Effects of compositional heterogeneity and nanoporosity of raw and treated biomass-generated soot on adsorption and absorption of organic contaminants

A biomass-generated soot was sequentially treated by HCl-HF solution, organic solvent, and oxidative acid to remove ash, extractable native organic matter (EOM), and amorphous carbon. The compositional heterogeneity and nano-structure of the untreated and treated soot samples were characterized by elemental analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, BET-N₂ surface area, and electron microscopic analysis. Sorption properties of polar and nonpolar organic pollutants onto the soot samples were compared, and individual contributions of adsorption and absorption were quantified. The sorption isotherms for raw sample were practically linear, while were nonlinear for the pretreated-soot. The removal of EOM enhanced adsorption and reduced absorption, indicating that EOM served as a partitioning phase and simultaneously masked the adsorptive sites. By drastic-oxidation, the outer amorphous carbon and the inner disordered core of the soot particles were completely removed, and a fullerene-like nanoporous structure (aromatic shell) was created, which promoted additional π-π interaction between phenanthrene and the soot.     

Distribution and bioaccumulation of steroidal and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in wild fish species from Dianchi Lake, China

The distribution and bioaccumulation of steroidal and phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were studied in various tissues of wild fish species from Dianchi Lake, China. In muscle tissue, 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-cumylphenol, 4-nonlyphenol and bisphenol A were detected in fish from each sampling site, with maximal concentrations of 4.6, 4.4, 18.9 and 83.5 ng/g dry weight (dw), respectively. Steroids (estrone, 17β-estradiol 17α-ethynylestradiol and estriol) were found at lower levels (<11.3 ng/g dw) and less frequently in muscle samples. The highest concentrations of steroids and phenols were found in liver, followed by those in gill and the lowest concentration was found in muscle. The field bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of phenols were calculated in fish species ranged from 18 to 97. Moreover, the measured tissue concentrations were utilized in order to estimate water concentration of steroids (4.4-18.0 ng/L). These results showed that steroidal and phenolic EDCs were likely ubiquitous contaminants in wild fish.     

Occurrence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli genes in raw water of water treatment plants

Purpose

The high incidences of waterborne diseases are frequently associated with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC). DEC may pose a health risk to people who contact surface water for recreation or domestic use. However, there is no published report on the monitoring of DEC in drinking water sources in Taiwan. In this study, the occurrence of DEC genes in raw water for water treatment plants in Taiwan was investigated.

Method

Raw water samples were taken from water treatment plants adjacent to the Kaoping River in southern Taiwan. Each water sample was treated with membrane filtration followed by DNA extraction from the concentrate and concentrate enrichment, respectively. The target genes for various DEC strains of genes were identified, including enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC).

Results

Among 55 water samples analyzed, DEC genes were detected in 16 (29.1%) samples. Strain-specific genes for EAEC, EHEC, EIEC, and EPEC were found in the percentages of 3.6%, 10.9%, 9.1%, and 9.1%, respectively. The specific gene for ETEC is not detected in the study. By looking at the presence/absence of specific genes and water sample characteristics, water temperature was found to differ significantly between samples with and without EHEC gene. In addition, pH levels differed significantly for EHEC and EPEC presence/absence genes, and turbidity was significantly different for water with and without EPEC genes.

Conclusion

DEC genes were detected in 29.1% of the raw water samples in the study location. The potential health threat may be increased if the treatment efficiencies are not properly maintained. Routine monitoring of DEC in drinking water sources should be considered.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollution from a Fe-smelting plant in urban river sediments using environmental magnetic and geochemical methods

Environmental magnetic proxies provide a rapid means of assessing the degree of industrial heavy metal pollution in soils and sediments. To test the efficiency of magnetic methods for detecting contaminates from a Fe-smelting plant in Loudi City, Hunan Province (China) we investigated river sediments from Lianshui River. Both magnetic and non-magnetic (microscopic, chemical and statistical) methods were used to characterize these sediments. Anthropogenic heavy metals coexist with coarse-grained magnetic spherules. It can be demonstrated that the Pollution Load Index of industrial heavy metals (Fe, V, Cr, Mo, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu) and the logarithm of saturation isothermal remanent magnetization, a proxy for magnetic concentration, are significantly correlated. The distribution heavy metal pollution in the Lianshui River is controlled by surface water transport and deposition. Our findings demonstrate that magnetic methods have a useful and practical application for detecting and mapping pollution in and around modern industrial cities.     

