study, four types of modified blades were chosen based on variations in amplitude and wavelength of protuberance along the leading edge. Compared with the baseline model, the power coefficients (C_p) of HAWT with modified blades were improved, especially at low tip speed ratios. At low wind speed (V = 6 m/s), blades with short wavelength obtain significant improvement in C_p compared with the baseline model. As wind speed increases, this improvement decreases. In addition, turbine blade with large amplitude and long wavelength obtains better C_p values at higher wind speeds than lower ones, which have a great potential to be more superior at relatively higher wind speeds.     

Boiler Briquette Coal versus Raw Coal: Part II—Energy,Greenhouse Gas,and Air Quality Implications

ABSTRACT

The objective of this paper is to conduct an integrated analysis of the energy, greenhouse gas, and air quality impacts of a new type of boiler briquette coal (BB-coal) in contrast to those of the raw coal from which the BB-coal was formulated (R-coal). The analysis is based on the source emissions data and other relevant data collected in the present study and employs approaches including the construction of carbon, energy, and sulfur balances. The results show that replacing R-coal with BB-coal as the fuel for boilers such as the one tested would have multiple benefits, including a 37% increase in boiler thermal efficiency, a 25% reduction in fuel demand, a 26% reduction in CO₂ emission, a 17% reduction in CO emission, a 63% reduction in SO₂ emission, a 97% reduction in fly ash and fly ash carbon emission, a 22% reduction in PM_2.5 mass emission, and a 30% reduction in total emission of five toxic hazardous air pollutant (HAP) metals contained in PM₁₀. These benefits can be achieved with no changes in boiler hardware and with a relatively small amount of tradeoffs: a 30% increase in PM₁₀ mass emission and a 9–16% increase in fuel cost.     

侧入式搅拌槽中多相流流场特性的数值模拟

运用计算流体力学(CFD)技术对不同安装偏角的侧入式搅拌反应器中单相及多相流场进行了数值模拟。模拟结果表明,典型安装偏角下,搅拌槽内流场是由内部围绕搅拌槽中心的高速环形上升流和外部沿搅拌槽壁面的低速下降流组成的大循环流。水平偏角既增加了整个搅拌槽流场的平均速度,有利于固体颗粒在整个搅拌槽内的悬浮性能,又增大了槽底高速流体区域的面积,因而改善了槽底固相沉积状况。竖直偏角增大了槽底高速流体区域的面积,并对槽底施加一定的冲刷作用,从而进一步降低了槽底固相沉积的可能性。无安装偏角时槽底固含率最多的地方主要积聚在搅拌器下方区域。搅拌器在水平偏角θ=10°,竖直偏角φ=5°时槽底大部分区域的固含率分布较均匀,仅在槽底搅拌器右侧的壁面区域存在小面积的固含率较高区域,在该安装偏角下整个搅拌槽的固液悬浮性能及防止底部固相沉积性能达到最佳。     

4A沸石分子筛处理中低浓度氨氮废水

利用天然沸石、采用水热合成法制备4A沸石分子筛,用XRD和SEM进行了表征。通过考察吸附剂用量、pH、共存金属阳离子、吸附时间、氨氮废水初始浓度、温度对吸附性能的影响,结合动力学方程、吸附等温线、热力学函数等研究了吸附性能和机理。结果表明,当4 g/L的4A沸石分子筛在废水pH值为4~8的条件下对中低浓度氨氮吸附120min后,去除率可达88%;废水中共存单一金属阳离子(Pb2+、Cu2+、Ca2+和Mg2+)浓度大于100 mg/L时,对中低浓度的NH+4有强烈的竞争吸附;氨氮的吸附过程较好地符合准二级动力学方程、Freundlich模型,是一种混乱度增加、自发的放热过程。     

Assessment of Chlorophyll-a Concentration and Trophic State for Lake Chagan Using Landsat TM and Field Spectral Data

In this study, we present the digital evaluation of Landsat TM data and field spectral measurements for retrieving chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration and trophic state index in Lake Chagan of Northeast China. Chl-a concentration of the lake can be estimated from the band ratio (TM4/TM3) and the field spectral data at 670 nm (absorption peak) and at 700 nm (reflectance peak). The results show that the best determination coefficient (R ²) is 0.67 from the TM data, by which chl-a distribution can be mapped. Based on chl-a determination from laboratory analysis, field spectral and TM data, the modified trophic state index (TSI_M) was applied to assess the lake’s trophic state. With the available data in Lake Chagan, each algorithm demonstrates the similar result for assessing the lake’s chl-a and trophic state. Our results indicate that Landsat TM and field spectral data could be used effectively to determine chl-a concentration and evaluate the trophic state of Lake Chagan in the study.     

The composition, trend and impact of urban solid waste in Beijing

This paper provides an overview of the trend of generation, composition, and management of municipal solid waste, and estimates the carbon emissions arising from municipal solid waste management in Beijing. The correlation analysis conducted shows that the generation of municipal solid waste in Beijing has been growing steadily, showing high correlations (r > 0.9) to the total GDP, per capita income, and the population. Food waste showed an increasing trend since 1990. Compared with the results of an investigation in 1990, ash and woodchips content in 2003 declined from 56% to 17%, while the percentage of paper and plastic increased from 10% to 29% over the same period. The calorific value of the municipal waste also increased, from 2,686 kJ/kg in 1990 to 4,667 kJ/kg in 2003, indicating that the waste is suitable for incineration. Currently, the source separation ratio of municipal waste is approximately 15%. About 94% of all the collected solid waste goes to the landfill while 4% is composted and 2% is incinerated. A moderate garbage collection fee is applied to both permanent and temporary residents in Beijing, but the willingness to pay for solid waste collection and treatment is still low. Under current treatment mode, the total amounts of carbon emission from waste disposal sites and incineration increased with the increase of municipal solid waste, from 29.8 Gg in 1990 to 84.5 Gg in 2003, including 83.3 Gg of CH₄ and 22.0 Gg of CO₂. The data availability and methodological challenges in monitoring the quantity and characteristics of municipal solid waste are discussed.     

企业安全氛围因子结构和要素组合关系测评研究

总结和分析了国外企业安全氛围测评研究进展,进一步明确安全氛围的概念、内容和研究重点;在参阅文献基础上,设计和开发出适用于国内企业安全氛围量化测评的调查问卷。选择商业企业作为研究样本,以多元统计为理论分析工具,开展实证研究工作;采用探索性因子分析方法提取和选择了商业企业安全氛围的安全需求、安全认识、安全参与、安全地位、安全实施5因子结构及14个关键要素,针对其因子结构和要素组合关系进行了研究和探讨。借助于雷达图形法对研究目标的安全现状给予量化评估,研究的方法和技术路线可为以后的安全氛围诊断模式探究提供参考思路。