Potential of surplus biomass gasifier based power generation: A case study of an Indian state Rajasthan

Facing the finiteness of fossil fuels and its associated environmental problems, new prospects to cover energy demand are urgently required. Energy from surplus biomass can support an essential contribution to a sustainable energy generation. This paper deals with a case study of surplus biomass available in the Indian state Rajasthan. About 1275 MW electrical power is possible to generate through biomass gasifier based power generation plant through surplus biomass available in Rajasthan. About 1656 tonnes of CO₂ can be saved annually by installation of 1 MW biomass gasifier based power plant. The techno economic parameter like net present worth, cost benefit ratio and pay back period are also carried out for this route of power generation and these are about 1.18 million US$, 1.42 and 8 years and 2 months respectively.     

Valuation of natural marine ecosystems: an economic perspective

This paper attempts to examine whether information from valuation studies can help the design of policies adequate to reverse and halt the generally poor state of marine and coastal ecosystems of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Economic implications of managing coastal and marine environments are thus discussed by assessing the results of different valuation studies implemented in the area. Lessons and policy recommendations from existing literature are inferred to guide marine resources management decisions. One of our main findings is that there are extremely few published studies within the Mediterranean and Black Sea region which highlights the potential for future research on coastal and marine ecosystems ability to sustain different goods and services as a result of climate change and anthropogenic drivers in the area. However, results reveal that there are substantial positive economic values attached to marketed and non-marketed services provided by marine and coastal ecosystems that justify their sustainable use and management.     

红绒盖牛肝菌菌丝对Cu(Ⅱ)和Cd(Ⅱ)生物吸附的影响因子

在离体条件下,研究了外生菌根真菌红绒盖牛肝菌(Xerocomus chrysenteron)菌丝对 Cu(Ⅱ)和 Cd(Ⅱ)生物吸附的影响因子,考察了X. chrysenteron菌丝对 Cu(Ⅱ)和 Cd(Ⅱ)的吸附能力、去除率和平衡吸附量在不同初始质量浓度和不同温度下所受影响,并采用Freundlich和Langmuir线性化吸附等温线模型拟合X. chrysenteron菌丝的生物吸附热力学特性. 结果表明:当菌丝的质量浓度为10g/L, 30 ℃时,X. chrysenteron非活性菌丝对 Cu(Ⅱ)和 Cd(Ⅱ)的最佳吸附量分别为47.11和11.72mg/g(以菌丝干质量计);X. chrysenteron非活性菌丝对 Cu(Ⅱ)和 Cd(Ⅱ)的吸附能力、去除率、平衡吸附量均优于活性菌丝;X. chrysenteron菌丝对 Cu(Ⅱ)和 Cd(Ⅱ)的吸附能力随其初始质量浓度的增加而增大,去除率随其初始质量浓度的增大而分别呈指数下降和线性下降;30 ℃时X. chrysenteron菌丝对 Cu(Ⅱ)和 Cd(Ⅱ)的吸附能力、去除率、平衡吸附量均比 25 ℃时大.     

Optimizing the biodiversity gain from agri-environment schemes

How best to optimize the biodiversity gain from agri-environment schemes (AES) has recently been identified as a key policy-relevant question. Here, the effects of two features of lowland agricultural landscapes on the abundance and diversity of larger moths are contrasted. Although both features bring about positive effects, hedgerow trees have a larger impact than 6 m wide grassy field margins. Whilst AES payments are given to create and maintain grass margins, no financial reward is currently offered for the retention of hedgerow trees. Furthermore, it was only in areas where the amount of land under AES was experimentally increased, by targeting farmers, that the presence of hedgerow trees resulted in a substantially higher abundance (+60%) and diversity (+38%) of moths. Thus, by using larger moths as bio-indicators of landscape-scale quality, it is demonstrated that improvements to the cost-effectiveness of AES could be achieved, firstly, by providing more appropriate financial rewards to farmers for different landscape features, and secondly, through landscape-scale targeting of farmers to encourage participation in AES.     

Initiating automotive component reuse in Malaysia

As the production of local vehicles increases, the impact of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) wastes to the environment will also increase. ELVs recovery including reuse, remanufacture, and recycle apparently become a strategy in solving this environmental problem. This study identifies the existing conditions of automotive reuse in Malaysia by conducting some interviews in selected local automotive and automotive component manufacturers. Results from the interviews indicated that reuse of automotive components in newly manufactured vehicles has never been practiced by the selected companies. However, there is interest among respondents in developing automotive components for after-market reuse. Some strategies were proposed in this study to initiate automotive components reuse in the local automotive manufacturers including the establishment of the end-of-life directive, enhance research and development on design for reuse and increase reusability and economic benefits of reuse.     

