Microwave plasma conversion of volatile organic compounds

A microwave-induced, steam/Ar/O2, plasma "torch" was operated at atmospheric pressure to determine the feasibility of destroying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of concern. The plasma process can be coupled with adsorbent technology by providing steam as the fluid carrier for desorbing the VOCs from an adsorbent. Hence, N2 can be excluded by using a relatively inexpensive carrier gas, and thermal formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) is avoided in the plasma. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the technical feasibility of destroying VOCs from gas streams by using a commercially available microwave plasma torch and to examine whether significant byproducts were produced. Trichloroethene (TCE) and toluene (TOL) were added as representative VOCs of interest to a flow that contained Ar as a carrier gas in addition to O2 and steam. The O2 was necessary to ensure that undesirable byproducts were not formed in the process. Microwave power applied at 500-600 W was found to be sufficient to achieve the destruction of the test compounds, down to the detection limits of the gas chromatograph that was used in the analysis. Samples of the postmicrowave gases were collected on sorbent tubes for the analysis of dioxins and other byproducts. No hazardous byproducts were detected when sufficient O2 was added to the flow. The destruction efficiency at a fixed microwave power improved with the addition of steam to the flow that passed through the torch.     

闽江河口潮汐沼泽湿地CO2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.)沼泽湿地为研究对象,于2009年1月到12月利用静态箱-气相色谱仪法测定了涨潮前、涨落潮过程和落潮后3个阶段沼泽湿地排向大气环境的CO2通量(生态系统呼吸量).结果表明,芦苇沼泽湿地3个阶段CO2排放通量月平均值均最高,分别为(563.7±119.8)、(230.3±54.2)和(506.2±83.8) mg·m-2·h-1;3种植物沼泽湿地在涨落潮过程直接排向大气环境的CO2通量显著低于涨潮前和落潮后2个阶段(p<0.05),涨潮前和落潮后CO2排放通量无显著差异(p>0.05),潮水水淹显著减少了河口潮汐沼泽湿地直接排向大气环境的CO2通量.芦苇和咸草沼泽湿地CO2排放通量与大气温度和土壤温度(10 cm深度)均具有显著的正线性关系.     

Principles of microbial PAH-degradation in soil

Interest in the biodegradation mechanisms and environmental fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is motivated by their ubiquitous distribution, their low bioavailability and high persistence in soil, and their potentially deleterious effect on human health. Due to high hydrophobicity and solid-water distribution ratios, PAHs tend to interact with non-aqueous phases and soil organic matter and, as a consequence, become potentially unavailable for microbial degradation since bacteria are known to degrade chemicals only when they are dissolved in water. As the aqueous solubility of PAHs decreases almost logarithmically with increasing molecular mass, high-molecular weight PAHs ranging in size from five to seven rings are of special environmental concern. Whereas several reviews have focussed on metabolic and ecological aspects of PAH degradation, this review discusses the microbial PAH-degradation with special emphasis on both biological and physico-chemical factors influencing the biodegradation of poorly available PAHs.     

Eichhornia crassipes capability to remove naphthalene from wastewater in the absence of bacteria

The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential of an aquatic plant, the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) devoid rhizospheric bacteria, to reduce naphthalene (a polyaromatic hydrocarbon) present in wastewater and wetlands.The capability of sterile water hyacinth plants to remove naphthalene from water and wastewater was studied in batch systems. Water hyacinths enhance the removal of pollutants through their consumption as nutrients and also through microbial activity of their rhizospheric bacteria.Experimental kinetics of naphthalene removal by water hyacinth coupled with natural rhizospheric bacteria was 100% after 9 d. Plants, decoupled of rhizospheric bacteria, reduced naphthalene concentration up to 45% during 7 d. Additionally, naphthalene uptake by water hyacinth revealed a biphasic behavior: a rapid first phase completed after 2.5 h, and a second, considerably slower rate, phase (2.5-225 h). In conclusion, water hyacinth devoid rhizospheric bacteria reduced significantly naphthalene concentration in water, revealing a considerable plant contribution in the biodegradation process of this pollutant.     

根据断层形变剖面资料分析泾阳口镇-关山断裂活动状况

首先分析泾阳地震台1986～2005年跨口镇一关山断层定点形变观测资料,指出形变剖面各点的运动特征:1995年前泾阳台N1A测线资料基本上呈线性变化,1995～1997年该测线形变资料呈现较大的波动性异常,1998年1月5日陕西泾阳发生4.8级地震,靠近断层的点位发生了阶跃式变化,之后各点位运动渐趋于平缓.其后结合断层位错模型引起的地表形变特征,分析得出该形变变化主要由地裂和断裂活动共同引起;不考虑地震引起的异常时段,分析1986～1994以及1999～2005形变年变化量,可看出变化趋势基本一致;最后利用1986～1994形变速率进行断层蠕滑段或地裂速率及深度反演.从反演结果可以看出,基准点N1比较稳定,3号点附近的地裂较浅,底部几十米,以垂直下滑为主,兼有张裂活动;5、6号点之间的断层活动深度在1 km左右.该断层上盘仍在下降.     

