Early detection and evaluation of waste through sensorized containers for a collection monitoring application

The present study describes a novel application for use in the monitoring of municipal solid waste, based on distributed sensor technology and geographical information systems. Original field testing and evaluation of the application were carried out in Pudong, Shanghai (PR China).The local waste management system in Pudong features particular requirements related to the rapidly increasing rate of waste production. In view of the fact that collected waste is currently deployed to landfills or to incineration plants within the context investigated, the key aspects to be taken into account in waste collection procedures include monitoring of the overall amount of waste produced, quantitative measurement of the waste present at each collection point and identification of classes of material present in the collected waste. The case study described herein focuses particularly on the above mentioned aspects, proposing the implementation of a network of sensorized waste containers linked to a data management system.Containers used were equipped with a set of sensors mounted onto standard waste bins. The design, implementation and validation procedures applied are subsequently described. The main aim to be achieved by data collection and evaluation was to provide for feasibility analysis of the final device. Data pertaining to the content of waste containers, sampled and processed by means of devices validated on two purpose-designed prototypes, were therefore uploaded to a central monitoring server using GPRS connection. The data monitoring and management modules are integrated into an existing application used by local municipal authorities.A field test campaign was performed in the Pudong area. The system was evaluated in terms of real data flow from the network nodes (containers) as well as in terms of optimization functions, such as collection vehicle routing and scheduling. The most important outcomes obtained were related to calculations of waste weight and volume. The latter data were subsequently used as parameters for the routing optimization of collection trucks and material density evaluation.     

A signal-amplified whole-cell biosensor for sensitive detection of Hg2+ based on Hg2+-enhanced reporter module

A signal-amplified mercury sensing biosensor with desired sensitivity was developed through firstly using the GFP mutant with fluorescence increasing response towards Hg²⁺ as the reporter module. The developed biosensor showed response for Hg²⁺ in a relatively wide range of 1–10,000 nmol/L, and the detection limit was improved one or two orders of magnitude in comparison with most metal-sensing biosensors in similar constructs. In addition, the biosensor could distinguish Hg²⁺ easily from multiple metal ions and displayed strong adaptability to extensive pH conditions (pH 4.0–10.0). More importantly, the developed biosensor was able to provide an initial assessment of Hg²⁺ spiked in the environmental water with the recoveries between 85.70% and 112.50%. The signal-amplified strategy performed by the modified reporter module will be widely applicable to many other whole-cell biosensors, meeting the practical requirements with sufficient sensing performance.     

A novel humidity regulating material hydrothermally synthetized from concrete waste

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - To promote the recycling of construction wastes, a low temperature (≤ 200 ℃) hydrothermal technology for solidifying...     

Nutrient removal from biogas slurry and biogas upgrading by microalgae-fungi-bacteria co-cultivation under different carbon nanotubes concentration

In this study, Chlorella vulgaris, Ganoderma lucidum, and endophytic bacteria were co-cultivated with the stimulation of strigolactone analogs GR24 to prepare pellets. During the purification of biogas slurry and biogas, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were introduced to enhance the removal efficiencies of nutrients and CO₂. The results showed that both GR24 and MWCNTs affected the purification of biogas slurry and biogas. The maximum chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and CO₂ removal efficiencies of the Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum-endophytic bacterial symbionts were 82.57 ± 7.96% (P < 0.05), 82.14 ± 7.87% (P < 0.05), 84.27 ± 7.96% (P < 0.05), and 63.93 ± 6.22% (P < 0.05), respectively, with the induction of 10⁻⁹ M GR24 and 1 mg L⁻¹ MWCNTs. Moreover, the growth and photosynthetic performance of the symbionts were consistent with the removal effects. The Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum-endophytic bacterial symbionts obtained high growth rates and enzyme activity with the maximum growth rate of 0.365 ± 0.03 d⁻¹, mean daily productivity of 0.182 ± 0.016 g L⁻¹ d⁻¹, and carbonic anhydrase activity of 31.07 ± 2.75 units, respectively. These results indicated that an appropriate concentration of GR24 and MWCNTs could promote the growth of symbionts, reinforce the purification effects of biogas slurry and biogas, and provide a new idea for the simultaneous purification of wastewater and biogas.

