Integrated catalytic wet air oxidation and aerobic biological treatment in a municipal WWTP of a high-strength o-cresol wastewater

This study examines the feasibility of coupling a Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation (CWAO), with activated carbon (AC) as catalyst, and an aerobic biological treatment to treat a high-strength o-cresol wastewater. Two goals are pursued: (a) To determine the effect of the main AC/CWAO intermediates on the activated sludge of a municipal WasteWater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and (b) To demonstrate the feasibility of coupling the AC/CWAO effluent as a part of the influent of a municipal WWTP. In a previous study, a high-strength o-cresol wastewater was treated by AC/CWAO aiming to establish the distribution of intermediates and the biodegradability enhancement. In this work, the biodegradability, toxicity and inhibition of the most relevant intermediates detected in the AC/CWAO effluent were determined by respirometry. Also, the results of a pilot scale municipal WWTP study for an integrated AC/CWAO-aerobic biological treatment of this effluent are presented. The biodegradation parameters (i.e. maximum oxygen uptake rate and oxygen consumption) of main AC/CWAO intermediates allowed the classification of the intermediates into readily biodegradable, inert or toxic/inhibitory compounds. This detailed study, allowed to understand the biodegradability enhancement exhibited by an AC/CWAO effluent and to achieve a successful strategy for coupling the AC/CWAO step with an aerobic biological treatment for a high-strength o-cresol wastewater. Using 30%, as COD, of AC/CWAO effluent in the inlet to the pilot scale WWTP, the integrated AC/CWAO-biological treatment achieved a 98% of total COD removal and, particularly, a 91% of AC/CWAO effluent COD removal without any undesirable effect on the biomass.     

Bushmeat Markets on Bioko Island as a Measure of Hunting Pressure

Abstract: Counts of the number of animal carcasses arriving at Malabo market, Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, were made during two, 8-month study periods in 1991 and 1996. Comparisons of the availability and abundance of individual species between years showed that more species and more carcasses appeared in 1996 than in 1991. In biomass terms, the increase was significantly less, only 12.5%, when compared with almost 60% more carcasses entering the market in 1996. A larger number of carcasses of the smaller-bodied species (i.e., rodents and the blue duiker [ Cephalophus monticola ] ) were recorded in 1996 than in 1991. Although an additional four species of birds and one squirrel were recorded in 1996, these were less important in terms of their contribution to biomass or carcass numbers. Concurrently, there was a dramatic reduction in the larger-bodied species, Ogilby's duiker ( C. ogilbyi ) and seven diurnal primates. We examined these changes, especially the drop in the number of larger animals. We considered the possible following explanations: (1) the number of hunters dropped either because of enforced legislation or scarcity of larger prey; (2) a shift in the use of hunting techniques occurred (   from shotguns to snares); or (3) consumer demand for primate and duiker meat dropped, which increased demand for smaller game. Our results suggest that the situation in Bioko may be alarmingly close to a catastrophe in which primate populations of international conservation significance are being hunted to dangerously low numbers. Although there is still a need for surveys of actual densities of prey populations throughout the island, working with the human population on Bioko to find alternatives to bushmeat is an urgent priority.     

Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Bird Species in a Relict Temperate Forest in Semiarid Chile

Abstract: We analyzed the structure and composition of a bird assemblage in a fragmented relict temperate forest located in northcentral Chile ( Fray Jorge National Park). In terms of species composition, the bird assemblage we found in Fray Jorge was more similar to southern temperate forest sites, located more than 1200 km south of Fray Jorge, than to localities found in nearby scrub habitats. The relict character and long-term isolation of the Fray Jorge forest provides a natural experiment with which to establish the potential long-term effects of fragmentation and isolation on southern Chilean temperate forests. Between May 1996 and March 1997, we conducted seasonal surveys of birds in six forest fragments, ranging in size from 0.5 to 22.5 ha, at Fray Jorge. The number of bird species at each forest fragment was positively correlated with fragment area during all seasons. The relict forest system had a steeper species-area slope than that reported for similar temperate-forest bird assemblages in forest fragments within Chiloé Island and for islands across the Chiloé Archipelago in southern Chile. In this regard, this bird fauna resembled a depauperate oceanic archipelago. This difference in area effects is likely a consequence of the minimization of rescue effects because of the absence of large source forest areas nearby and the long-term isolation of the system. In addition, the distribution of species among forest fragments in Fray Jorge was not random, showing a nested subset pattern. Thus, some species occur across all fragments, regardless of their area, and therefore are less affected by habitat fragmentation and less prone to local extinction. These results suggest that, for south-temperate forest birds, large fragments (or reserves) should afford better protection against extinction than small forest patches.     

