Water-soluble species and heavy metal contamination of the petroleum refinary area,Jordan

The levels of lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, aluminum, chromium, and iron in street dust, soil, and plants in the Jordanian petroleum refinery were determined using flame and graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Major cations (Li+, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) and anions (F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-), and Br-) were also determined using suppression mode ion chromatography. Generally, higher levels of the heavy metals studied were found in street dust samples than in soil samples. On the other hand, except Cl-, and Li+ ions, other anions and cations showed higher concentrations in soil than in street dust samples. For plant samples, unwashed samples showed higher levels of heavy metals than their washed counterparts, indicating that dust fall is a source of heavy metal contamination.     

Comparison of PM2.5 and PM10 in A Suburban Area in Korea During April, 2003

Airborne particulate matter (PM) concentrations were measured in Iksan, a suburban area in South Korea during April, 2003. PM_2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) and PM₁₀ (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm) samples were collected, and the chemical characteristics of particles were examined for diurnal patterns, yellow dust/rainfall influences, and scavenging effects. Average concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ mass measured were 37.3 ± 16.2 μg m⁻³ and 60.8 ± 29.5 μg m⁻³, respectively. The sum of ionic chemical species concentrations for PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ was 16.9 ± 7.3 and 23.1 ± 10.1 μg/m³, respectively. A significant reduction in PM mass concentrations during rainfall days was observed for coarse mode (PM_{2.5 − 10}) particles, but less reduction was found for fine (PM_2.5) mass concentration. SO₄ ²⁻, NH₄ ⁺, and K⁺ predominated in fine particulate mode, NO₃ ⁻ and Cl⁻ predominated in fine particle mode and coarse particle mode, but Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ mostly existed in coarse mode. The high concentration of ammonium due to local emissions and long-range transport neutralized sulfate and nitrate to ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate, which were major forms of airborne PM in Iksan. Average mass concentrations of PM₁₀ in daytime and at night were 57.6 and 70.0 μg m⁻³, and those of PM_2.5 were 35.4 and 42.5 μg m⁻³, respectively. NO₃ ⁻ and Cl⁻ in both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were about double at night than in the daytime, while the rest of the chemical species were equal or a little higher at night than in the daytime. The results suggest the formation of ammonium nitrate and chloride when high ammonia concentration and low air temperature are allowed. Backward air trajectory analyses showed that air masses arriving at the site during yellow dust period were transported from arid Chinese regions, which resulted in high concentrations of airborne PM mass concentrations. In the meantime, air mass trajectories during a rainfall period were mostly from the Pacific Ocean or the East China Sea, along with a relatively low PM concentration.     

Simulation of phytoremediation of a TNT-contaminated soil using the CTSPAC model

Knowledge of water movement in the plant-xylem system and contaminant bioavailability in the soil environment is crucial to evaluate the success of phytoremediation practices. This study investigated the removal of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from a contaminated sandy soil by a single poplar (Populus fastigiata) tree through the examinations of temporal variations of xylem water potential, root water uptake, and soil TNT bioavailability. A mathematical model, CTSPAC (Coupled Transport of water, heat, and solutes in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum), was modified for the purpose of this study. The model was calibrated using laboratory measurements before its application. Our simulations show that the xylem water potential was high in the roots and low in the leaves with a potential head difference of 3.55 cm H2O, which created a driving force for water flow and chemical transport upward from the roots through the stem to the leaves. The daily average root water uptake rate was 25 cm3 h(-1) when an equilibrium condition was reached after 24 h. Our simulations further reveal that no TNT was found in the stem and leaves and only about 1% of total TNT mass was observed in the roots due to the rapid biodegradation and transformation of TNT into its daughter products. About 13% of the soil TNT was removed by the poplar tree, resulting mainly from root uptake since TNT is a recalcitrant compound. In general, the soil TNT bioavailability decreased with time due to the depletion of soil solution TNT by the poplar tree. A constant bioavailability (i.e., 3.1 x 10(-6)) was obtained in 14 d in which the soil TNT concentration was about 10 mg L(-1). Our study suggests that CTSPAC is a useful model to simulate phytoremediation of TNT-contaminated sites.     

