Probing the distribution and contamination levels of 10 trace metal/metalloids in soils near a Pb/Zn smelter in Middle China

The horizontal and vertical distribution patterns and contamination status of ten trace metal/metalloids (Ag, Bi, Co, Cr, Ge, In, Ni, Sb, Sn, Tl) in soils around one of the largest Chinese Pb–Zn smelter in Zhuzhou City, Central China, were revealed. Different soil samples were collected from 11 areas, including ten agricultural areas and one city park area, with a total of 83 surface soil samples and six soil cores obtained. Trace metal/metalloids were determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry after digestion by an acid mixture of HF and HNO₃. The results showed that Ag, Bi, In, Sb, Sn, and Tl contents decreased both with the distance to the Pb–Zn smelter as well as the soil depth, hinting that these elements were mainly originated from the Pb–Zn smelting operations and were introduced into soils through atmospheric deposition. Soil Ge was influenced by the smelter at a less extent, while the distributions of Co, Cr, and Ni were roughly even among most sampling sites and soil depths, suggesting that they were primarily derived from natural sources. The contamination status, as revealed by the geo-accumulation index (I _geo), indicated that In and Ag were the most enriched elements, followed by Sb, Bi, and Sn. In general, Cr, Tl, Co, Ni, and Ge were of an uncontaminated status.     

石墨气体扩散电极的制备与性能优化

电极的制备工艺及参数直接影响电极材料的活性。主要考察了C/PTFE质量比、碾压压力、煅烧温度、造孔剂NH4HCO3及稀土掺杂等因素对电极产出H2O2的影响规律。研究结果表明,电极最佳制备条件为:石墨和PTFE质量比为2∶1、石墨、造孔剂和稀土元素质量比为6∶1∶1、碾压压力10 MPa、煅烧温度330℃。在pH=3、电解质Na2SO4浓度为0.05mol/L条件下,电解2 h后,改性电极产生的H2O2从95 mg/L提高到350 mg/L,提高了268.4%。     

烟气同时脱硫脱氮生物膜填料塔的适用外加碳源

实验分别考察了外加乙酸钠、葡萄糖、酒石酸钾钠、甲醇等4种低分子有机碳源对生物膜填料塔烟气同时脱硫脱氮效率的影响。结果表明,外加乙酸钠的脱氮效果最佳,对NOx的平均去除率为62.05%;外加葡萄糖、酒石酸钾钠、甲醇时的NOx平均去除率分别为51.03%、46.98%、58.71%。乙酸钠、酒石酸钾钠、甲醇均能使SO2的去除率达到100%,葡萄糖显著降低了SO2的去除率。乙酸钠是在生物膜填料塔烟气同时脱硫脱氮技术中适宜的外加碳源。     

Cost-effectiveness of two operational models at industrial wastewater treatment plants in China: A case study in Shengze town,Suzhou City

The widespread illegal discharge of industrial wastewater in China has posed significant challenges to the effective management of industrial wastewater treatment plants (IWTPs) and caused or exacerbated critical social issues such as trans-boundary environmental pollution. This study examines two operational strategies, decentralized model and an innovative integrated model, that have been used in the industrial town of Shengze (located in Suzhou City) over the past two decades at IWTPs handling wastewater from the city’s dyeing industry. Our cost-effectiveness analysis shows that, although the operational cost of IWTPs under the integrated model is higher than under the original decentralized model, the integrated model has significantly improved IWTP performance and effectively reduced illegal discharge of industrial wastewater. As a result, the number of reported incidents of unacceptable pollution in local receiving water bodies had declined from 13 in 2000–1 in 2008. Key factors contributing to the success of the innovative integrated model are strong support from municipal and provincial leaders, mandatory ownership transfer of IWTPs to a centralized management body, strong financial incentives for proper plant management, and geographically-clustered IWTPs.     

Comprehensive assessment of toxic metals in urban and suburban street deposited sediments (SDSs) in the biggest metropolitan area of China

A set of toxic metals, i.e. As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr, in urban and suburban SDSs were investigated comparatively in the biggest metropolitan area of China, Shanghai. Results showed that all of the metals except As were accumulated greatly, much higher than background values. Geo-accumulation index indicated that metal contamination in urban SDSs was generally heavier than that in suburban SDSs. Potential ecological risk index demonstrated that overall risks caused by metals were considerable. Cd contributed 52% to the overall risk. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that in urban SDSs, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cu and Cr were related to traffic and industry; coal combustion led to elevated levels of Hg; soil parent materials controlled As contents. In suburban SDSs, Pb, Cu, As and Cd largely originated from traffic pollution; Zn, Ni and Cr were associated with industrial contaminants; Hg was mainly from domestic solid waste.     

