Passive monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in urban air: a case study of Durban metropolis, South Africa

To devise and implement strategies to manage the quality of urban air, a metropolis needs air pollution data on which an air quality management plan can be formulated. Although air pollutants can come from several sources, many reports suggest that nitrogen dioxide from motor vehicle emissions is the major contributor to air pollution in cities. Since vehicles stop or move slowly through traffic intersections, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) are expected to be relatively high at these sites. Inexpensive Ogawa passive samplers were placed at selected traffic intersections in the Durban Metropolis to trap the NO(2) which was then analysed by a sensitive laboratory-based method. The data obtained by this method was compared with data from sophisticated system comprising an active sampler cum on-line chemiluminescence detector. The sampling was done over a twelve month period to cover all seasons. Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was no significant difference between the means for the two methods. This study has established that an Ogawa passive sampler may be used as an economical and reliable collector for NO(2) in ambient air under varying climatic conditions. Further, the analysis method using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer was sensitive enough to detect NO(2) at the 10-20 ppb level. The cost of the method should be well within the budgets of most municipalities and it would motivate them to develop policies to alleviate traffic congestion.     

生物质热解渣应用于低温SCR脱硝催化剂的研究

对棉杆热解渣分别进行物理、化学及物理化学综合活化,并以它们为载体,分别负载锰铈的氧化物获得催化剂,探讨它们用于低温选择性催化还原的脱硝性能。同时对3种催化剂进行BET、NH3-TPD、H2-TPR和XRD表征研究。结果表明,经过物理化学综合法活化后所得催化剂的比表面积最大,可达到1 614 m2/g,且其微孔中孔分布最为丰富;NH3-TPD表征结果说明化学活化法所得催化剂对NH3吸附效果最佳,其次为物理化学综合活化法所得的催化剂;H2-TPR表征结果可知经化学活化法所得催化剂氧化还原性最好,其次为物理化学综合活化法所得的催化剂;脱硝试验结果可知物理化学综合活化法所得到的催化剂在低温条件下SCR活性最佳,并对结果进行了分析。     

Microalgae: a promising tool for carbon sequestration

Increasing trends in global warming already evident, the likelihood of further rise continuing, and their impacts give urgency to addressing carbon sequestration technologies more coherently and effectively. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is responsible for over half the warming potential of all greenhouse gases (GHG), due to the dependence of world economies on fossil fuels. The processes involving CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) are gaining attention as an alternative for reducing CO₂ concentration in the ambient air. However, these technologies are considered as short-term solutions, as there are still concerns about the environmental sustainability of these processes. A promising technology could be the biological capture of CO₂ using microalgae due to its unmatched advantages over higher plants and ocean fertilization. Microalgae are phototrophic microorganisms with simple nutritional requirements, and comprising the major primary producers on this planet. Specific pathways include autotrophic production via both open pond or closed photobioreactor (PBR) systems. Photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae ranged from 10?C20 % in comparison with 1?C2 % of most terrestrial plants. Some algal species, during their exponential growth, can double their biomass in periods as short as 3.5 hours. Moreover, advantage of being tolerant of high concentration of CO₂ (flue gas), low light intensity requirements, environmentally sustainable, and co-producing added value products put these as the favoured organisms. Advantages of microalgae in comparison with other sequestration methodologies are discussed, which includes the cultivation systems, the key process parameters, wastewater treatment, harvesting and the novel bio-products produced by microalgal biomass.     

A review on the urban municipal solid waste management system of an Indian Himalayan state

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Improper management of solid waste creates health problems and degrades the environment (air, water, and soil). The Indian state Uttarakhand is...     

Application of deep neural network to capture groundwater potential zone in mountainous terrain,Nepal Himalaya

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to capture groundwater potential zones integrating deep neural network and groundwater influencing factors. The present work was...     

Assessment of cytotoxicity in gills of fish Labeo rohita reared in untreated and treated sewage water

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The unregulated discharge of untreated municipal sewage water to the natural water bodies is a major threat to the aquatic ecosystems. In the present...     

The role of disinfectants and sanitizers during COVID-19 pandemic: advantages and deleterious effects on humans and the environment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Disinfectants and sanitizers are essential preventive agents against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, the pandemic crisis...     

Planning rainwater conservation measures using geospatial and multi-criteria decision making tools

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The assessment of rainwater-harvesting demand (RWHD) map and the identification of appropriate priority-based locations for rainwater-harvesting (RWH)...     

Hydrogen fuel and fuel cell technology for cleaner future: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - One of the main problems facing our planetary bodies is unexpected and sudden climate change due to continuously increasing global energy demand,...     

Suitability assessment of dumpsite soil biocover to reduce methane emission from landfills under interactive influence of nutrients

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biocovers are known for their role as key facilitator to reduce landfill methane (CH4) emission on improving microbial methane bio-oxidation....