     

Possible use of Lingula sp.(Phylum Brachiopoda)as a dissemination strategy to promote sustainable development in Fangchenggang mangrove,China

The economic marketability of a brachiopod,Lingula was studied at three coastal mangrove sites,specifically based on socioeconomic parameters from 10 villages that utilized Lingula along Pearl Bay,Beilun Estuary Marine Nature Reserve,China.The significantly highest density of Lingula was at Jiao Dong(48.2±35.14 individual/m~2)whereas the biomass of Lingula was highest(0.76±0.22 g/individual)at Gui Lao Bu.The shell size of the largest specimen was still less than that in other references.The socioeconomic study of the population related to Lingula involved a small group,and no relationship could be determined among the parameters of age range,education level,occupation,and financial status.The total economic value(320,927.4 Yuan)was based on the value of consumption whereas the value from sales was very low as recorded from Shan Xin over a three-month season.Analysis of the results to determine strengths,weaknesses,opportunities,and threats was undertaken to identify the potential of Lingula sp.to be promoted and supported in the market as a novel source of income for the local community who are associated with mangrove resources;and also to examine its potential as a new food source for the rapidly growing population of China.     

What adverse health effects will environmental heavy metal co-exposure bring us: based on a biological monitoring study of sanitation workers

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - To investigate the relationship between health effect profile and co-exposure to heavy metal, 254 sanitation workers from Guangzhou, China, were...     

努力实践科学发展观 加快再生资源产业化进程

从贯彻落实科学发展观,体现"发展是第一要义"出发,从循环经济发展的角度,着重研究加快再生资源产业化进程的问题。运用理论思维的方法,分析再生资源的三个特性、资源回收利用在经济社会发展中所发挥的作用、产业化发展的需求,进行再生资源的产业定位,从而阐述了再生资源产业化发展的必要性;运用战略思维的方法,通过对我国再生资源发展现状的分析,提出持续推动产业发展的关键是要抓住"组织改造、市场建设、功能完善"三个战略重点。再用系统思维的方法,研究建立政府、行业、企业协调联动机制,从而抓住加快再生资源产业化发展进程操作层面的关键。     

Hydrothermal solidification behavior of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash without any additives

Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash could be solidified with and without slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) addition by a hydrothermal method under steam pressure of 1.56 MPa at 200 °C for up to 72 h. Experimental results showed that CSH gel or tobermorite exerted a main influence on strength development, and without any additives CSH gel was easy to form, while slaked lime addition favored to form tobermorite. Tobermorite seemed to exert a larger effect on the strength development than CSH gel. Leaching results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals dissolved from the solidified specimens were effectively reduced after hydrothermal processing. The immobilization was mainly due to the tobermorite or CSH gel formation, and Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ seemed to be fixed more readily than Cr⁶⁺, which might be the reason that the structural Ca²⁺ within tobermorite or CSH gel was exchanged by Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ more easily than Cr⁶⁺. In addition, there existed a close relationship between leaching concentration and strength enhancement, and a higher strength seemed to exert a larger effect on immobilization of heavy metals.     

战略环境评价（SEA）和可持续发展

SEA的作用不仅仅在于将EIA（环境影响评价）扩展到更具战略意义的决策层，它还是迈向可持续发展的关键一步，它有助于从政策到计划、规划吧至最后的项目遵循可持续发展目标，SEA是联系目前正在进行的项目EIA和使人类活动达到维持环境质量这一目标的纽带，文章讨论了SEA开展的必要性，介绍了SEA的2种类型，结合英国开展的实例，论述了“遵循型”SEA的主要内容及其应用前景。     

The platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase gene derived from Trichoderma harzianum induces maize resistance to Curvularia lunata through the jasmonic acid signaling pathway

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) derived from Trichoderma harzianum was upregulated by the interaction of T. harzianum with maize roots or the foliar pathogen Curvularia lunata. PAF-AH was associated with chitinase and cellulase expressions, but especially with chitinase, because its activity in the KO40 transformant (PAF-AH disruption transformant) was lower, compared with the wild-type strain T28. The result demonstrated that the colonization of maize roots by T. harzianum induced systemic protection of leaves inoculated with C. lunata. Such protection was associated with the expression of inducible jasmonic acid pathway-related genes. Moreover, the data from liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry confirmed that the concentration of jasmonic acid in maize leaves was associated with the expression level of defense-related genes, suggesting that PAF-AH induced resistance to the foliar pathogen. Our findings showed that PAF-AH had an important function in inducing systemic resistance to maize leaf spot pathogen.