Influence of Al-oxide on pesticide sorption to woody biochars with different surface areas

Biochars’ properties will change after application in soil due to the interactions with soil constituents, which would then impact the performance of biochars as soil amendment. For a better understanding on these interactions, two woody biochars of different surface areas (SA) were physically treated with aluminum oxide (Al-oxide) to investigate its potential influence on biochars’ sorption property. Both the micropore area and mesopore (17～500 Å in diameter) area of the low-SA biochar were enhanced by at least 1.5 times after treatment with Al-oxide, whereas the same treatment did not change the surface characteristics of the high-SA biochar due partly to its well-developed porosity. The enhanced sorption of the pesticide isoproturon to the Al-oxide-treated low-SA biochar was observed and is positively related to the increased mesopore area. The desorption hysteresis of pesticide from the low-SA biochar was strengthened because of more pesticide molecules entrapped in the expanded pores by Al-oxide. However, no obvious change of pesticide sorption to the high-SA biochar after Al-oxide treatment was observed, corresponding to its unchanged porosity. The results suggest that the influence of Al-oxide on the biochars’ sorption property is dependent on their porosity. This study will provide valuable information on the use of biochars for reducing the bioavailability of pesticides.     

Rebound effect and its decomposition – an analysis based on energy types in China

Rebound effect derived from energy efficiency improvement has been widely invested. However, most of studies focus on the rebound effect of the energy composite level and neither distinguish nor compare different energy types. We compare the differences in energy saving and energy rebound between primary and secondary energy sources, and further decompose the rebound effect into production rebound part and final demand component. To do so, we add a module for rebound into a comparative state China-CGE model. We design and test two simulation scenarios using the model. In Scenario 1, all production sectors’ energy efficiency of using primary energy increases by 5%. In Scenario 2, all production sectors’ energy efficiency of using secondary energy increases by 5%. The results show that Scenario 2 leads to more GDP growth and more energy saving. Our scenarios show rebound effects range between 9.6% and 27.9%, and in general are higher when energy efficiency of using primary energy sources is improved. Our decomposition analysis shows that improving energy efficiency in production sectors would stimulates energy use of final demand. Indeed, the consumption side has significant contribution to rebound in secondary energy use, especially in crude oil and gas. This study reveals that improving efficiency of using secondary energy is better than improving that of primary energy, both in terms of economic impact and energy rebound. And complementary policies that prevent energy services prices from falling too much can be adopted to reduce rebound. Controlling residential energy use could also be effective in reducing rebound, this has particular implication to economies in which residential energy consumption are far from saturation.     

The role of sorption and bacteria in mercury partitioning and bioavailability in artificial sediments

This study compared the relative importance of three types of sorption (organic matter-particle, mercury-organic matter and mercury-particle) in controlling the overall mercury partitioning and bioavailability in sediments. We found that all three types of sorption were important for both inorganic mercury (Hg) and methylated mercury (MeHg). Mercury-particle sorption was more important than mercury-fulvic acid (FA) sorption in increasing the mercury concentrations with increasing aging. Bioavailability (quantified by gut juice extraction from sipunculans) was mainly controlled by mercury-particle sorption, while FA-particle and mercury-FA sorption were not as important, especially for MeHg. Bacterial activity also increased the partitioning of Hg or MeHg in the sediments and was further facilitated by the presence of organic matter. The bioavailability of Hg or MeHg from sediments was only slightly influenced by bacterial activity. This study highlights the importance of sorption from various sources (especially mercury-particle sorption) as well as bacteria in controlling the partitioning and bioavailability of Hg or MeHg in sediments.     

反渗透处理稀土氨氮废水试验研究

根据稀土冶炼厂排放的碳铵沉淀洗涤废水的水质情况,采用NH4Cl和 NaCl模拟废水进行了反渗透可行性对比实验。模拟实验发现,在相同条件下反渗透对NaCl 较NH₄Cl 有着更高的去除率,而NH₄Cl 相对NaCl则有着更高的产水速率。实际废水试验结果表明,在恒定操作压力范围内回收率为65%的条件下,NH₄Cl浓度为2.85 g/L的碳铵沉淀洗涤废水经反渗透处理其NH₄Cl去除率为77.3%,可作为氨氮废水的预处理。对该废水处理成本进行了分析,得出其约为2.7元/m³,比相近浓度氨氮废水的氨吹脱处理成本节省约26%。     

含中间层的DSA电极电催化氧化硝基苯废水的研究

为了提高难降解有机废水的可生化性,以及更高效地去除废水中的特征污染物,同时避免二次污染,利用自制的含锡锑中间层的钌钯氧化物涂层电极对有机废水中的硝基苯进行处理,并利用SEM、XRD等方法对电极中间层、表层进行微观表征。微观测试表明,基体、中间层、表层之间结合力较强,有利于增强电极寿命;水处理实验表明,电催化氧化反应体系适合高浓度有机废水的处理,由于该反应体系需要外加电解质加强传质,这在实际运用中为废水中盐度的处理提供了一种新的途径,当电流密度为20 mA/cm²、电解质浓度为10 g/L、pH=5、极板间距=2 cm时,电催化氧化体系对硝基苯具有较高的去除效率。     

大气气溶胶酸度和酸化缓冲能力研究

为了掌握大气气溶胶与酸性降水的关系 ,分析和研究了中国北方和南方不同观测点可吸入颗粒物 (PM10 )的酸度 ,并利用微量酸碱滴定的方法测定了其酸化缓冲能力。结果表明大气气溶胶具有一定的酸度 ,同时对酸化的缓冲能力非常低 ,甚至可以促进降水的酸化 ,这种污染特征也是上述观测点发生酸性降水的重要原因之一。     