Capacity estimation and preliminary strategy for reducing the release of dioxins in China

As a party of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, China must submit its national implementation plan (NIP) for this convention. The strategy and action plan for reducing the release of dioxins in China are the most important components of the NIP. Three problems are key points for developing such strategy and action plan—what are the key sources for applying the best available technology/best environmental practice (BAT/BEP) to reduce the release of dioxins? How about the capacity for reducing the dioxins release from the key sources? Where are the areas of priority for applying BAT/BEP? This paper shows the efforts towards the solution of these problems. The list of key sources covering about half of the total dioxins release was determined considering four criteria. The capacity of key sources were estimated based on the difference between the emission factor corresponding to the actual situation in 2004 and that corresponding to the scenario that all key sources have been applied BAT/BEP to reduce the dioxins release. The priority analysis using the geographical information system (GIS) tool has revealed that castern provinces should be of high priority in the future reduction activities of dioxins release in China.     

Relationship between sludge settleability and membrane fouling in a membrane bioreactor

The evolution of activated sludge settleability and its relationship to membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor were studied at a lab-scale equipment fed with synthetic wastewater. It was found that sludge volume index (SVI) gradually increased and the sludge settleability was reduced, which was caused by the propagation of filamentous bacteria. With increasing SVI, the average increasing rate of trans-membrane pressure increased, the stable filtration period was shortened, and the two stages (smooth stage and accelerating stage) of the trans-membrane pressure were more obvious. At the same time, the increasing rate of trans-membrane pressure at the smooth stage decreased and the rate at the accelerating stage increased with SVI, respectively. The observation by using scanning electronic microscopes showed the cake layer with loose structure and large thickness formed on the membrane surface due to the appearance of filamentous bacteria and high SVI in sludge. Influence of the sludge settleability on the trans-membrane pressure was related to the structure and thickness of the cake layer on the membrane.     

Impact of photosynthesis and transpiration on nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands

To determine the impact of photosynthesis and transpiration on nitrogen removal in wetlands, an artificial wetland planted with reeds was constructed to treat highly concentrated domestic wastewater. Under different meteorological and hydraulic conditions, the daily changes of photosynthesis and transpiration of reeds, as well as nitrogen removal efficiency were measured. It was found that net photosynthesis rate per unit leaf area was maintained on a high level (average 19.0 μmol CO₂/(m²·s)) from 10:00 to 14:00 in July 2004 and reached a peak of 21.1 μmol CO₂/(m²·s) when Photon Flux Density was high during the day. Meanwhile, TN and NH₄ ⁺-N removal efficiency rose to 79.6% and 89.6%, respectively—the maximum values observed in the test. Correlation coefficient analysis demonstrated a positive correlation among photon flux density, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and TN and NH₄ ⁺-N removal efficiency. In contrast, there was a negative correlation between stomatal conductance and TN and NH₄ ⁺-N removal efficiency. Results suggest that the photosynthesis and transpiration of wetland plants have a great impact on nitrogen removal efficiency of wetlands, which can be enhanced by an increase in the photosynthesis and transpiration rate. In addition, the efficiency of water usage by reeds and nitrogen removal efficiency could be affected by the water level in wetlands; a higher level boosts nitrogen removal efficiency.     

