Artificial intelligence for waste management in smart cities: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The rising amount of waste generated worldwide is inducing issues of pollution, waste management, and recycling, calling for new strategies to improve the waste...     

利用复合光合细菌法处理养虾废水

通过光合细菌和活性污泥组成的复合光合细菌法对养虾废水作了研究，发现运用此法比普通污泥法或者单一的光合细菌法处理有更好的作用效果，其中CODcr的去除率能达到63％，NH3-N的去除率也能达到92．5％，并且此法操作容易，运行费用低，不存在污泥的处理问题等许多优点。更为重要的是复合光合细菌法能够较好的解决PSB易流失的问题。最后根据实验情况提出了适合实际应用的工艺流程。     

多酚原位固化茶渣对水中Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附

通过甲醛与茶渣中多酚类组分的反应制备了多酚原位固化茶渣吸附材料,并将其用于对水中Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附。表征结果显示：茶渣多酚的原位固化提高了其热稳定性,同时对茶渣粒料起到了修补增强作用。固化茶渣对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附量随溶液pH的减小而增大。在吸附温度303 K、初始Cr（Ⅵ）质量浓度60 mg/L、吸附剂投加量1.0 g/L、吸附时间300 min、溶液pH为2的条件下,固化茶渣对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附量为56.56 mg/g,去除率达94.3%。固化茶渣对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附符合Langmuir等温吸附模型和准二级动力学方程,吸附是一个自发的、吸热过程,303,318,333 K下的Langmuir饱和吸附量分别为83.26,107.64,129.20 mg/g。     

Machine learning and computational chemistry to improve biochar fertilizers: a review

Traditional fertilizers are highly inefficient, with a major loss of nutrients and associated pollution. Alternatively, biochar loaded with phosphorous is a sustainable fertilizer that improves soil structure, stores carbon in soils, and provides plant nutrients in the long run, yet most biochars are not optimal because mechanisms ruling biochar properties are poorly known. This issue can be solved by recent developments in machine learning and computational chemistry. Here we review phosphorus-loaded biochar with emphasis on computational chemistry, machine learning, organic acids, drawbacks of classical fertilizers, biochar production, phosphorus loading, and mechanisms of phosphorous release. Modeling techniques allow for deciphering the influence of individual variables on biochar, employing various supervised learning models tailored to different biochar types. Computational chemistry provides knowledge on factors that control phosphorus binding, e.g., the type of phosphorus compound, soil constituents, mineral surfaces, binding motifs, water, solution pH, and redox potential. Phosphorus release from biochar is controlled by coexisting anions, pH, adsorbent dosage, initial phosphorus concentration, and temperature. Pyrolysis temperatures below 600 °C enhance functional group retention, while temperatures below 450 °C increase plant-available phosphorus. Lower pH values promote phosphorus release, while higher pH values hinder it. Physical modifications, such as increasing surface area and pore volume, can maximize the adsorption capacity of phosphorus-loaded biochar. Furthermore, the type of organic acid affects phosphorus release, with low molecular weight organic acids being advantageous for soil utilization. Lastly, biochar-based fertilizers release nutrients 2–4 times slower than conventional fertilizers.

     

浅谈环境监管人员如何解读渎职司法解释研究

文章结合两高关于渎职司法解释,探讨环境监管人员的依法履职。首先简明扼要地阐述了《解释》关于滥用职权罪、玩忽职守罪的定罪量刑标准等9个方面的内容,并就失误、失职、渎职和徇私舞敝的概念进行了分析与鉴别,最后重点论述了环境监管人员在环境监管与应急管理工作中环境监管失职罪、滥用职权罪、玩忽职守罪以及企业涉嫌污染环境罪的定义、主体、时效等适用《解释》的情况,并对环境污染经济损失认定和涉嫌犯罪案件的移送进行了探讨。     

低温催化氧化中试装置对典型VOCs的治理效果分析

针对最新实施工业污染物排放标准,目前常规治理VOCs的工艺方法已不能达到新国标要求,中国石化安全工程研究院设计制造出针对炼化、码头和油库的油气回收的低温催化氧化中试装置,并利用此装置进行了几种典型VOCs气体的催化氧化实验,分析得到低温催化氧化中试装置对苯、二甲苯和汽油油气的治理效果理想,为实际工况下催化氧化VOCs工艺包设置提供数据支持,为低温催化氧化治理VOCs气体的工业推广应用打下了基础。     

Rural settlement expansion and paddy soil loss across an ex-urbanizing watershed in eastern coastal China during market transition

Historically, paddy soils are the most valuable natural resources that produce about 90% of staple food in eastern coastal China. Dispersed patterns of rapid rural settlement expansion, or “exurban”, are recognized as key threats to the region’s food security through paddy soil loss. Analyzing the process of ex-urbanization and its impact has profound implications for the sustainable development of rural China. Based on official statistics and data derived from satellite images, dynamics of rural settlement expansion and paddy soil loss were outlined for Tiaoxi watershed during China’s market transition period (1994–2003). Particularly, rural settlements became more aggregated and total area expanded by 183% at an average rate of 12.3% per year for the whole watershed. Existing cores, open areas away from urban centers and areas near major transportation lines and river channels, observed the highest specialization in rural residential growth. Being closely associated with rural settlement in spatial distribution, open large paddy soil patches acted as another kind of center for rural settlement expansion within the landscape. Variations in rural settlement expansion were detected among different-tier counties, such as speed of rural settlement expansion, speed of build-ups growth per capita. These variations were closely related to social-economic development. The rapid rural settlement expansion led to a considerable loss of paddy soil, about 11% of the total amount for the whole watershed. Linear regression identified a significant relationship between paddy soil loss and rural settlement expansion. Given the social and ecological problems associated with paddy soil loss, we argue that innovative and effective planning policies as well as management programs that target at paddy soil protection should be developed and implemented in rural China. In particular, we suggest using watershed as an appropriate spatial unit for sustainable paddy soil management in this investigation.     

Green construction for low-carbon cities: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The construction industry is a major user of non-renewable energy and contributor to emission of greenhouse gases, thus requiring to achieve net-zero carbon...     

Strategies to save energy in the context of the energy crisis: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - New technologies, systems, societal organization and policies for energy saving are urgently needed in the context of accelerated climate change, the Ukraine...     

Optimizing hydrogen production by alkaline water decomposition with transition metal-based electrocatalysts

Burning fossil fuels account for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and over 90% of carbon dioxide emissions, calling for alternative fuels such as hydrogen. Since the hydrogen demand could reach 120 million tons in 2024, efficient and large-scale production methods are required. Here we review electrocatalytic water splitting with a focus on reaction mechanisms, transition metal catalysts, and optimization strategies. We discuss mechanisms of water decomposition and hydrogen evolution. Transition metal catalysts include alloys, sulfides, carbides, nitrides, phosphides, selenides, oxides, hydroxides, and metal-organic frameworks. The reaction can be optimized by modifying the nanostructure or the electronic structure. We observe that transition metal-based electrocatalysts are excellent catalysts due to their abundant sources, low cost, and controllable electronic structures. Concerning optimization, fluorine anion doping at 1 mol/L potassium hydroxide yields an overpotential of 38 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm². The electrocatalytic efficiency can also be enhanced by adding metal atoms to the nickel sulfide framework.