Minimizing disruptions caused by damming and ensuring the health of downstream ecosystems

In view of the Brazilian Ten‐Year Energy Expansion Plan 2021, this article presents a discussion on environmental flow (e‐flow). The authors analyze the literature to show the evolution of publications concerning e‐flow releases from the perspective of ecosystems services preservation considering results from different case studies from throughout the world. Finally, two main recommendations are drawn regarding e‐flow are: (1) performing a holistic approach to e‐flow planning, including hydrological, hydraulic, water quality, habitat, and riparian zone considerations; and (2) installing in new structures adequate bottom outlets to allow a range of adjustable e‐flow from reservoir dams to reproduce natural flow variations.     

厌氧折流板反应器处理石化剩余污泥

研究了厌氧折流板反应器(ABR)在厌氧消化处理石化剩余污泥启动过程中的性能及相关参数。实验结果表明:污泥挥发性固体含量的去除率达43.7%;反应器内pH维持在6.4~7.4;从启动到稳定运行,第一隔室最大比产甲烷活性变化不大,在0.14 L/(g·d)以下,第二、第三、第四隔室的最大比产甲烷活性在0.29 L/(g·d)以上,污泥在反应器内部实现了分级分相处理。     

Influence of operating conditions on nitrous oxide formation during nitritation and nitrification

Nitrous oxide (N₂O), a strong greenhouse gas, can be produced by ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) as a by-product of ammonium oxidation and can potentially be formed in all types of nitrification processes. However, partial nitritation has been reported to cause significantly higher N₂O emissions than complete nitrification. In the study presented here, the mechanisms and factors that drive N₂O formation by AOB were investigated with respect to different operational strategies to achieve nitrite accumulation base on combined evaluation of oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and N₂O formation rate. On the one hand, N₂O formation during partial nitritation and nitrification in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with continuous aerobic conditions was observed. On the other hand, the effect of intermittent aeration on N₂O formation during nitrification was investigated. The presence of nitrite, the extend of sludge-specific ammonium loading, low oxygen concentration, and transition from aerobic to anoxic conditions significantly increased N₂O formation in this reactor independently from each other, indicating that different formation pathways, supposedly via nitrite or hydroxylamine, were active.     

南京大气细粒子中重金属污染特征及来源解析

利用2011年1月、4月、7月和10月在南京市区和北郊采集的气溶胶样品,研究了南京大气细粒子中zn、Ph、Hg、As和cd5种重金属的污染水平,通过元素相关性分析和因子分析方法,对细粒子中这些重金属的污染来源进行了初步解析。结果表明,南京大气细粒子及其重金属污染严重,北郊普遍比市区严重;As严重超标,cd在南京北郊超标约5倍,zn在市区与北郊的质量浓度均高于其他重金属元素。每种重金属的浓度均随季节而变化。市区细粒子中,As和zn可能主要与燃煤、轮胎灰尘和建筑扬尘等有关,Pb、Hg和cd主要来自交通尘、城市垃圾焚烧等。北郊细粒子中,As、Hg和zn主要来源于燃煤、钢铁冶炼等工业,Pb和cd主要与农作物秸秆燃烧、汽车尾气、道路扬尘等影响有关。     

混凝-超滤短流程工艺处理北方水库原水简

采用混凝-超滤膜短流程工艺对大伙房水库原水进行处理,考察其除污染性能和膜污染情况,并对该短流程工艺参数进行优化。结果表明,当利用超滤膜直接过滤原水时,膜污染较重,并且对污染物质的去除率较低;而采用混凝-超滤短流程工艺时,膜污染得到一定程度上的缓解;当絮凝剂投加量为7 mg/L、膜清洗周期为30 min时,对浊度、COD_Mn和UV₂₅₄的去除率分别为95.61%、40.42%和37.12%,出水水质能够满足生活饮用水卫生标准。     

Comprehensive Environmental Investigation at Former Industrial/Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Sites in Long Beach,CA: A Forensic Perspective

