Membrane-based wet electrostatic precipitation

Emissions of fine particulate matter, PM2.5, in both primary and secondary form, are difficult to capture in typical dry electrostatic precipitators (ESPs). Wet (or water-based) ESPs are well suited for collection of acid aerosols and fine particulates because of greater corona power and virtually no re-entrainment. However, field disruptions because of spraying (misting) of water, formation of dry spots (channeling), and collector surface corrosion limit the applicability of current wet ESPs in the control of secondary PM2.5. Researchers at Ohio University have patented novel membrane collection surfaces to address these problems. Water-based cleaning in membrane collectors made of corrosion-resistant fibers is facilitated by capillary action between the fibers, maintaining an even distribution of water. This paper presents collection efficiency results of lab-scale and pilot-scale testing at FirstEnergy's Bruce Mansfield Plant for the membrane-based wet ESP. The data indicate that a membrane wet ESP was more effective at collecting fine particulates, acid aerosols, and oxidized mercury than the metal-plate wet ESP, even with approximately 15% less collecting area.     

Improving situational awareness through the design of offshore installations

Maintaining the situational awareness of control room operators on offshore installations contributes to the timely diagnosis of conditions and making appropriate decisions. This is particularly important when dealing with events and incidents. Recent initiatives aimed at reducing operators’ exposure to the hazards of working on offshore installations may have a negative impact upon situational awareness within the control room environment.This paper discusses mitigation of the negative impact through the design and operation of the installation and control system; either by improving the general level of situational awareness or by specifically targeting the areas affected by these initiatives.     

金霉素在活性污泥上的吸附行为

通过批次实验考察了活性污泥对金霉素（chlortetracycline,CTC）的吸附特性,研究了包括吸附平衡时间、污泥浓度（MLSS）、温度以及pH值对吸附的影响。结果表明,CTC在活性污泥上的吸附是一个快速的过程,5 min可达到平衡吸附量的90%以上,6 h达到吸附平衡;CTC的总去除率随着MLSS浓度的增加而增大,而污泥单位吸附量却随之减少,当CTC初始浓度为500 μg/L,MLSS浓度从1 000 mg/L增至8 000 mg/L时,吸附平衡时CTC的总去除率从30.97%上升至60.42%,而污泥单位吸附量则从151 326.70 μg/kg下降至37 530.98 μg/kg;在10、20、30℃条件下,吸附较好地符合Freundlich等温吸附模型和线性分配吸附模型,K_d值依次为190.93、162.32和121.08 L/kg;热力学数据表明,CTC在污泥上的吸附为放热过程,低温有利于吸附的进行;当pH值介于3~11之间时,CTC在污泥上的吸附量随着pH值的增加而减少。     

中国生态保护政策的县域经济效应——来自国家重点生态功能区的证据

为保障生态产品供给，中国设立了限制开发的国家重点生态功能区，建立了生态保护转移支付制度.本文首次在县域层面构建2002~2017年县级面板数据，运用倾向得分匹配法构造政策组的“反事实”情形，基于双重差分法评估重点生态功能区政策的县域经济效应.结果表明，该政策提高了县域财力、长期来看一定程度改善了产业结构；以标准财政缺口为主的资金分配机制弱化了县域经济发展激励，资金补助不能完全抵消限制开发对县域经济带来的负向影响；固定资产投资和内资企业受影响较大.随着投入资金累积、生态产品价值的转化，该负向效应随时间而减弱、经济促增效应逐渐显现.政策效应在不同生态功能和经济区位间表现出明显的异质性.建议持续增加生态转移支付资金、将生态产品供给数量和质量作为资金分配依据，考虑按生态功能类型设计差异化政策，更好激励县域生态产品高水平供给与经济价值实现的双赢，促进区域均衡发展.     

Estimating uncertainties in the life cycle assessment of composting household biowaste and urban green waste in Germany

Life cycle assessment (LCA) of waste treatment processes is often associated with considerable uncertainties. The aim of this study is to estimate the total uncertainty in the modelled composting system and the influence of material and process parameters on the uncertainty. Four composting combinations with fresh (FC) and mature substrate compost (MSC) from partially enclosed (PEC) and open composting (OC) were investigated. Perturbation analysis was used to determine the effect of parameters on the result and Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the total uncertainty. This study showed that the production of MSC using PEC had the lowest overall impacts across all impact categories except ozone depletion. Results of the Monte Carlo simulation showed that comparing composting options was challenging. The sensitivity ratios obtained from the perturbation analysis showed that the process parameter percentage of carbon fraction degraded was the most influential for FC. In MSC, the moisture content in the input material and the substitution factor used for peat were the most influential. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated the overall uncertainty of the model and its relevance when comparing results between combinations. The perturbation analysis identified the parameters that required more accurate data to reduce the uncertainty in the model.

Graphical abstract