Some technical issues in managing PCBs

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were important industrial chemicals featuring high thermal and chemical stability and low flammability. They were widely used as dielectric and thermal fluid in closed electro-technical applications (transformers, capacitors…) and also in numerous dispersive uses, ranking from auto-copying paper to sealant or coatings. During the 1960s, severe environmental consequences started becoming apparent. The stability of PCBs contributed to their persistence in the environment, their lipophilic character to bio-magnification. Fish-eating species seemed threatened in their existence. In Japan and in Taiwan, thousands of people consumed PCB-contaminated oil. The production of PCBs stopped completely during the 1980s. Usage could continue in closed applications only. In this paper, particular attention is given to two issues: the cleaning of PCB electric transformers and the potential impact of PCB-containing building materials. Other contributions will cover the management and treatment of PCB-contaminated soil, sludge or fly ash. The complete survey is being prepared by request of the Knowledge Center for Engineers and Professionals.     

Influence of soil and hydrocarbon properties on the solvent extraction of high-concentration weathered petroleum from contaminated soils

Petroleum ether was used to extract petroleum hydrocarbons from soils collected from six oil fields with different history of exploratory and contamination. It was capable of fast removing 76–94 % of the total petroleum hydrocarbons including 25 alkanes (C₁₁–C₃₅) and 16 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soils at room temperature. The partial least squares analysis indicated that the solvent extraction efficiencies were positively correlated with soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, moisture, pH, and sand content of soils, while negative effects were observed in the properties reflecting the molecular size (e.g., molecular weight and number of carbon atoms) and hydrophobicity (e.g., water solubility, octanol–water partition coefficient, soil organic carbon partition coefficient) of hydrocarbons. The high concentration of weathered crude oil at the order of 10⁵ mg kg^?1 in this study was demonstrated adverse for solvent extraction by providing an obvious nonaqueous phase liquid phase for hydrocarbon sinking and increasing the sequestration of soluble hydrocarbons in the insoluble oil fractions during weathering. A full picture of the mass distribution and transport mechanism of petroleum contaminants in soils will ultimately require a variety of studies to gain insights into the dynamic interactions between environmental indicator hydrocarbons and their host oil matrix.     

Impacts of population growth and economic development on water quality of a lake: case study of Lake Victoria Kenya water

Anthropogenic-induced water quality pollution is a major environmental problem in freshwater ecosystems today. As a result of this, eutrophication of lakes occurs. Population and economic development are key drivers of water resource pollution. To evaluate how growth in the riparian population and in the gross domestic product (GDP) with unplanned development affects the water quality of the lake, this paper evaluates Lake Victoria Kenyan waters basin. Waters quality data between 1990 and 2012 were analyzed along with reviews of published literature, papers, and reports. The nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N), soluble phosphorus (PO₄-P), chlorophyll a, and Secchi transparencies were evaluated as they are key water quality indicators. The NO₃-N increased from 10 μg l^?1 in 1990 to 98 μg 1^?1 in 2008, while PO₄-P increased from 4 μg l^?1 in 1990 to 57 μg l^?1 in 2008. The population and economic growth of Kenya are increasing with both having minimums in 1990 of 24.143 million people and 12.18 billion US dollars, to maximums in 2010 of 39.742 million people and 32.163 billion US dollars, respectively. A Secchi transparency is reducing with time, indicating an increasing pollution. This was confirmed by an increase in aquatic vegetation using an analysis of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) images of 2000 and 2012 of Kenyan waters. This study found that increasing population and GDP increases pollution discharge thus polluting lakes. One of major factors causing lake water pollution is the unplanned or poor waste management policy and service.     

The combined effects of urea application and simulated acid rain on soil acidification and microbial community structure

Our aim was to test the effects of simulated acid rain (SAR) at different pHs, when applied to fertilized and unfertilized soils, on the leaching of soil cations (K, Ca, Mg, Na) and Al. Their effects on soil pH, exchangeable H⁺ and Al³⁺ and microbial community structure were also determined. A Paleudalfs soil was incubated for 30 days, with and without an initial application of urea (200 mg N kg^?1soil) as nitrogen (N) fertilizer. The soil was held in columns and leached with SAR at three pH levels. Six treatments were tested: SAR of pH 2.5, 4.0 and 5.6 leaching on unfertilized soil (T1, T2 and T3), and on soils fertilized with urea (T4, T5 and T6). Increasing acid inputs proportionally increased cation leaching in both unfertilized and fertilized soils. Urea application increased the initial Ca and Mg leaching, but had no effect on the total concentrations of Ca, Mg and K leached. There was no significant difference for the amount of Na leached between the different treatments. The SAR pH and urea application had significant effects on soil pH, exchangeable H⁺ and Al³⁺. Urea application, SAR treated with various pH, and the interactions between them all had significant impacts on total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). The highest concentration of total PLFAs occurred in fertilized soils with SAR pH5.6 and the lowest in soils leached with the lowest SAR pH. Soils pretreated with urea then leached with SARs of pH 4.0 and 5.6 had larger total PLFA concentrations than soil without urea. Bacterial, fungal, actinomycete, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial PLFAs had generally similar trends to total PLFAs.     

