Supercritical fluid extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from white pine (Pinus strobus) needles and its implications

A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method was developed for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from fresh and fallen pine needles. Toluene-modified CO2 was used as the extracting fluid, and the extracted PAHs were analyzed by GC-MS. Using a two-stage extraction procedure, a static extraction at 180 degrees C and a dynamic extraction at 60 degrees C, and an in-cell silica gel plug plus a post-oven silica gel column, the extraction and fractionation of PAHs can be accomplished in one step. Over a seven month period, a significant variation was observed for PAHs in urban samples, while PAHs in mountain samples were at much lower levels (by a factor of approximately 8) and showed little seasonal change. Although dry fallen needles and fresh needles contained similar amounts of PAHs, in the fallen needles the lower molecular weight PAHs were partially lost while the higher molecular weight PAHs were slightly enriched. Pollution in urban areas was found to be highly localized, and buildings and trees are believed to be important factors in the restriction of atmospheric PAHs.     

用甲基硫酸钠废渣制备二甲基硫醚

根据酯在碱性条件下水解反应生成醚的原理，研究了以甲基硫酸钠废渣为原料制备二甲基硫醚（DMS）的方法。在反应温度100℃、加水量100mL、搅拌时间30min、合成反应时间50min的最佳工艺条件下，制得的DMS产品纯度为99％，收率为83．59％。该法工艺简单，技术可行，操作稳定，既消除了环境污染，又能制备化工产品，具有明显的环境效益和经济效益。     

Acute toxicity and sublethal behavioral effects of copper on barnacle nauplii (Balanus improvisus)

This study documents the effects of short-term (24h) sublethal copper exposures on undirected swimming activity and photobehavior of Balanus improvisus stage II nauplii. All Cu treatments were static, with temperature and salinity conditions at 20°C and 15 or 30. The 24h LC 50 estimate for Cu is 88 ppb at 15 and >200 ppb at 30. Sub-lethal Cu concentrations cause reductions in swimming speed, which decrease progressively with increasing Cu dose. At 50 ppb Cu, this was significant primarily at light intensities below the phototactic threshold. At higher Cu concentrations, significant reductions in mean linear velocity occurred at most light intensities tested. At 30, 50 and 100 ppb Cu also reduce the positive phototactic response and 150 ppb Cu causes reversal of phototaxis at optimal intensities. Photokinesis is reduced at 100 ppb Cu and disappears at 150 ppb Cu. At 15, the behavioral effects of 50 ppb Cu resemble those occurring with 150 ppb Cu at 30. Swimming speed and photobehavior show promise as sensitive behavioral indicators of copper toxicity. Additional research is required to determine if these responses apply to a broad range of pollutants and to other planktonic organisms. There is also a need to further evaluate the significance of these behavioral effects ecologically.Contribution No. 181 from the EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA     

Key role for nuclear energy in global biodiversity conservation

Modern society uses massive amounts of energy. Usage rises as population and affluence increase, and energy production and use often have an impact on biodiversity or natural areas. To avoid a business‐as‐usual dependence on coal, oil, and gas over the coming decades, society must map out a future energy mix that incorporates alternative sources. This exercise can lead to radically different opinions on what a sustainable energy portfolio might entail, so an objective assessment of the relative costs and benefits of different energy sources is required. We evaluated the land use, emissions, climate, and cost implications of 3 published but divergent storylines for future energy production, none of which was optimal for all environmental and economic indicators. Using multicriteria decision‐making analysis, we ranked 7 major electricity‐generation sources (coal, gas, nuclear, biomass, hydro, wind, and solar) based on costs and benefits and tested the sensitivity of the rankings to biases stemming from contrasting philosophical ideals. Irrespective of weightings, nuclear and wind energy had the highest benefit‐to‐cost ratio. Although the environmental movement has historically rejected the nuclear energy option, new‐generation reactor technologies that fully recycle waste and incorporate passive safety systems might resolve their concerns and ought to be more widely understood. Because there is no perfect energy source however, conservation professionals ultimately need to take an evidence‐based approach to consider carefully the integrated effects of energy mixes on biodiversity conservation. Trade‐offs and compromises are inevitable and require advocating energy mixes that minimize net environmental damage. Society cannot afford to risk wholesale failure to address energy‐related biodiversity impacts because of preconceived notions and ideals.     

分布式电源对配电网静态电压稳定性的影响

为研究分布式电源(Distributed Generation,DG)的接入对配电网电压稳定性的影响,利用一种新的前推回代潮流算法分析配电网各节点的静态电压稳定裕度指标,并通过对 IEEE33 系统的计算,分析 PQ、PV 型 DG 以不同方式并网对配电网静态电压稳定性的影响。分析结果表明:利用本算法可实现配电系统负荷按相同比例增长,正确判断系统所能承受的负荷增长     

基于多源数据的PM2.5浓度时空分布预测与制图

随着我国经济、工业化、城市化进程迅速发展,PM_(2.5)污染在中国已经成为一个极端的环境和社会问题,并引起广泛关注.采用新技术估算的地表PM_(2.5)质量浓度,收集并处理了遥感反演的气溶胶光学厚度(AOD),气象数据,其他地理数据和污染物排放数据,采用贝叶斯最大熵(BME)结合地理加权回归(GWR)来分析2015年冬季的PM_(2.5)暴露在我国东部大范围区域的时空变异特征.结果表明,BME模型的十折交叉验证结果的决定系数R~2为0.92,均方根误差(RMSE)为8.32μg·m~(-3),平均拟合误差(MPE)为-0.042μg·m~(-3),平均绝对拟合误差(MAE)为4.60μg·m~(-3),与地理加权回归模型的结果相比(R~2=0.71,RMSE=15.68μg·m~(-3),MPE=-0.095μg·m~(-3),MAE=11.14μg·m~(-3)),BME的预测结果有极大的提高.空间上,PM_(2.5)高浓度地区主要集中在华北、长江三角洲、四川盆地,低浓度地区主要集中在中国的最南部如珠江三角洲和云南的西南部;时间上,不同月份的研究区域PM_(2.5)空间分布所有差别,2015年的12月、2016年1月PM_(2.5)污染最为严重,2015年的11月,2016年的2月污染相对较低.