Improvements of nano-SiO2 on sludge/fly ash mortar

Sewage sludge ash has been widely applied to cementitious materials. In this study, in order to determine effects of nano-SiO(2) additives on properties of sludge/fly ash mortar, different amounts of nano-SiO(2) were added to sludge/fly ash mortar specimens to investigate their physical properties and micro-structures. A water-binding ratio of 0.7 was assigned to the mix. Substitution amounts of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% of sludge/fly ash (1:1 ratio) were proposed. Moreover, 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% of nano-SiO(2) was added to the mix. Tests, including SEM and compressive strength, were carried out on mortar specimens cured at 3, 7, and 28 days. Results showed that sludge/fly ash can make the crystals of cement hydration product finer. Moreover, crystals increased after nano-SiO(2) was added. Hence, nano-SiO(2) can improve the effects of sludge/fly ash on the hydration of mortar. Further, due to the low pozzolanic reaction active index of sludge ash, early compressive strengths of sludge/fly ash mortar were decreased. Yet, nano-SiO(2) could help produce hydration crystals, which implies that the addition of nano-SiO(2) to mortar can improve the influence of sludge/fly ash on the development of the early strength of the mortar.     

Variations of metal distribution in sewage sludge composting

In the study, the variations of heavy metal distributions (of Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn) during the sewage sludge composting process were investigated by sequential extraction procedures. The total content of Cu and Zn in the composted mixture increased after the composting process. Mn and Zn were mainly found in mobile fractions (exchangeable fraction (F1), carbonate fraction (F2), and Fe/Mn oxide fraction (F3)). Cu and Pb were strongly associated with the stable fractions (organic matter/sulfides fraction (F4) and residual fraction (F5)). These five metal fractions were used to calculate the metal mobility (bioavailability) in the sewage sludge and composted mixture. The mobility (bioavailability) of Mn, Pb, and Zn (but not Cu) increased during the composting process. The metal mobility in the composted mixture ranked in the following order: Mn>Zn>Pb>Cu.     

Influence of clay minerals on the reduction of Cr6+ by citric acid

The influence of clay minerals on the reduction of Cr6+ by citric acid was investigated at pH values 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 at 25 degrees C. The results indicate that montmorillonite and illite greatly accelerate the reduction reactions at pH 4.0 and 4.5, but their effects are dramatically reduced at pH 5.0. The role of clay minerals in accelerating the reactions is in the order: illite>montmorillonite>kaolinite, which has a positive correlation with the amount of Mn2+ adsorbed on the surfaces of these minerals. With light, Fe(3+) also significantly increases reaction rates. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) greatly suppresses the acceleration of the reduction reactions by these minerals, indicating that EDTA competes with citric acid for Mn2+. Thus, the formation of complexes between Mn(2+) and citric acid could be a prerequisite for the acceleration of the reductions of Cr6+ by clay minerals. In addition, there is no relationship between the specific surface area of clay minerals and the reduction rate of Cr6+ by citric acid.     

Assessment of population exposure to particulate matter pollution in Chongqing, China

To determine the population exposure to PM(10) in Chongqing, China, we developed an indirect model by combining information on the time activity patterns of various demographic subgroups with estimates of the PM(10) concentrations in different microenvironments (MEs). The spatial and temporal variations of the exposure to PM(10) were illustrated in a geographical information system (GIS). The population weighted exposure (PWE) for the entire population was 229, 155 and 211 microg/m(3), respectively, in winter, summer and as the annual average. Indoor PM(10) level at home was the largest contributor to the PWE, especially for the rural areas where high pollution levels were found due to solid fuels burning. Elder people had higher PM(10) exposure than adults and youth, due to more time spent in indoor MEs. The highest health risk due to particulate was found in the city zone and northeast regions, suggesting that pollution abatement should be prioritized in these areas.     

Characterization of food waste generators: a Hawaii case study

Information on food waste disposal and on recycling methods and recycled amounts is reported. Data were obtained from a mail and phone survey of all licensed food establishments in Hawaii conducted in 2004 and 2005. Of 8253 licensed food establishments, 5033 completed surveys. It was found that relationships exist between food establishment size (measured by the number of meals served per day or the number of employees) and the amount of food an establishment recycled; establishment type and recycling behavior; and establishment type and amount recycled. The amount of food waste recycled in the state of Hawaii was estimated to be 264,000 L/day and annual food waste generation was estimated to be 336,000 tonnes.     