Effect of light supply on CO2 capture from atmosphere by Chlorella vulgaris and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the primary greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Consequently, emission reduction technologies will be needed to reduce CO₂ atmospheric concentration. Microalgae may have an important role in this context. They are photosynthetic microorganisms that are able to fix atmospheric CO₂ using solar energy with efficiency ten times higher than terrestrial plants. The objectives of this study were: (i) to analyse the effect of light supply on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata; (ii) to assess the atmospheric CO₂ capture by these microalgae; and (iii) to determine the parameters of the Monod model that describe the influence of irradiance on the growth of the selected microalgae. Both microalgae presented higher growth rates with high irradiance values and discontinuous light supply. The continuous supply of light at the highest irradiance value was not beneficial for C. vulgaris due to photooxidation. Additionally, C. vulgaris achieved the highest CO₂ fixation rate with the value of 0.305 g-CO₂ L^?1 d^?1. The parameters of the Monod model demonstrated that C. vulgaris can achieve higher specific growth rates (and higher CO₂ fixation rates) if cultivated under higher irradiances than the studied values. The presented results showed that microalgal culture is a promising strategy for CO₂ capture from atmosphere.     

不同环境因子对黑土胶体在饱和多孔介质中运移特性的影响

为评价不同环境条件下黑土胶体在地下水多孔介质中的运移,采用离心法对采自于黑龙江海伦黑土样品中的胶体颗粒进行提取. 通过胶体在石英砂填充柱中的淋溶试验研究了pH、离子强度和溶解性有机质等环境因子对胶体在多孔介质中运移特性的影响. 结果表明:当pH在4～9的范围内变化时,MR(回收率)和k(沉积速率系数)没有发生显著变化,即其对胶体运移能力影响不显著. 随着离子强度从0.001 mmol/L升至1 mmol/L,黑土胶体穿透曲线MR降低,k值升高,说明高无机离子强度使胶体易于沉积在石英砂表面,运移能力降低. 当溶液中含有溶解性有机质HA(胡敏酸)和FA(富里酸)时,MR降低,k值增加,表明胶体运移能力受到抑制,并且FA对胶体颗粒运移的抑制作用比HA强. 溶液离子强度、HA和FA含量对黑土胶体在饱和多孔介质中的运移过程影响较大,是影响地下水中胶体运移过程的关键环境因子.      

PBNA及其同分异构体PANA在小鼠ICR系中致癌性的比较研究

对幼ICR雄性小鼠多次皮下注射PANA或它的同分异构体PANA的二甲基亚砜溶液,总剂量432mg,实验周期在10个月左右时均能引起显著高于对照组动物的恶性肿瘤.PANA诱发小鼠肿瘤可能存在剂量——反应关系.PBNA和PANA诱发肿瘤率相似,均以肺癌为主,但明显有不同的亲器官性.实验结果提示二者的致癌机理可能不是由于形成相应的萘胺所致.PANA对动物有致癌性,在国内外尚未见有报道.     

Leaf and fruit necroses associated with vanadium-rich ash emitted from a power plant burning fossil fuel

Necrotic brown lesions developing on leaves and fruits of lemon, and other plants, near fossil-fuel-burning power plants emitting vanadium-rich ash, were reproduced experimentally by inoculating leaves with this type of ash, which is strongly acidic. Comparable lesions were formed when drops of vanadium oxide, dissolved in NaOH, were put on leaves and fruits. Neutralizing, or adding excess H₂SO₄ (to pH 3), did not alter lesion formation. The histology of these lesions was similar to that of lesions attributed to vanadium-rich ash.     

The macro implications of a complete transformation of U.S. agricultural production to organic farming practices

A national interregional linear programming model of U.S. agriculture is used to evaluate and compare two conventional and three organic production alternatives. The objective is to estimate the effects on production, supply prices, land use, farm income, and export potential, of a complete transformation of U.S. agriculture to organic practices. Crop yields and production costs are estimated for 150 producing regions for seven crops under both conventional and organic methods. Results indicate that compared with conventional methods, widespread organic farming leads to a decrease in total production, lower export potential, higher supply prices, higher value of production, lower costs of production, and higher net farm income. The United States domestic crop demand can be met with organic methods, but would be more expensive. Some interregional shifts in crop production would also occur.