Conservation genetics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lumnitzera littorea</Emphasis> (Combretaceae), an endangered mangrove,from the Indo-West Pacific

Mangrove forests, with their ecological significance and economic benefits, are vital inter-tidal wetland ecosystems. Lumnitzera littorea (Combreataceae) is a non-viviparous mangrove distributed in tropical Asia and North Australia. Due to natural and human impacts, populations of this species have been isolated, fragmented, and highly disturbed. In China, L. littorea is an endangered species, restricted to small regions of Hainan Island. The genetic composition of five populations of this species from the Indo-West Pacific (South China, Malay Peninsula, Sri Lanka, North Australia) was assessed using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) makers. At the species level, expected mean heterozygosity (He) was 0.240 with 75.6% of loci polymorphic (P). However, genetic variation was much lower at the population level (P = 37.1%, He = 0.118). A high coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst = 0.515) and low level of gene flow (Nm = 0.470) indicated significant genetic differentiation among populations. AMOVA also indicated that more than half the total variation (58.4%) was partitioned among populations. The high degree of differentiation observed among populations emphasizes the need for appropriate conservation measures that incorporate additional populations into protected areas, and achieve the restoration of separate, degraded populations.     

Postfire stand structure in a semiarid savanna: cross-scale challenges estimating biomass.

Algorithms relating remotely sensed woody cover to biomass are often the basis for large-scale inventories of aboveground carbon stocks. However, these algorithms are commonly applied in a generic fashion without consideration of disturbances that might alter vegetation structure. We compared field and remote sensing estimates of woody biomass on savannas with contrasting disturbance (fire) histories and assessed potential errors in estimating woody biomass from cover without considering fire history. Field surveys quantified multilayer cover (MLC) of woody and succulent plants on sites experiencing wildfire in 1989 or 1994 and on nearby unburned (control) sites. Remote sensing estimates of the woody cover fraction (WCF) on burned and control sites were derived from contemporary (2005) dry-season Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery (during a period when herbaceous cover was senescent) using a probabilistic spectral mixture analysis model. Satellite WCF estimates were compared to field MLC assessments and related to aboveground biomass using allometry. Field-based MLC and remotely sensed WCFs both indicated that woody cover was comparable on control areas and areas burned 11-16 years ago. However, biomass was approximately twofold higher on control sites. Canopy cover was a strong predictor of woody biomass on burned and control areas, but fire history significantly altered the linear cover-biomass relationship on control plots to a curvilinear relationship on burned plots. Results suggest predictions of woody biomass from "generic" two-dimensional (2-D) cover algorithms may underestimate biomass in undisturbed stands and overestimate biomass in stands recovering from disturbance. Improving the accuracy of woody-biomass estimates from field and/or remotely sensed cover may therefore require disturbance-specific models or detection of vegetation height and transforming 2-D vegetation cover to 3-D vegetation volume.     

变化环境下北江下游年径流量的加权马尔可夫链预测

在气候变化和人类活动的影响下,西北江的水文环境发生了重大变化,导致北江下游的来水条件发生变化。采用斯波曼检验（Spearman’s rho test）和Mann-kendall法系统地分析了北江下游的年径流量的变化趋势和变异情况,在此基础上建立了北江下游变化环境下年径流量的加权马尔可夫链预测模型。结果表明：西北江近50年来的大规模联围筑闸、大规模无序采掘河床泥沙等剧烈的人类活动,导致北江下游三水水文站年径流量在1990年左右发生了变异;所建立的加权马尔可夫链预测结果表明,从变异后的序列中统计出来的状态＂转移概率＂矩阵,能准确地反映出环境变化后年径流量之间的关系,所建立的加权马尔可夫链法预测变化环境下的年径流量是可行的,预测效果也比较好;按文章确定的分级标准,依现有的资料信息推断,环境发生变化后,在未来长期过程中,北江下游出现平水年的机会最大,但年际间的丰枯波动概率也不小。这一结果值得水资源管理部门注意。