毛乌素沙漠东部边缘中β尺度暴雨和冰雹综合分析

利用多普勒雷达资料、Micaps系统提供的常规观测资料和物理量场,对2006年9月20日发生在毛乌素沙漠东部边缘的一次强对流天气过程进行了分析。结果表明:冰雹和暴雨是由两块呈块状的中β尺度强对流单体造成的;地面能量比中α尺度"Ω"系统的生成,为能量的积聚和集中释放提供了有利条件;地面能量比中β尺度能量比低值舌的生成,为强对流天气的发生提供了抬升触发机制;冰雹和暴雨发生前,涡度场和散度场的耦合、影响雹暴区次级环流的形成,为雹暴的发生维持提供了动力机制;850 hPa等压面上湿正压场和湿斜压场的配合、以及湿位涡的三维空间结构,对雹暴的发生及落区有指示意义;在多普勒雷达径向速度场上,雹暴运动的前方对流层低层有中气旋生成,雹暴运动的后方对流层低层有中反气旋生成,而对流层中高层有辐散生成,且超级单体特征明显。     

Alleviation of atrazine toxicity to maize seedlings grown in soils with amendment of biochar derived from wheat under different temperatures

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The effects of different biotransformation temperatures (250, 550, and 850 °C) and different dose (0–1%) of biochar on the physiological...     

Analysis of interprovincial trade embodied carbon emissions in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and surrounding provinces: based on constructed MRIO Model

The interprovincial trade embodied carbon emissions plays an important role in the national emission reduction target among China’s provinces. Furthermore, it will affect the smooth start-up of the national carbon trade market as well as the implementation of targets in 2030 for dealing with the climate change. Based on constructed MRIO model, this paper analyzes the embodied carbon emission trade flows among Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and surrounding regions such as Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia. The results indicate that six provinces have formed different patterns of carbon trade balance, where Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces are in a deficit position, while the other three provinces are in a surplus position. Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei have transferred part of the carbon emissions to the other three provinces, which shows greater heterogeneity among various provinces and provincial different sectors. On basis of the conclusions, this paper puts forward some suggestions on provincial decomposition, responsibility distribution, and provincial collaborative reduction for national emission reduction targets.     

甲醛暴露时间延长加剧小鼠哮喘模型肺氧化损伤并促进IL-17表达

为了探究不同暴露时间甲醛对小鼠哮喘模型肺氧化应激及IL-17表达的影响,用浓度为3.0 mg·m~(-3)的甲醛气体吸入染毒,同时将48只雄性Balb/c小鼠随机分为6组:(1)对照组(生理盐水组);(2)ovalbumin(OVA)致敏组;(3)0.5 h甲醛+OVA组;(4)1h甲醛+OVA组;(5)1.5 h甲醛+OVA组;(6)2 h甲醛+OVA组,以不同时间长度进行甲醛暴露,连续35 d。OVA致敏组、0.5 h甲醛+OVA组、1 h甲醛+OVA组、1.5 h甲醛+OVA组、2 h甲醛+OVA组均在第11、18及25天腹腔注射OVA致敏液(5 mg OVA+175 mg Al(OH)_3+30 mL生理盐水),第29~35天(共计1周)进行1%OVA雾化(30 min·d~(-1)),每日1次,诱发哮喘。第36天进行以下操作:取肺组织测定肺系数并制作肺匀浆,检测肺组织中活性氧自由基(ROS)、丙二醛(MDA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量,并采用ELISA法检测肺组织中IL-17的水平。同时,采用HE染色法观察小鼠肺部气道的病理学变化。结果显示,在浓度为3.0 mg·m~(-3)的甲醛气体吸入染毒条件下,与对照组相比,1.5 h甲醛+OVA染毒组、2 h甲醛+OVA染毒组ROS、MDA、IL-17含量上升,具有统计学意义(P0.01)。同时,随着暴露时间长度的增加,小鼠肺部气道出现明显病理学变化。综上所述,每天2 h甲醛+OVA染毒能对小鼠肺造成损伤并恶化OVA对小鼠肺的损伤,产生炎症反应,并通过氧化应激反应介导。     

