Phosphorus supply influences heathland responses to atmospheric nitrogen deposition

On an upland moor dominated by pioneer Calluna vulgaris and with an understorey of mosses and lichens, experimental plots were treated with factorial combinations of nitrogen (N) at +0 and +20kg Nha(-1)yr(-1), and phosphorus (P) at +0 and +5kg Pha(-1)yr(-1). Over the 4-year duration of the experiment, the cover of the Calluna canopy increased in density over time as part of normal phenological development. Moss cover increased initially in response to N addition but then remained static; increases in cover in response to P addition became stronger over time, eventually causing reductions in the cover of the dominant Calluna canopy. Lichen cover virtually disappeared within 4 years in plots receiving +20kg Nha(-1)yr(-1) and also in separate plots receiving +10kg Nha(-1)yr(-1), but this effect was reversed by the addition of P.     

Use of inert C&D materials for seawall foundation: quality control measures

The technical viability of using inert construction and demolition (C&D) materials for the construction of seawall and breakwater foundations has been established by laboratory testing of the materials, numerical analysis of foundation stability, and a pilot field-scale engineering performance evaluation. However, quality control measures are still required so that only suitable materials are used for seawall and breakwater foundation construction. The development of different quality control measures for different site conditions is presented in this paper. The rationale, practicality, and implementation of these quality control measures are also discussed.     

PCDD/DF concentrations at the inlets and outlets of wet scrubbers in Korean waste incinerators

To further understand the effects of wet scrubbers on PCDD/DF levels, it was measured the concentrations of PCDD/DF, dust, and other gaseous pollutants at both the inlets and the outlets of seven wet scrubbers. As a result, the concentrations of PCDD/DF at the inlets and outlets of the wet scrubbers ranged from 0.2 to 37.4, and 0.8 to 6.0 ng TEQ N m-3, respectively. With the exceptions of wet scrubbers F and G, the PCDD/DF levels decreased by and large in most wet scrubbers. It was thought that their relatively high removal efficiencies were more increased with heavier loads of dust and particle-bound PCDD/DF. On the other hand, it was also surveyed the increase of gaseous PCDD/DF in wet scrubber, where the total level of PCDD/DF was decreased. However, it was not sure whether it had been resulted from the thermal adsorption/desorption phenomenon between packing materials and emission gases or not. At the very least, however, although there still remains an unexplained aspect for the increase of gaseous PCDD/DF, it is clear that wet scrubbers can be sufficiently applied to remove PCDD/DF to a certain extent, if only removal efficiencies for the particle loads are high, and if a significant part of the PCDD/DF at the inlets is particle associated.     

Composition and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface sediments from the Susquehanna River

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in 34 surface sediments along the Susquehanna River were investigated in 2000. The total concentrations of PAHs in the surface sediments of Lake Clarke, Lake Aldred, the upper Conowingo Reservoir, and the lower Conowingo Reservoir were 3.3+/-1.5 microg g-1 (n=9), 1.6+/-1.3 microg g-1 (n=4), 9.8+/-5.5 microg g-1 (n=7), and 4.0+/-1.2 microg g-1 (n=14), respectively. These represent the first comprehensive measurement of PAHs in Susquehanna River surface sediments. Overall, total PAH concentrations were relatively lower in Lake Aldred, which is more shallow and sloped, and significantly higher in the upper Conowingo Reservoir. The sediment PAH levels were related to river flow rates, which are indirectly correlated with the particle size of the surface sediments. Total PAH levels in all the studied sites were below the effects range median (ERM) of 44.8 microg g-1 with 38% (13 of the 34 sampling sites) exceeding the effects range low (ERL) of 4.02 microg g-1. Principal component analysis indicated that variations in the PAH compound patterns of each reservoir decreased from upstream to downstream, indicating that the surface sediments were mixed along the Susquehanna River. The PAH patterns in the lower Conowingo Reservoir sediments were a combination of those upstream sources. Source analysis using isomer ratios as indicators suggested that PAHs in the Susquehanna River surface sediment are derived from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline with coal as the major source of contaminants.     