UV/SO32-体系降解水中十溴联苯醚

十溴联苯醚（BDE-209）是全球应用最广泛的溴系阻燃剂之一。它可以长时间在环境中迁移,是一种亲脂疏水、可生物积累的难降解有机污染物。研究了UV/SO32-高级还原体系对BDE-209的降解动力学,并分别考察了SO32-浓度、pH、BDE-209初始浓度对其降解和脱溴效能的影响。结果表明,UV/SO32-体系在BDE-209初始浓度为0.3 μmol·L-1、pH为7、SO32-为1.0 mmol·L-1、反应90 min时的降解效果最佳,降解率为93.54%;SO32-浓度越高,BDE-209的降解和脱溴效果越好;酸性条件有利于BDE-209的降解;较高的BDE-209浓度不利于体系脱溴反应的进行。BDE-209的降解过程遵循伪一级动力学规律;脱溴过程主要通过eaq-攻击C-Br键分步实现。     

A case study of flood control schemes for the Kakehashi river and their socio-cultural consequences

SUMMARY

This paper is concerned with a twenty-five year campaign against the relocation of the Komatsu-Tenmangu shrine as a result of the enlargement of the Kakehashi river. The Komatsu-Tenmangu shrine is an important cultural property of Japan, and was constructed by Toshitsune Maeda, the third dynasty of the Kaga clan in 1657. It is suggested that the primary reason why it took so long to settle this issue is a flaw in our social system for managing public works. It is concluded that preservation of cultural property is not always contrary to land development, and that the proposed procedures or something like them must be put into practice for the real expansion of our culture.     

有机肥处理对旱地红壤细菌群落及玉米生产力的影响

为探明旱地红壤细菌群落特征及玉米生产力对不同有机肥处理的响应,基于自2002年设置在中国科学院鹰潭红壤生态实验站的有机培肥长期定位试验,采用Illumina高通量测序,研究不同有机肥（不施肥,M0;低量有机肥,M1;高量有机肥,M2;高量有机肥加石灰,M3）处理下土壤细菌群落多样性和结构以及玉米生产力的变化.结果发现,与M0相比,土壤pH、有机质（SOM）、全氮（TN）、全磷（TP）含量和玉米生产力在不同有机肥（M1、M2和M3）处理下均显著增加,其中M3处理的提升效果最佳.施用有机肥显著提高了土壤细菌群落的Shannon、Evenness、Chao1与ACE指数,重塑了细菌群落结构.基于随机森林模型分析,土壤性质中的pH和TP显著影响土壤细菌多样性,而pH、SOM、TP和TN对土壤细菌群落结构影响显著.相关性分析和结构方程模型分析表明,土壤TP和SOM可以通过改变土壤细菌多样性和群落组成间接影响玉米生产力.研究结果从指导我国南方红壤区农田合理施肥的角度,为农田土壤质量提高及耕地产能提升提供科学依据.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of triclosan

In the spring of 2003, there was an outbreak of the severe respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong. Health concerns have thus triggered an increased and predominant use of various types of household cleansing agents such as triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol). However, it has been reported recently that triclosan could be photochemically converted to toxic 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,8-Cl(2)DD) in the environment. It is therefore necessary to develop environmentally friendly methods for the treatment of triclosan. To this end, photocatalytic degradation of triclosan in aqueous solution was conducted using TiO(2) (Degussa P25) under irradiation of UV light (lambda < 365 nm). It was found that triclosan could be degraded by this approach. Hydrogen peroxide was added to enhance the degradation process, and the optimal initial hydrogen peroxide concentration for triclosan degradation was 0.005% (w/v). Product identification indicated that triclosan oxidation occurred at its phenol moiety and yielded quinone and hydroquinone intermediates. The formation of a dichlorophenol intermediate in triclosan degradation suggested bond-breaking of the ether linkage occurred during the process. Moreover, no chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin congener was detected. These findings confirm that the photocatalytic degradation of triclosan is an environmentally friendly process.     

长江口表层沉积物中半挥发性有机物的分布

采用GC-FID方法对2005年11月采集于长江河口区表层沉积物中的64种半挥发性有机物(SVOCs)进行分析测定,并对影响该类污染物分布的主要因素进行了讨论. 结果表明:该区域表层沉积物中共检出半挥发性有机物35种,包括多环芳烃类11种,取代苯类7种,酚类5种,酯类3种,醚类2种和其他类7种. 其中,属于我国优先控制污染物的有7种,属于美国优先控制污染物的有22种. 沉积物中SVOCs的分布未呈现出明显的规律,其分布主要受采样点所处的水利条件、与排污口的相对位置、沉积物颗粒粒径、有机质含量和洪枯季等因素的影响;采样点的水动力条件越弱,与排污口的距离越近,沉积物颗粒粒径越小,导致沉积物中污染物的种类和数量就越多.