Media surface properties and the development of nitrifying biofilms in mixed cultures for wastewater treatment

Plastic was tested to select biofilm support media that would enhance nitrification in the presence of heterotrophs. Eight different types (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride and tufnol) were immersed in an aerobic fed-batch reactor receiving domestic settled wastewater. Nitrification rates did not correlate with biomass concentrations, nor surface roughness of the plastics as measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The maximum nitrification rate of 1.5 g/m² d^?1 was obtained from biofilms growing on PTFE which had the lowest surface adhesion force (8 nN). Nitrification rates for the biofilms were inversely correlated with the attraction forces as measured by AFM.     

Environmental risk mapping of accidental pollution and its zonal prevention in a city

Accidental releases of pollution can have severe environmental, societal, economic, and institutional consequences. This paper considers the use of risk mapping of accidental pollution events, and zonal prevention measures for alleviating the impact on large urban areas. An Environmental Pollution Accident Risk Mapping (EPARM) model is constructed according to a mapping index system supported by quantitative sub-models dedicated to evaluating the risk arising from different sources of potential accidental pollution. The EPARM approach consists of identifying suitable indexes, assessment of environmental risk at regional and national scales based on information on previous pollution accidents and the prevailing environmental and social conditions, and use of GIS to map the overall risk. A case study of pollution accidents in Minghang District, Shanghai, China is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model. The paper also proposes a systemic framework for accidental environmental pollution risk prevention, and detailed countermeasures for specific risk zones.     

闽江河口潮汐沼泽湿地CO_2排放通量特征

以闽江河口区面积最大的鳝鱼滩湿地分布的3种植物沼泽湿地：土著种咸草（Cyperus malaccensis Lam.var.brevifolius Bocklr.）沼泽湿地、芦苇（Phragmites australis）沼泽湿地及外来入侵种互花米草（Spartina alterniflora Loisel.）沼泽湿地...     

杂散电容对电容式电压互感器测量误差的影响

电容式电压互感器(capacitorvoltagetransformer,CVT)测量谐波的精度受补偿电抗器杂散电容的影响较大。通过对补偿电抗器杂散电容物理特性的分析,建立等效电路模型,以及对CVT谐波传递特性的分析计算,利用MATLAB/Simulink 仿真软件,研究了杂散电容在不同范围内波动时对CVT各次谐波的传变误差的影响。仿真结果表明:不同杂散电容在相同范围内波动时,数值越大的杂散电容对CVT的传递特性影响越大。     

A matter of approach: the retort's potential to reduce mercury consumption within small-scale gold mining settlements in Tanzania

The mercury-based gold extraction processes prevalent within small-scale mining are both efficient and harmful. While ensuring relatively high levels of gold recovery, they cause environmental and health problems for people living within mining settlements. This mercury consumption can be minimized by using a simple mercury recycling device known as a retort. While mining legislation in Tanzania dictates the use of retorts for gold recovery, virtually no miners use them, indicating the inadequacy of previous introduction attempts. During action research, retorts were introduced in two mining settlements through a thorough and participatory approach. Twenty miners were given retorts and their attitudes and receptiveness to them were studied. Of the recipients, 18 used the retorts over a period of five months, recycling 10 kilos of mercury. Less mercury was spilled into the environment and miners saved money normally spent on purchasing mercury. The findings have implications for the strategies of development interventions targeting mercury-instigated problems within small-scale gold mining.     

Development of vermicast from sludge and powdered oyster shell

Soil acidification is one of the rising land degradation issues facing world agriculture. The risk of acidification is currently being assessed as part of agriculture productivity and sustainable theme. This study was conducted to produce a new vermicomposting cast as a recycling resource derived from municipal sewage sludge and waste oyster shell. The earthworm, Eisenia Andrei, was fed under different conditions. The most suitable mixture was 77:23 w/w% of sewage sludge and waste oyster shell. Powdered oyster shell (POS) sludge blend provided a stable pH, due to its buffering capacity during vermiculture because of the Ca²⁺ and OH^? release effect. The vermicast products fulfilled the cast standards of Korea Ministry of Environment for all the parameters such as moisture content, pH, salinity, organic carbon, TKN, Phosphate, and heavy metals. Slowly released organic matter when added to soil improves the capacity of the soil to hold nutrients for plants, improve soil aeration for roots, and improves soil drainage. This product will be an addition to already-commercialized sludge vermicast as a higher value product.     

土壤优先流的理论研究和试验分析

在活动流场模型的基础上建立了新的溶质运移控制方程,研究了流场分形特征参数的计算方法;采用4组染色示踪试验资料,分析了活动流场模型模拟土壤水流运动和溶质运移宏观非均匀特征的适用性.模拟分析表明,活动流场模型能较准确地捕捉到土壤中的优先流特别是不稳定流的宏观运动特征;土壤存在大孔隙结构的情况下,水流和溶质将更快的迁移到深层土壤,活动流场模型模拟计算的入渗深度偏小,但大于连续性模型的模拟计算结果;当土壤中的大孔隙结构较少时,活动流场模型模拟预测的土壤含水率分布和溶质浓度分布与实测结果比较一致.