Influence of roads and inhabited areas on metal concentrations in terrestrial mosses

The guidelines regarding sampling terrestrial mosses for biomonitoring the atmospheric contamination in a region specifically recommend that sampling close to focal points of contamination (i.e. roads, populated areas, etc.) should be avoided for satisfactory characterization of general patterns of contamination. However, these recommendations cannot always be followed in many parts of the world with dense, highly dispersed populations. The aim of the present study was to determine how the distances between sampling sites (SS) and contamination foci such as roads, isolated houses and urban nuclei affect regular, large-scale sampling networks. Metal concentrations obtained in biennial sampling surveys carried out between 2000 and 2006 in Galicia (NW Spain) were used, and the relative proportions of the concentrations corresponding to small-scale and large-scale processes were calculated. The possible relationship between the mean concentrations corresponding to small-scale processes in the different sampling surveys and the distances from SS to roads, buildings and urban nuclei was established by a GIS. Outliers in the data were identified at many of the SS and frequency statistics revealed the absence of any relationship between the distance to these foci and the concentrations of metals in the moss. The method also revealed many instances of the influence of one or more small-scale contamination foci such as airports and railways (often not considered in the sampling recommendations) on SS. Relocation of such SS would improve the representativeness of the sampling grid.     

Isotopes as tracers of sources of lead and strontium in aerosols (TSP & PM2.5) in Beijing

Even after its being phased out in gasoline in the late 90s, lead (Pb) is still present at relatively high levels in the atmosphere of Beijing, China (0.10–0.18 μg m^?3). Its origin is subject to debate as several distinct sources may contribute to the observed pollution levels. This study proposes to constrain the origin(s) of Pb and strontium (Sr) in aerosols, by coupling both Pb and Sr isotope systematics. The characterisation of the main pollution sources (road traffic, smelters, metal refining plants, coal combustion, cement factories, and soil erosion) shows that they can unambiguously be discriminated by the multi-isotope approach (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr). The study of total suspended particulates (TSP) and fine particles (PM_2.5) from Beijing and its vicinity indicates that both size fractions are controlled by the same sources. Lead isotopes indicate that metal refining plants are the major source of atmospheric lead, followed by thermal power stations and other coal combustion processes. The role of this latter source is confirmed by the study of strontium isotopes. Occasionally, emissions from cement plants and/or input from soil alteration are isotopically detectable.     

Variable emissions of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) from root-associated fungi isolated from Scots pine

Soils emit a large variety of volatile organic compounds. In natural ecosystems, measurements of microbial volatile organic compound (MVOC) exchange rates between soil and atmosphere are difficult due to e.g. the spatial heterogeneity of the belowground organisms, and due to the many potential sources for the same compounds. We measured in laboratory conditions the MVOC emission rates and spectra of eight typical fungi occurring in boreal forest soils. The studied species are decomposers (Gymnopilus penetrans, Ophiostoma abietinum), ectomycorrhizal (Cenococcum geophilum, Piloderma olivaceum, Suillus variegatus, Tomentellopsis submollis) and endophytic fungi (Meliniomyces variabilis, Phialocephala fortinii). The MVOC emissions contained altogether 21 known and 6 unidentified compounds whose emission rates were >0.1 μg g(DW)^?1 h^?1. The most abundant compounds were the short-chain carbonyl compounds (acetone and acetaldehyde). The greatest carbonyl emissions were measured from P. olivaceum (1.9 mg acetone g(DW)^?1 h^?1) and P. fortinii (0.114 mg acetaldehyde g(DW)^?1 h^?1). Terpenoid emissions (isoprene, mono- and sesquiterpenes) were detected from some fungal cultures, but in relatively small amounts. We conclude that soil micro-organisms can potentially be responsible for significant emissions of volatiles, especially short-chain oxygenated compounds, to the below-canopy atmosphere.     