生物滤池对气相与液相中污染物质的净化

通过实验室研究探讨了生物滤池同时处理废水和废气的可行性。试验结果表明：在２５℃－３７℃条件下,甲苯废气的流量为９０Ｌ／ｈ,甲苯浓度为５００ｍｇ／ｍ＾３;废水的流量为０．４Ｌ／ｈ,ＣＯＤｃｒ浓度为４００－７５０ｍｇ／Ｌ,甲苯与ＣＯＤｃｒ的去除率分别是７０％－７２％和８６％－８９％。     

水环境中26种类固醇激素的分析方法研究

建立了固相萃取-超高效液相-串联质谱法同时测定水环境中26种类固醇激素的分析方法。明确了取样体积为500 m L,Cleanert PEP为富集柱,乙酸乙酯为洗脱剂,甲醇为溶剂进行提取操作。选择了正离子模式,以0. 1%甲酸/甲醇-水为流动相,负离子模式以0. 1%氨水/乙腈-水为流动相,试样经AcquityTMUPLC BEH C18色谱柱分离后,选用质谱检测模式进行定性、定量分析。通过方法验证,26种类固醇激素的方法检出限为0. 3～1. 5 ng/L,测定下限为1. 2～6. 0 ng/L,代表性样品测定结果的相对标准偏差为2. 6%～13. 7%(n=6),加标回收率为71. 2%～121%。该方法操作便捷,灵敏度高,精密度和准确度良好,可适用于水环境中多种痕量、超痕量类固醇激素的定性定量分析。     

羟胺强化Fenton反应降解水中氯酚

针对传统Fenton体系Fe（Ⅲ）累积和pH适用范围过窄等缺点,采用羟胺（HA）强化的HA-Fenton体系,以对氯苯酚（4-CP）为目标污染物进行降解实验,考察了Fe（Ⅱ）投加量、H2O2投加量、HA投加量和溶液pH等工艺条件对4-CP去除率的影响。实验结果表明：HA-Fenton体系适用于酸性和弱酸性条件,最佳pH范围为3.0~4.0;在溶液pH为3.0、Fe（Ⅱ）投加量为5.0 μmol/L、H2O2投加量为0.4 mmol/L、HA投加量为0.20 mmol/L的最适条件下,反应10 min, 4-CP去除率达64.25 %。     

Transfer of Graphene CVD to Surface of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) Films: Effect on Biodegradation Process

Here, the influence of graphene as a coating on the biodegradation process for two different polymers is investigated, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) (biodegradable) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (non-biodegradable). Chemical vapor deposition graphene was transferred to the surface of two types of polymers using the Direct Dry Transfer technique. Polymer films, coated and uncoated with graphene, were buried in a maturated soil for up to 180 days. The films were analyzed before and after exposure to microorganisms in order to obtain information about the integrity of the graphene (Raman Spectroscopy), the biodegradation mechanism of the polymer (molecular weight and loss of weight), and surface changes of the films (atomic force microscopy and contact angle). The results prove that the graphene coating acted as a material to control the biodegradation process the PBAT underwent, while the LDPE covered by graphene only had changes in the surface properties of the film due to the accumulation of solid particles. Polymer films coated with graphene may allow the production of a material that can control the microbiological degradation, opening new possibilities in biodegradable polymer packaging. Regarding the possibility of graphene functionalization, the coating can also be selective for specific microorganisms attached to the surface.     

Heavy metal contamination in sediments of an artificial reservoir impacted by long-term mining activity in the Almadén mercury district (Spain)

Sediments from the Castilseras reservoir, located downstream on the Valdeazogues River in the Almadén mercury district, were collected to assess the potential contamination status related to metals(oids) associated with river sediment inputs from several decommissioned mines. Metals(oids) concentrations in the reservoir sediments were investigated using different physical and chemical techniques. The results were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) to explain the correlations between the sets of variables. The degree of contamination was evaluated using the enrichment factor (EF) and the geoaccumulation index (Igeo). PCA revealed that the silty fraction is the main metals(oids) carrier in the sediments. Among the potentially harmful elements, there is a group (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn) that cannot be strictly correlated to the mining activity since their concentrations depend on the lithological and edaphological characteristics of the materials. In contrast, As, Co, Hg, Pb, and S showed significant enrichment and contamination, thus suggesting relevant contributions from the decommissioned mines through fluvial sediment inputs. As far as Hg and S are concerned, the high enrichment levels pose a question concerning the potential environmental risk of transfer of the organic forms of Hg (mainly methylmercury) from the bottom sediments to the aquatic food chain.     

贵州省三岔河流域水化学特征及其控制因素

对乌江源区三岔河流域枯水期和丰水期河水样品离子浓度及组成特征分析表明,河水主要的阴阳离子分别是HCO_3~–和Ca~(2+),分别占到总阴离子量的55%和总阳离子量的70%,与喀斯特地区流域相似。主要离子的时空分布的对比分析表明,Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、Na~+、HCO_3~–、Cl~–枯水期浓度略高于丰水期,而K+、SO_4~(2–)、NO_3~–两期浓度变化相对较小;空间分布的多样化,反映了不同小流域在地质背景、生态环境、人为活动等方面的差异对河水离子的影响。通过Gibbs图分析表明,研究区河水水化学主要受到岩石风化的影响,通过阴阳离子三角图分析表明,研究区河水水化学主要受到碳酸岩盐的影响,并且硫酸广泛参与到岩石风化中,人为活动对流域水化学组成也有一定影响。