辽河流域浑河沈阳段地表水重点控制有机污染物的筛选

采用美国环保局工业环境实验室提出的化学物质的“潜在危害指数法”,对辽河流域浑河沈阳段地表水和底质中检出的有机污染物的潜在危害进行了排序,参考国内外有毒化学品优先控制名单的筛选原则和方法,结合本流域的实际情况,制定出重点控制有机污染物的评分标准,提出辽河流域浑河沈阳段重点控制有机污染物名单。考虑到个别有机污染物在水中的浓度很低,但在底质中相对含量较高,所以将底质的检测结果也纳入评分标准。     

固相萃取-气相色谱法测定水样中马拉硫磷残留

采用C-18小柱萃取、毛细管柱分离、气相色谱氢火焰离子化检测器（FID）测定水样中的马拉硫磷,检测限为0．12μg／L。试验了样品流量和洗脱剂对回收率的影响,结果表明样品流量为6mL／min、二氯甲烷作洗脱剂时,回收率较好。测定蒸馏水、地下水和河水样品,相对标准偏差〈2．2％。加标回收率在79．0％-109％之间。     

水泥窑共处置废物过程中重金属的流向分布

为了探索水泥窑共处置危险废物过程中重金属流向分布规律,研究了不同温度条件下Cr、As、Pb在煅烧熟料、颗粒物和尾气中的残留率.在900、1 000、1 100、1 200、1 300和1 450℃温度条件下,将添加Cr、As和Pb化学试剂的生料分别进行煅烧,模拟重金属在水泥窑内不同温度带的煅烧过程.结果表明,6个温度条件下,Cr主要分布在熟料中并且呈现不规则变化;颗粒物中的Cr在1 200℃条件下分布量最大,所占比例为32.79%(w);在900℃和1450℃条件下,烟气中的Cr分布量最大,所占比例为0.24%(w).6个温度条件下As主要分布在熟料中并且1 000~1 450℃条件下稳定在81%~83%之间;在900℃条件下,As在熟料中的残留率最大,所占比例为97%(w);在1450℃条件下,As在尾气中的分布达到最大值,所占比例为0.0023%(w).6个温度条件下,Pb在熟料中的残留率随着温度升高而逐渐减少,挥发颗粒物中的含量呈现相反的趋势;尾气中Pb的含量随着温度的升高逐渐增加.     

锰污染土壤根际微生物分离及耐Mn2+特性

为了研究锰污染土壤的生物修复,在湘潭锰矿不同植物根际土壤中分离得到7株真菌和8株细菌,依次命名为F1-7和B1-8。经耐锰性能测定,获得高耐锰性真菌3株,F3-5、细菌3株,B1、B2和B7。其中,F3耐锰浓度最高可达600mmol/L,细菌B7最高耐锰浓度为80 mmol/L。当Mn2+浓度小于300 mmol/L时,对3种真菌的生长均具有一定的促进作用,高于此浓度时,产生较大程度的抑制作用。在低Mn2+浓度(20~40 mmol/L)条件下,Mn2+对3种细菌的生长均表现出一定的促进作用,尤其是对B2作用明显。当Mn2+浓度逐渐增加到80 mmol/L时,抑制作用明显。在Mn2+浓度为300mmol/L时,F3对锰的吸附率约为60%,达到峰值。而在Mn2+浓度为60 mmol/L时,细菌B2对锰的吸附率约为70%,达最大值。     

兰坪铅锌矿区不同污染梯度下优势植物的重金属累积特征

对兰坪铅锌矿区污染程度不同的3个样地(云南松林、魁蒿群落和马桑灌丛)进行植被调查,选择其中9种共有的自然生长的优势草本植物为研究对象,测定了土壤及植物体的重金属含量.结果显示,3个样地土壤Cu、Cd、Pb和Zn等4种重金属含量均表现为马桑灌丛>魁蒿群落>云南松林;植物体内重金属积累呈现出随着土壤污染程度增加而增加的趋势;所选择的9种植物均不符合超富集植物的标准,依据不同的耐性机制将9种植物分为3类,野棉花能较强吸收土壤中重金属,并转移到地上部分,属于富集型植物;西南金丝梅、倒提壶、长籽柳叶菜、魁蒿、翻白叶和四脉金茅吸收的重金属主要积累在根部,属于根部囤积型植物;尼泊尔蓼和中华山蓼体内重金属含量较低,属于规避型植物.讨论了利用这些植物进行矿山治理.     

丝状菌污泥膨胀及其致密过程中菌丝体演替规律

为了探索丝状菌的致密途径、解决丝状菌污泥膨胀的难题,从丝状菌的自身特点及外部条件出发研究了其在污泥膨胀及致密过程中菌丝体的演替规律。研究发现,致密生长的大絮体对丝状菌的种类是有选择性的,那些丝体较弯曲、丝体强度较大、贮存能力强的菌丝体更利于形成聚集态生长。另外,研究表明,不同种类丝状菌的生长势和存贮能力不同,对底物的利用上亦存在着竞争关系。实验中存在的几个菌种对PHB颗粒的存贮能力由高到低依次为:Nostocoida limicola Ⅱ、Type 1851、Type 0701、Type 021N型菌体。