Excellent performance of Cu-Mn/Ti-sepiolite catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation

The Ti-modified sepiolite (Ti-Sep)-supported Mn-Cu mixed oxide (yMn5Cu/Ti-Sep) catalysts were synthesized using the co-precipitation method. The materials were characterized by the X-ray diffraction scanning electron microscope, N₂ adsorption-desorption, H₂-TPR, O₂-TPD, and XPS techniques, and their catalytic activities for CO oxidation were evaluated. It was found that the catalytic activities of yMn5Cu/Ti-Sep were higher than those of 5Cu/Ti-Sep and 30Mn/Ti-Sep, and the Mn/Cu molar ratio had a distinct influence on catalytic activity of the sample. Among the yMn5Cu/Ti- Sep samples, the 30Mn5Cu/Ti-Sep catalyst showed the best activity (which also outperformed the 30Mn5Cu/Sep catalyst), giving the highest reaction rate of 0.875 × 10^–3 mmol·g^–1·s^–1 and the lowest T _50% and T _100% of 56°C and 86°C, respectively. Moreover, the 30Mn5Cu/Ti-Sep possessed the best low-temperature reducibility, the lowest O₂ desorption temperature, and the highest surface Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ atomic ratio. It is concluded that factors, such as the strong interaction between the copper or manganese oxides and the Ti-Sep support, good low-temperature reducibility, and good mobility of chemisorbed oxygen species, were responsible for the excellent catalytic activity of 30Mn5Cu/Ti-Sep.

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Investigation of the removal mechanism of Cr(VI) in groundwater using activated carbon and cast iron combined system

Zero-valent iron (Fe⁰) has been widely used for Cr(VI) removal; however, the removal mechanisms of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution under complex hydrogeochemical conditions were poorly understood. In this research, the mixed materials containing cast iron and activated carbon were packed in columns for the treatment of aqueous Cr(VI)-Cr(III) in groundwater with high concentration of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, HCO₃ ⁻, NO₃ ⁻, and SO₄ ²⁻. We investigate the influences of those ions on Cr(VI) removal, especially emphasizing on the reaction mechanisms and associated precipitations which may lead to porosity loss by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The results show that the precipitations accumulated on the material surface were (Fe/Cr) (oxy)hydroxide, mixed Fe(III)-Cr(III) (oxy)hydroxides, Fe₂O₃, CaCO₃, and MgCO₃. During these reactions, the Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) coupled with the oxidated Fe⁰ to Fe(II) through the galvanic corrosion formed by the Fe⁰-C and/or the direct electron transfer between Fe⁰ and Cr(VI). In addition, Cr(VI) could be reduced by aqueous Fe(II), which dominated the whole removal efficiency. The primary aqueous Cr(III) was completely removed together with Cr(III) reduced from Cr(VI) even when Cr(VI) was detected in the effluent, which meant that the aqueous Cr(III) could occupy the adsorption sites. In general, the combined system was useful for the Cr(VI)-Cr(III) treatment based on galvanic corrosion, and the hardness ions had a negative effect on Cr(VI) removal by forming the carbonates which might promote the passivation of materials and decrease the removal capacity of the system.

     

Light absorption by water-soluble organic carbon in atmospheric fine particles in the central Tibetan Plateau

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Brown carbon (BrC) has recently received much attention because of its light absorption features. The chemical compositions, optical properties, and...