异波折板水解酸化-A~2O一体化反应器实验研究

设计了异波折板水解酸化-A2O一体化反应器,进行生活污水处理的实验研究。10个月的实验结果表明,系统的最佳水力停留时间(HRT)为8 h时,最适COD进水浓度为240~600 mg/L,最佳混合液回流比(r)-污泥回流比(R)为250%~100%。控制反应器于以上运行参数下,25±2℃所对应的COD、TN和TP去除率分别为96.84%、67.55%和81.92%。当温度降至7℃时,其COD、TP和TN分别降至86.35%、50.25%和65.68%。基于实验分析结果,阐明了一体化反应器高效性的机理在于异波折板水解酸化段具有高效传质特性和A2O段具有复合式活性污泥-接触氧化好氧池的特点。     

厌氧发酵系统中回流沼液的产甲烷活性研究

为确定两阶段厌氧发酵系统合理的污泥回流时段,对厌氧发酵系统排出沼液产甲烷活性进行了研究。通过对这些沼液在后储罐放置的不同天数(0~5 d)测定其不同的活性,用间歇实验方法测定最大比产甲烷活性(Um ax.CH4)作为厌氧污泥的产甲烷活性指标。结果表明,排出的沼液产甲烷活性在不同的时间段有所不同,经实验得出沼液放置第2 d时的产甲烷活性最高,从而确定该两阶段厌氧发酵系统排出污泥合理的回流时段应该是沼液进入后储罐的第2 d。进而为在线活性污泥与后储罐最佳活性时段污泥混合的污泥回流工艺提供理论依据。     

Contamination status of dioxins in sediment cores from the Three Gorges Dam area, China

In order to screen dioxin pollution in sediment of Three Gorges Dam (TGD) area, three sediment cores were obtained from two sites in 2010~2011; each core was divided into different samples with every 10 cm depth. Sediment dating determined by radiometry (¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Pb) and concentrations of dioxins were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results indicated: Sediment dating showed no significant difference among all the samples from the same core and the two locations (ANOVA, p?>?0.05). The total amount of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD)/Fs in all sample ranged from 30.7 to 371 pg/g dry weight (d.w.), with the mean value of 66.2 pg/g d.w. PCDDs occupied 60.33~85.22 % of dioxins in each sample, and PCDFs contributed to a very small extend. There was no significant difference in the dioxin concentration between 2010 and 2011 and in the two locations (t test, p?>?0.05), but the vertical distribution of dioxins showed significant different in different depths. Toxic equivalent (TEQ) (WHO 2005, Humans) of samples ranged from 0.15 to 1.60 pg/g d.w.; the mean was 0.41 pg/g d.w. No significant difference was found in TEQ between 2010 and 2011(t test, p?>?0.05). It could be concluded that the distribution of dioxins showed the spatial heterogeneous which resulted from the strong mixing and sediment deposition characteristics. Dioxin concentration in sediment cores was low with very low environmental risk potential. Dioxins at the two sites had the same origin, and exogenous input was the main source. It is the first report on the dioxins concentrations in sediment cores in the TGD area.     

Dechlorination and organohalide-respiring bacteria dynamics in sediment samples of the Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir

Several groups of bacteria such as Dehalococcoides spp., Dehalobacter spp., Desulfomonile spp., Desulfuromonas spp., or Desulfitobacterium spp. are able to dehalogenate chlorinated pollutants such as chloroethenes, chlorobenzenes, or polychlorinated biphenyls under anaerobic conditions. In order to assess the dechlorination potential in Yangtze sediment samples, the presence and activity of the reductively dechlorinating bacteria were studied in anaerobic batch tests. Eighteen sediment samples were taken in the Three Gorges Reservoir catchment area of the Yangtze River, including the tributaries Jialing River, Daning River, and Xiangxi River. Polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated the presence of dechlorinating bacteria in most samples, with varying dechlorinating microbial community compositions at different sampling locations. Subsequently, anaerobic reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene (PCE) was tested after the addition of electron donors. Most cultures dechlorinated PCE completely to ethene via cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) or trans-dichloroethene. Dehalogenating activity corresponded to increasing numbers of Dehalobacter spp., Desulfomonile spp., Desulfitobacterium spp., or Dehalococcoides spp. If no bacteria of the genus Dehalococcoides spp. were present in the sediment, reductive dechlorination stopped at cis-DCE. Our results demonstrate the presence of viable dechlorinating bacteria in Yangtze samples, indicating their relevance for pollutant turnover.