Characteristics of Carbonaceous Aerosol at Taichung Harbor, Taiwan during Summer and Autumn Period of 2005

In recent years, suspended particle pollution has become a serious problem in Taiwan. The carbonaceous materials EC and OC are play important roles in various atmospheric processes. The primary OC/EC ratio approach is applied to assess the contribution of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to the PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ mass at the Taichung harbor sampling site. The results indicated that the average EC and OC concentration were 1.06 and 6.50 μg m⁻³, respectively, in fine particulate. And the average EC and OC concentration were 4.04 and 40.32 μg m⁻³, respectively, in coarse particulate at Taichung Harbor sampling site. In addition, and the average EC/OC rations was 8.72 in fine particle, respectively, at Taichung Harbor, Taiwan during summer and autumn period of 2005. The fine particle exhibited high particulate concentrations in October, and lower concentration particulate occurred in August. And in this study OC and EC concentrations in this study are compared with those in other cities. The results of EC and OC concentration in this study are also compare with those other cities.     

Formation of leadhillite and calcium lead silicate hydrate (C-Pb-S-H) in the solidification/stabilization of lead contaminants

In this study, we have investigated the structure of Pb-doped solidified waste forms (SWF) for assessment of lead fixation. A large quantity of lead precipitates produced during the S/S, based upon the results of cement-water solution analysis, X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis/electron dispersive spectroscopy investigations, have been shown to be principally leadhillite (lead carbonate sulfate hydroxide, Pb(4)SO(4)(CO(3))(2)(OH)(2)), lead carbonate hydroxide hydrate (3PbCO(3).2Pb(OH)(2).H(2)O) and two other unidentified lead salts. In the long curing, the lead species dissolved from the lead precipitates are fixed into the cement matrix, forming a gelling calcium lead silicate hydrate during cement-based solidification. On leaching the lead precipitates such as leadhillite were markedly dissolved/released and some dissolved lead species were adsorbed to silicate-rich surface of leached SWF with the subsequent formation of mainly amorphous gel of calcium lead silicate hydrate.     

Comparison of preservation values between Internet and interview survey modes: the case of Dokdo,South Korea

With the increase in employment of Internet surveys, there is a need to address how this survey mode affects inferences. Internet and interview modes are compared in estimating the preservation value of Dokdo, South Korea. Estimates of willingness to pay in the Internet survey are smaller than those in the interview survey. This may be attributable to the interview respondents being conscious of the presence of the interviewers, given the social importance of Dokdo to Koreans. Internet surveys may be effective in reducing overestimation of the willingness to pay in situations where potential social desirability is present.     

Income and distance-decay effects on willingness to pay estimated by the contingent valuation method

This study suggests a methodology for enhancing accuracy in evaluating amenity by the contingent valuation method when household's willingness to pay (WTP) is dependent to its income and the distance between a respondent's residence and the location of a target facility. Using a linear city model, this study demonstrates the influences of income and distance-decay effects on WTP. Simulations are performed to check the validity of the model, as well as to predict consequences when income and distance-decay effects are not properly treated. Finally, the suggested methodology is applied to two real cases. The estimation results from a structural model show that the calculated total benefit varies largely when income and distance-decay effects exist and are ignored. Also, an ad hoc model generates significantly different estimates from the utility difference model this study adopted. The difference in estimates suggests that the total benefit has to be estimated by a structural model.     

Gasification characteristics of biomass for tar removal by secondary oxidant injection

Gasification experiments for sawdust were conducted using a fixed bed reactor at 900 °C by varying the secondary oxidant injection ratio to determine the optimal conditions for tar removal along with the enhancement of gasification efficiency. Secondary oxidant was injected as an oxidant at the top zone of the gasifier in varying ratios of 10–30% of the total amount of oxidant. This method was based on the primary method of tar removal and gasification efficiency improvement by thermal cracking of tar. Various gasification performance parameters were evaluated and tar content was estimated by measuring the fluctuation of weight of the activated carbon filter. The results showed that the concentration of tar in the producer gas decreased by injecting the secondary oxidant, even though syngas yield decreased. The recycling potential of the char produced in the gasification experiments was also assessed with the purpose of utilizing char as an adsorbent by determining its surface area and pore volume. The results demonstrated that the char produced from the gasification experiment had similar quality to that of the activated carbon used in this experiment.