Two industrial sites were investigated based on years of available hydrogeologic information and monitoring data for soil and groundwater. Collected data were forensically evaluated using age-dating and fingerprinting methods. The previous business uses of the project sites were as a gas station, laundry/dry-cleaning service, and car wash with petroleum underground storage tanks (USTs). As a result, these sites were exposed to a number of toxic contaminants at relatively high concentrations. Source control was necessary for successful remediation and the ultimate removal of the remaining compounds from these industrial sites. Although contaminated soil around the source was excavated during the remedial action and the high concentrations of contaminants were reduced, typical groundwater contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons as gasoline (TPH-G), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX), and oxygenates including methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), diisopropyl ether (DIPE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME), and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) were persistently found at the studied sites around the source points. The plume and concentration of contaminants had changed their shapes and strength for all monitoring periods. Thus, additional source control seems to be a requirement for the complete removal of source contamination, which must be ascertained with groundwater and soil monitoring on a regular time base. For the study sites, monitored natural attenuation was relatively feasible for the long-term plan; however, it did not offer a perfect remediation solution for an ultimate goal because of residual toxic compounds that might have affected the surrounding residential areas at higher concentrations than their health limits. Therefore, as a remediation strategy, the combination of clean-up technology and natural attenuation with monitoring activities are more highly recommended than either clean-up or natural attenuation used separately.     

阳宗海沉积物中磷的稳定性

絮凝剂(Fe Cl3)治理阳宗海砷污染的过程中,水体中的磷被大量沉积进入底泥,弄清其是否会在环境条件变化后发生反溶形成二次污染对湖泊富营养化防治具有重要意义。通过模拟实验模拟泥-水界面p H变化、物理扰动和微生物活动的变化,旨在分析这些环境因子变化对沉积物中磷溶出的影响。结果表明,阳宗海水体在目前这种磷浓度下,底泥的磷会随时间的增加而溶出再次造成水体磷污染,当暴露在清洁水条件下时磷的释放率会增加;这种由于絮凝剂吸附沉淀到湖底的磷,在上覆水p H增加0.5时底泥磷解吸附释放速率增加;每年秋季湖泊上下层水的交换活动会造成水体磷浓度的季节性升高,形成不可忽视的磷内源。而夏季水温分层导致湖泊底部厌氧,使厌氧微生物活性增强,这将进一步促进底泥中磷的释放。     

Photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen in modified TiO2 under visible irradiation

This study investigated the photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen (ACT) in synthetic titanium dioxide (TiO₂) solution under a visible light (λ >440 nm). The TiO₂ photocatalyst used in this study was synthesized via sol–gel method and doped with potassium aluminum sulfate (KAl(SO₄)₂) and sodium aluminate (NaAlO₂). The influence of some parameters on the degradation of acetaminophen was examined, such as initial pH, photocatalyst dosage, and initial ACT concentration. The optimal operational conditions were also determined. Results showed that synthetic TiO₂ catalysts presented mainly as anatase phase and no rutile phase was observed. The results of photocatalytic degradation showed that LED alone degraded negligible amount of ACT but with the presence of TiO₂/KAl(SO₄)₂, 95 % removal of 0.10-mM acetaminophen in 540-min irradiation time was achieved. The synthetic TiO₂/KAl(SO₄)₂ presented better photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen than commercially available Degussa P-25. The weak crystallinity of synthesized TiO₂/NaAlO₂ photocatalyst showed low photocatalytic degradation than TiO₂/KAl(SO₄)₂. The optimal operational conditions were obtained in pH 6.9 with a dose of 1.0 g/L TiO₂/KAl(SO₄)₂ at 30 °C. Kinetic study illustrated that photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen fits well in the pseudo-first order model. Competitive reactions from intermediates affected the degradation rate of ACT, and were more obvious as the initial ACT concentration increased.     

Identification and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air particulate matter of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In an effort to assess the occurrence and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the ambient air of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, PM₁₀ samples were collected during December 2010. Diagnostic PAH concentration ratios were used as a tool to identify and characterize the PAH sources. The results reflect high PM₁₀ and PAH concentrations (particulate matter (PM)?=?270–1,270 μg/m³). The corresponding average PAH concentrations were in the range of 18?±?8 to 1,003?±?597 ng/m³ and the total concentrations (total PAHs (TPAHs) of 17 compounds) varied from 1,383 to 13,470 ng/m³ with an average of 5,871?±?2,830 ng/m³. The detection and quantification limits were 1–3 and 1–10 ng/ml, respectively, with a recovery range of 42–80 %. The ratio of the sum of the concentrations of the nine major non-alkylated compounds to the total (CPAHs/TPAHs) was 0.87?±?0.10, and other ratios were determined to apportion the PM sources. The PAHs found are characteristic for emissions from traffic with diesel being a predominant source.