Physical and chemical changes during composting of wood chip-bedded and straw-bedded beef cattle feedlot manure

In the 1990s, restrictions on incineration encouraged the forest industry in western Canada to develop new uses for their wood residuals by product. One such use was as a replacement for cereal straw bedding in southern Alberta's beef cattle (Bos taurus) feedlot industry. However, use of carbon (C)-rich bedding, such as wood chips, had implications for subsequent composting of the feedlot manure, a practice that was being increasingly adopted. In a 3-yr study, we compared composting of wood chip-bedded manure (WBM) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw-bedded manure (SBM). There were no significant differences in temperature regimes of SBM and WBM, indicating similar rates of successful composting. Of 17 physical and chemical parameters, five showed significant (P < 0.10) differences due to bedding at the outset of composting (Day 0), and 11 showed significant differences at final sampling (Day 124). During composting (10 sampling times), seven parameters showed significant bedding effects, 16 showed significant time effects, and four showed a Bedding x Time interaction. Significantly lower (P < 0.10) losses of nitrogen (N) occurred with WBM (19%) compared with SBM (34%), which has positive implications for air quality and use as a soil amendment. Other advantages of WBM compost included significantly higher total C (333 vs. 210 kg Mg(-1) for SBM) and inorganic N (1.3 vs. 1.0 kg Mg(-1) for SBM) and significantly lower total phosphorus (4.5 vs. 5.3 kg Mg(-1) for SBM). Our results showed that wood chip bedding should not be a problem for subsequent composting of the manure after pen cleaning. In combination with other benefits, our findings should encourage the adoption of wood chips over straw as a bedding choice for southern Alberta feedlots.     

Crowding and Experience-Use History: A Study of the Moderating Effect of Place Attachment Among Water-Based Recreationists

Effective recreation resource management relies on understanding visitor perceptions and behaviors. Given current and increasing pressures on water resources, understanding crowding evaluations seems important. Beyond crowding, however, variables that possibly relate to or influence crowding are of interest and in particular, place attachment and experience-use history (EUH). As EUH is related to place attachment and likely affects crowding, this study explored the moderating effect of place attachment dimensions on the relationships between EUH and visitor crowding evaluations. Water based recreationists at a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site were contacted onsite and asked questions related to experience-use history, crowding evaluations, place attachment, and activity participation. Anglers and campers at the site identified similar crowding perceptions and place attachments. Only one of eight models tested revealed a moderating effect. Specifically, place identity moderated the relationship between the total times visited in the past twelve months and expected crowding among anglers. As such, the quest continues to understand the relationship among these important variables.     

Sorption of imidazolium-based ionic liquids to aquatic sediments

Ionic liquids (ILs) have received much attention as "green" alternatives to traditional solvents because they do not evaporate, eliminating concerns over fugitive emissions. However, if ionic liquids are used in industrial applications, they may enter aquatic systems via effluent, and their fate and transport may be influenced by sorption to sediments. In this study, we conducted batch mixing experiments with four alkylmethylimidizolium-based ILs and four types of aquatic sediments to asses the capacity for natural aquatic sediments to remove these chemicals from the water column. The concentration isotherms were non linear with point estimates of the distribution coefficient (K(d)) decreasing with increasing concentration. Apparent distribution coefficients ranged from 7.9 to 95.7l kg(-1) at an initial concentration of 0.5mM and were positively related to sediment organic matter (SOM) content. These K(d) values indicate that the ILs did not sorb strongly to the tested sediments. Increased alkyl chain length did not lead to increased sorption suggesting that hydrophobic interactions were not the most important sorption mechanism. We conclude that aquatic sediments have a limited capacity to sorb alkylmethylimidazolium ILs and that the transport of these contaminants in aquatic systems will not be strongly attenuated by sediments.     

PAHs in background soils from Western Europe: influence of atmospheric deposition and soil organic matter

The levels and distribution of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in soil samples from background locations in the UK and Norway, to investigate their spatial distribution and the controlling environmental factors. Concentrations ranged between 42 and 11200 microg kg(-1) (geometric mean 640 microg kg(-1)) and 8.6 and 1050 microg kg(-1) (150 microg kg(-1)) dry weight in the UK and Norwegian soil, respectively. Proximity to sources and locations susceptible to high atmospheric depositional inputs resulted in higher concentrations. Statistically significant relationships were observed between PAH and total organic carbon (TOC) in the Norwegian samples. High molecular weight PAHs correlated with black carbon (BC) in UK-woodland soil. These observations support the hypothesis that TOC plays an important role in the retention of PAHs in soil and that PAHs are often combined with BC during combustion emissions. PAHs with 4 and more rings comprised approximately 90% of total PAHs in the UK soil, but only 50% in the Norwegian soil. The mixture of PAHs implied that fractionation occurred during long-range atmospheric transport and deposition. The lighter PAHs with lower K(ow) values more readily reached the most remote sites. The heavier PAHs with higher K(ow) values remained in closer proximity to sources.     

