Viable chemical recycling of poly(carbonate) as a phosgene equivalent illustrated by the coproduction of bisphenol A and carbohydrate carbonates

Chemical recycling of waste poly(carbonate) (PC) to coproduce bisphenol A (BPA) and carbohydrate carbonates was studied by selecting glycerol (Gly) and glucose (Glu) as model carbohydrates (CHs). In advance of the reaction of PC with CHs, reactions with diphenyl carbonate were examined as a model PC. In dioxane at 100°C using NaOH as catalyst, Gly was converted to cyclic carbonate hydroxymethyldioxolane (HMDO) at 98% and Glu was converted to the dicarbonate (Glu-DC) at 46%, in pyridine, in addition to the production of phenol. Similar treatment of PC with Gly using KOH as a catalyst produced HMDO and BPA at very high yields and treatment with Glu produced Glu-DC and BPA in 38%–42% yields. Chemical Feedstock Recycling & Other Innovative Recycling Techniques 6     

Contribution of transboundary air pollution to ionic concentrations in fog in the Kinki Region of Japan

To estimate the contribution of transboundary transported air pollutants from other Asian countries to Japan in ionic concentrations in fog water in March 2005, the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system was utilized with meteorological fields produced by the 5th generation Mesoscale Model (MM5). For meteorological predictions, the model well reproduced the surface meteorological variables, particularly temperature and humidity, and generally captured fog occurrence. For chemical predictions, most of the model-predicted monthly mean concentrations were approximately within a factor of 2 of the observations, indicating that the model well simulated the long-range atmospheric transport from the Asian Continent to Japan. For SO₄^2?, NO₃^? and NH₄⁺, the contribution rates of the transboundary air pollution in the Kinki Region of Japan ranged from 69 to 82% for aerosols, from 47 to 87% for ionic concentrations in rain, and from 55 to 79% for ionic concentrations in fog. The study found that the transboundary air pollution also affected ionic concentrations in fog as well as aerosol concentrations and ionic concentrations in rain.     

Flow and geochemical modeling of drainage from Tomitaka mine, Miyazaki, Japan

The chemistry and flow of water in the abandoned Tomitaka mine of Miyazaki, western Japan were investigated. This mine is located in a non-ferrous metal deposit and acid mine drainage issues from it. The study was undertaken to estimate the quantities of mine drainage that needs to be treated in order to avoid acidification of local rivers, taking into account seasonal variations in rainfall. Numerical models aimed to reproduce observed water levels and fluxes and chemical variations of groundwater and mine drainage. Rock–water interactions that may explain the observed variations in water chemistry are proposed. The results show that: (1) rain water infiltrates into the deeper bedrock through a highly permeable zone formed largely by stopes that are partially filled with spoil from excavations (ore minerals and host rocks); (2) the water becomes acidic (pH from 3 to 4) as dissolved oxygen oxidizes pyrite; (3) along the flow path through the rocks, the redox potential of the water becomes reducing, such that pyrite becomes stable and pH of the mine drainage becomes neutral; and (4) upon leaving the mine, the drainage becomes acidic again due to oxidation of pyrite in the rocks. The present numerical model with considering of the geochemical characteristics can simulate the main variations in groundwater flow and water levels in and around the Tomitaka mine, and apply to the future treatment of the mine drainage.     

湖泊底泥中17β-雌二醇的生物代谢机制研究

研究了湖泊底泥微生物在好氧、厌氧环境条件下对17β-雌二醇(17β-estradiol, E2)的生物降解特性,探讨了其相应地生物代谢机制.结果表明,好氧条件,反应24h后约99%的E2从液相中消失,中间产物雌激素酮(estrone, E1)随反应进行浓度先增加后从液相中逐渐消失;厌氧条件,96h后约4%的E2仍存在于液相中, E1浓度先增加后降低后又逐渐增加,再降低直至从液相中完全消失.综合分析E2和E1的浓度经时变化认为,好氧条件下, E2被脱氢酶氧化成E1, E1再被体系中存在的其它生物酶氧化,直至被完全矿化;厌氧条件下, E1和E2二者之间存在一种相互转换关系:E2被脱氢酶氧化成E1,同时E1被还原酶还原成E2,在相互转化的过程中,体系中的其它生物酶会逐渐降解E2、E1,直至最终将其完全矿化.与E2相比较, E1更易积累于天然水域中的微生物体内.     

Environmental policies with variable pollution intensity in a differentiated oligopoly

Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - For this study, to examine optimal environmental policy, pollution intensity is measured to depend positively on an environmental index such as...     

Studies on the accumulation and transformation of arsenic in freshwater organisms II. Accumulation and transformation of arsenic compounds by Tilapia mossambica

Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic (As) compounds in freshwater Tilapia mossambica was investigated. The direct accumulation of As by T mossambica was proportional to the concentration of arsenicals in water. Small amounts of accumulated As were transformed to methylated As, including trimethylarsenic (TMA) species. Accumulation and transformation of As(III) by T. mossambica via freshwater food chain results in the transformation of As(III) to As(V) with little biomethylation of accumulated As. Approximately 90% of accumulated As was depurated to water.