固定化包埋亚硝酸菌短程脱氮与同步除磷工艺研究

为实现常温下低碳源城市生活污水的低能耗脱氮除磷,采用固定化技术和厌氧/好氧/缺氧(AOA)工艺耦合与游离组进行了对比实验研究。在温度为25±1℃、pH为8.0±1、DO为1±0.5 mg/L和HRT为9 h的条件下,两组运行结果表明,固定组具有较高的硝化效率和较强的适应能力,亚硝氮的积累率可以稳定维持在70%以上,对NH4+-N、COD和TP的去除率分别为92.2%、87.2%和81.3%,明显优于游离组。     

异波折板水解酸化-A~2O一体化反应器实验研究

设计了异波折板水解酸化-A2O一体化反应器,进行生活污水处理的实验研究。10个月的实验结果表明,系统的最佳水力停留时间(HRT)为8 h时,最适COD进水浓度为240~600 mg/L,最佳混合液回流比(r)-污泥回流比(R)为250%~100%。控制反应器于以上运行参数下,25±2℃所对应的COD、TN和TP去除率分别为96.84%、67.55%和81.92%。当温度降至7℃时,其COD、TP和TN分别降至86.35%、50.25%和65.68%。基于实验分析结果,阐明了一体化反应器高效性的机理在于异波折板水解酸化段具有高效传质特性和A2O段具有复合式活性污泥-接触氧化好氧池的特点。     

纳米零价铁的制备及其去除水中对氯硝基苯的研究

通过FeSO4与KBH4反应,利用液相还原法制备纳米零价铁颗粒(NZVI),用XRD、SEM和BET对其性能进行表征。在常温常压下利用纳米铁还原废水中的对氯硝基苯(p-CNB),探讨了反应条件对还原率的影响。结果表明,制备过程中碱性物质(NaOH)的添加可以明显减小颗粒粒径,增大比表面积,提高纳米铁还原反应的效率。NZVI对于对氯硝基苯有很好的去除效果,NZVI用量、p-CNB初始浓度和pH值均对其去除效率产生影响。在纳米铁投加量为1 g/L,pH=2的条件下,添加NaOH的纳米铁能在120 min内将质量浓度为50 mg/L的对氯硝基苯基本完全降解,降解率为98.8%。此外,还对NZVI还原对氯硝基苯的机理进行了初步探讨。     

剩余污泥减量化工艺条件优化研究

运用超声处理连续流活性污泥系统中不同种类的污泥,并将其回流至原系统中,研究其剩余污泥减量化效果。按正交实验设计并进行试验,确定最优工艺条件。结果表明:当声能密度为0.6 W/mL,作用时间为5 min,超声污泥为混合污泥,回流比为7∶120时,减量效果最佳。且在该条件下经一周期的运行,污泥减量效果达到96.24%,COD由进水的830 mg/L降至44 mg/L,NH4+-N和TN分别由进水的62.43 mg/L和103.19 mg/L,降解到2.31 mg/L和6.52 mg/L,达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB18918-2002)一级排放标准。     

Concentration and characterization of plutonium in soils of Hubei in central China

To study the Pu concentration and isotope ratio distributions present in China, the ^239+240Pu total activities and ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios in core soil samples from Hubei Province in central China were investigated using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). The activities ranged from 0.019 to 0.502 mBq g⁻¹ and the ^239+240Pu inventories of 45 and ∼55 Bq m⁻² agree well with that expected from global fallout. The ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios in the soil ranged from 0.172 to 0.220. The ratios are similar to typical global fallout values. Hence, any close-in fallout contribution from the Chinese nuclear weapons tests, mainly conducted in the 1970s, must have either been negligible or had a similar ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu ratio to that of global fallout. The top 10 cm layer of the soil contributes ∼90% of the total inventory and the maximum concentrations appeared in the 2-4 cm or 4-6 cm layers. It is suggested that climatic conditions and organic content are the two main factors that affect the vertical migration of plutonium in soil.     

Characterization of plutonium in deep-sea sediments of the Sulu and South China Seas

Anthropogenic Pu isotopes are important geochemical tracers for sediment studies. Their distributions and sources in the water columns as well as the sediments of the North Pacific have been intensively studied; however, information about Pu in the Southeast Asian seas is limited. To study the isotopic composition of Pu, and thus to identify its sources, we collected sediment core samples in the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea during the KH-96-5 Cruise of the R/V Hakuho Maru. We analysed the activities of ^239+240Pu and the atom ratios of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu using isotope dilution sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). The ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios in the sediments of both areas (inventory weighted mean: 0.251 for the South China Sea and 0.280 for the Sulu Sea) were higher than the global fallout value (0.178 ± 0.019), suggesting the existence of Pu from the Pacific Proving Grounds in the North Pacific. Low inventories of ^239+240Pu in sediments were observed in the South China Sea (3.75 Bq/m²) and the Sulu Sea (1.38 Bq/m²). Most of the Pu input is still present in the water column. Scavenging and benthic mixing processes were considered to be the main processes controlling the distribution of Pu in the deep-sea sediments of both study areas.