Study of the toxicity of diuron and its metabolites formed in aqueous medium during application of the electrochemical advanced oxidation process "electro-Fenton"

Diuron (N'-[3,4-dichlorophenyl]-N,N-dimethylurea) is a herbicide belonging to the phenylurea family, widely used to destroy weeds on uncultivated surfaces. Because of its toxicity for aquatic organisms and suspicion of being carcinogenic for humans, diuron is the object of growing environmental concern. Therefore, we have developed the electro-Fenton method, an electrochemical advanced oxidation process (EAOP), to degrade diuron in aqueous medium, and we have studied the evolution of the toxicity of treated solution during the process. Indeed, the EAOPs catalytically generate hydroxyl radicals that oxidize the persistent organic pollutants, and can ultimately destroy and mineralize them. But, sometimes, relatively toxic organic metabolites are formed during the oxidation reaction. In this work, the evolution of toxicity of diuron aqueous solutions was studied at different initial concentrations, during treatment by the electro-Fenton method. Samples were collected at various electrolysis times and mineralization degrees during the treatment. The toxicity of the samples was measured using the bacteria Vibrio fischeri (Microtox) and the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus. Our results demonstrated that the toxicity of diuron aqueous solutions (concentrations=3.0-27.6 mg L(-1)) varied considerably with time. The formation and disappearance of several metabolites, having toxicity often stronger than that of the initial herbicide, were observed. To improve the efficiency of water decontamination, the electro-Fenton method should be applied during a time long enough (several hours) and at relatively high electrolysis current (I=250 mA) to reach a nearly complete mineralization of the herbicide in the aqueous medium.     

安全评价方法在危险废物处置环境风险评价中的应用探讨

对安全评价方法在危险废物处置建设项目环境风险评价中的运用进行初步探索。主要用"工艺过程风险因素分析表"对工艺过程潜在风险性识别;用蒙德法进行源项分析;用池火灾模型、蒸气云爆炸伤害模型对易燃、易爆物质的火灾、爆炸等重大事故后果进行计算,得出人员的伤亡半径和财产损失半径等参数,以便于判断风险的可接受水平。分析结果表明:采用安全评价方法对危险废物处置建设项目进行环境风险评价是适用的、可行的。     

基于虚拟样机的自卸汽车卸载作业侧翻分析

针对自卸汽车卸载作业时发生的侧翻问题,分析影响自卸汽车作业安全的因素.根据自卸汽车结构及其作业特点,建立自卸汽车整车虚拟样机模型.采用多体系统动力学分析软件(ADAMS),对自卸汽车在不同横向坡度卸载作业的安全性进行仿真分析,得到自卸汽车安全作业的举升角与路面横向坡度、装载重量间的关系.结果表明,一定载荷条件下,横向坡度越大,临界举升角越小; 横向坡度相同时,载重越大,临界举升角越小; 未正常卸载工况的临界举升角小于正常卸载工况的.本研究为减少或避免自卸汽车卸载作业时的侧翻事故提供了参考依据.     

重型自卸汽车车架横梁异常断裂原因分析

针对无副车架的重型自卸汽车在使用过程中出现的车架横梁异常断裂问题,建立了以板壳单元为基本单元的自卸汽车车架有限元分析模型,采用NASTRAN有限元分析软件对车架强度进行分析.有限元分析结果表明,车架横梁异常断裂现象是横梁连接部位应力值大于材料的屈服强度引起的,这与实车车架断裂结果吻合.根据实际工艺要求,改造车架结构,将连接第2根横梁和纵梁的L板厚度变大,并将平衡悬架推力杆支座由整体式支撑改为分体式支撑,从而使两处的最大应力值分别比原结构下降20.4%和51.7%.改进后车架断裂区的强度明显提高,这表明改造方法有效.     

Recycling MSWI bottom and fly ash as raw materials for Portland cement

Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) ash is rich in heavy metals and salts. The disposal of MSWI ash without proper treatment may cause serious environmental problems. Recently, the local cement industry in Taiwan has played an important role in the management of solid wastes because it can utilize various kinds of wastes as either fuels or raw materials. The objective of this study is to assess the possibility of MSWI ash reuse as a raw material for cement production. The ash was first washed with water and acid to remove the chlorides, which could cause serious corrosion in the cement kiln. Various amounts of pre-washed ash were added to replace the clay component of the raw materials for cement production. The allowable limits of chloride in the fly ash and bottom ash were found to be 1.75% and 3.50% respectively. The results indicate that cement production can be a feasible alternative for MSWI ash management. It is also evident that the addition of either fly ash or bottom ash did not have any effect on the compressive strength of the clinker. Cement products conformed to the Chinese National Standard (CNS) of Type II Portland cement with one exception, the setting time of the clinker was much longer.     

水足迹视角下长江经济带用水公平性测算及时空差异研究

区域用水公平性问题关系到地区发展平衡。为了研究长江经济带水资源配置的合理性,基于水足迹视角,构建用水公平性系数,以长江经济带为对象,测算总用水、农业用水、工业用水和生活用水的公平性系数,再运用核密度函数和ESDA方法分析用水公平性系数的时空演进趋势。结果表明：在2010—2020年,长江经济带总用水、工业用水公平性不断提高,农业用水公平性呈下降趋势,但变化幅度不大;长江经济带各省份总用水、农业用水及部分年份工业用水公平性具有明显的正向空间聚集特征,生活用水公平性没有明显的空间自相关性;各省份总用水、农业用水公平性呈现先分散后聚集的趋势,两极分化现象明显,工业、生活用水公平性集聚趋势呈波动变化,但近年来各省份工业用水、生活用水公平性水平集聚趋势在加强。基于此,国家应重点提高农业、工业用水效率,强化水资源节约保护,对重点用水单位投入节水型先进工艺,从而提高地区用水公平性水平。