二氧化硫(高压)气体标准样品的研制

文章对高压气瓶中二氧化硫气体标准样品的制备方法进行了研究 ,对各种可能影响二氧化硫气体标准样品量值准确性的因素进行了分析。所制备的 2 0 .2 μmol/ mol二氧化硫气体标准样品的不确定度仅为 1 .4 % ,且具有良好的压力稳定性并能稳定保存 2 0个月     

Comparative studies on seasonal variations of metazooplankton in waters with different eutrophic states in Lake Taihu

A comparative study on the metazooplankton community was conducted in three different eutrophic areas, including Lake Wulihu, Meiliang Bay and the central open water area, in Lake Taihu from Oct. 2003 to Sep. 2004. Forty metazooplankton species were identified in Lake Wulihu, 37 in Meiliang Bay, and 34 in the central open water area. The annual average abundance of metazooplankton was 218 ind. l(-1) in the central open water area, 309 ind. l(-1) in Meiliang Bay, and 384 ind. l(-1) in Lake Wulihu. In Lake Wulihu, rotifers, Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus angularis, were the dominant species, which contributed 20.9% and 17.2% to the total metazooplankton abundance. Bosmina coregoni and Ceriodaphnia cornuta were the dominant species, contributing 20.4% and 11.3% of the total in Meiliang Bay, and contributing 21.6% and 16.2% of the total in the central open water area. There was a significant positive relationship between rotifers abundance and Secchi transparency. Cladoceran and copepod abundance were positively correlated with total phosphorus and water temperature. Our results show that structures of metazooplankton community differ between the three lake areas with different eutrophic states in Lake Taihu.     

Distribution of elements in needles of Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) was uneven and affected by needle age

Macronutrients (P, S, K, Na, Mg, Ca), heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd,) and Al concentrations as well as values of Ca/Al in the tip, middle and base sections, and sheaths of current year and previous year needles of Pinus massoniana from Xiqiao Mountain were analyzed and the distribution patterns of those elements were compared. The results indicated that many elements were unevenly distributed among the different components of needles. Possible deficiency of P, K, Ca, Mn and Al toxicity occurred in needles under air pollution. Heavy metals may threaten the health of Masson pine. Needle sheaths were good places to look for particulate pollutants, in this case including Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd and Al.     

Heavy metals in bark of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus massoniana</Emphasis> (Lamb.) as an indicator of atmospheric deposition near a smeltery at Qujiang,China

Goal, Scope and Background Rapid urbanization and the expansion of industrial activities in the past several decades have led to large increases in emissions of pollutants in the Pearl River Delta of south China. Recent reports have suggested that industrial emission is a major factor contributing to the damages in current natural ecosystem in the Delta area. Tree barks have been used successfully to monitor the levels of atmospheric metal deposition in many areas, but rarely in China. This study aimed at determining whether atmospheric heavy metal deposition from a Pb-Zn smeltery at Qujiang, Guangdong province, could be accurately reflected both in the inner bark and the outer bark of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.). The impact of the emission from smeltery on the soils beneath the trees and the relationships of the concentrations between the soils and the barks were also analyzed. Methods Barks around the bole of Pinus massoniana from a pine forest near a Pb-Zn smeltery at Qujiang and a reference forest at Dinghushan natural reserve were sampled with a stainless knife at an average height of 1.5 m above the ground. Mosses and lichens on the surface barks were cleaned prior to sampling. The samples were carefully divided into the inner bark (living part) and the outer bark (dead part) in the laboratory, and dried and ground, respectively. After being dry-ashed, the powder of the barks was dissolved in HNO₃. The solutions were analyzed for iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) by inductively coupled plasmas emission spectrometry (ICP, PS-1000AT, USA) and Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS, ZEENIT 60, Germany). Surface soils (0–10 cm) beneath the sample trees were also collected and analyzed for the selected metals. Results and Discussion Concentrations of the selected metals in soils at Qujiang were far above their environmental background values in the area, except for Fe and Mn, whilst at Dinghushan, they were far below their background values, except for Cd and Co. Levels of the metals, in particular Pb and Zn, in the soils beneath the sample trees at Qujiang were higher than those at Dinghushan with statistical significance. The result suggested that the pine forest soils at Qujiang had a great input of heavy metals from wet and dry atmospheric deposition, with the Pb-Zn smeltery most probably being the source. Levels of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni and Pb at Qujiang, both in the inner and the outer bark, were statistically higher than those at Dinghushan. Higher concentrations of Pb, Fe, Zn and Cu may come from the stem-flow of elements leached from the canopy, soil splash on the 1.5 m height and sorption of metals in the mosses and lichens growing on the bark, which were direct or indirect results from the atmospheric deposition. Levels of heavy metals in the outer barks were associated well with the metal concentrations in the soil, reflecting the close relationships between the metal atmospheric deposition and their accumulation in the outer bark of Masson pine. The significant (p<0.01) correlations of Fe-Cu, Fe-Cr, Fe-Pb, Fe-Ni, Pb-Ni, and Pb-Zn in the outer barks at Qujiang again suggested a common source for the metals. The correlation only occurred between Pb and Ni, Cd and Co in the outer barks at Dinghushan, which suggested that those metals must possibly have other uncommon sources. Conclusions Atmospheric deposition of the selected metals was great at Qujiang, based on the levels in the bark of Pinus massoniana and on the concentrations in the soils beneath the trees compared with that at Dinghushan. Bark of Pinus massoniana, especially the outer bark, was an indicator of metal loading at least at the time of sampling. Recommendations and Perspectives The results from this study and the techniques employed constituted a new contribution to the development of biogeochemical methods for environmental monitoring particularly in areas with high frequency of pollution in China. The method would be of value for follow up studies aimed at the assessment of industrial pollution in other areas similar with the Pearl River Delta.