Comparison of China’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Law with the European Union (EU) EIA Directive

In this paper, we first review the development of China’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in the past 30 years. Then we compare the framework and operational procedures of China’s new EIA law with those of the EU EIA Directive. We also compare public participation, as well as sanctions and control in the two EIA systems. In addition, we identify where the processes in both EIA systems are similar or different from one another. By comparison, we noted that there are at least three obvious weaknesses in China’s EIA system: (1) the application of new models for EIA legislation; (2) the improvement of EIA guidance and education; and (3) the enhancement of public participation in EIA process. Our study indicates that these three major shortcomings should be overcome and improved in China’s EIA system, when compared with the EU EIA system.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Environmental Impact Assessment of Industrial Structure Change in a Rural Region of China

As the embodiment of human activities, the change of regional industrial structure is an essential driving factor of global environmental change. Consequently, the research on the change of regional industrial structure and associated effects on the environment is one of the key issues of researches on sustainable development, human–environment relationship, and regional response to global environment change. However, compared to the flourish of researches on environmental impact assessment of industrial departments, few studies have been conducted to assess the environmental impact of regional industrial structure. In this study, based on a synthetic analysis of environmental disturbances of different industrial departments, the environmental impact coefficient of industrial department associated with the index of environmental impact of industrial structure was constructed, so as to make a quantitative assessment of environmental impact of the change of regional industrial structure. And the results of the case study in Lijiang City, a rural region of China, have showed that there are two obvious changes of industrial structure in the study area from 1992 to 2003, associated with a continuous decreasing of the index of environmental impact of industrial structure, which indicated a positive environmental effects of the change of regional industrial structure.     

PH3液相催化氧化净化研究

以Mn2 和Pd2 为催化剂的吸收液对含低浓度PH3的混合气进行了液相催化氧化净化研究.考察了催化剂配比、混合气中O2浓度、PH3初始浓度、反应温度、气体流量和吸收液pH与PH3净化效率的关系.结果表明,催化剂中Pd2 与Mn2 的质量比为1:4时可获得较佳的净化效果;随着混合气中O2浓度的增加,吸收液对PH3的净化效率有所提高;在20～75℃内,低温对PH3净化有利,较适宜的反应温度为20℃;较低的PH3初始浓度和低气体流量均有利于PH3的净化;较高的pH有利于吸收液中催化剂催化效能的发挥.吸收液对PH3的净化效率可达100%,但因吸收液中的金属离子易与催化氧化PH3产生的PO3-4形成沉淀,使金属离子脱离液相催化氧化系统,吸收液失效较快.     

Implications of urine-to-feces ratio in the thermophilic anaerobic digestion of swine waste.

Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of swine manure represents a potential waste treatment technology to address environmental concerns, such as odor emissions and removal of pathogenic microorganisms. However, there are concerns relative to the stability of this process when swine manure is the sole substrate. In this study, the potential of biogas production from swine manure as the sole substrate under thermophilic (50 degrees C) conditions was investigated in the laboratory, to determine whether separation of urine and feces as part of the waste collection process would benefit anaerobic digestion. Effluent from a continuously stirred tank reactor was used as the inoculum for batch tests, in which the substrate contained three different concentrations of urine (urine-free, as-excreted urine-to-feces ratio and double the as-excreted urine-to-feces ratio). Inocula were acclimated to these same urine-to-feces ratios to determine methane production. Results show that both urine-free and as-excreted substrates were not inhibitory to anaerobic inocula. Anaerobic microorganisms can be readily acclimated to substrate with double the as-excreted urine concentration, which contained nitrogen concentrations up to 7.20 g/L. Cumulative methane production reached similar levels in the batch tests, regardless of the substrate urine concentration.     

青岛海洋环境碳纤维复合材料与低合金钢电偶腐蚀研究

目的 探究碳纤维复合材料在舰船应用时与金属材料的电偶腐蚀问题。方法 针对一种典型舰船用碳纤维增强乙烯基树脂复合材料,在青岛海洋大气环境下开展0.5、1、1.5、2 a期的自然曝晒试验,进而采用电化学分析手段考察其与低合金钢的电偶腐蚀效应,结合老化机制探究碳纤维复合材料的老化行为对其与钢电偶腐蚀的影响。结果及结论 在青岛大气环境曝晒不同周期的复合材料试样,开路电位与低合金钢相差较大,存在较高的电偶腐蚀倾向。随曝晒时间的延长,复合材料表面微裂纹不断产生、扩展,导致电化学反应活性点增多,两者电偶电流密度随之增大。在青岛海洋大气环境下暴露2 a后,碳纤维增强乙烯基树脂复合材料与低合金钢的电偶电流为0.356 9 μA/cm²,两者的电偶腐蚀敏感性达到B级。