Evaluation of an In Situ,On-Line Purging System for the Cone Penetrometer

Abstract

Materials that will be used to construct an in situ, on-line purging system for the cone penetrometer were evaluated. Transfer efficiencies for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, and Teflon® tubings were determined using a gas-phase mixture of VOCs containing trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, 1,1,1- trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, hexane, benzene, toluene, and 1,2-dimethylbenzene. The water content of the gas stream had an insignificant effect on the quantitative transfer of VOCs through Teflon® tubing but was critical to efficiently transfer the compounds through metal tubing, particularly nickel. Transfer efficiencies for all eight analytes in moist gas streams through stainless steel were greater than 95%. Toluene, tetrachloroethene, and 1,2-dimethylbenzene were transferred with 93%, 81%, and 80% efficiency, respectively, when they were drawn through Teflon® PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) tubing. In general, the retention of the VOCs by Teflon® increases with decreasing aqueous solubility of the analyte. The efficiencies at which VOCs were purged from aqueous standards in Teflon® PFA, Type 304 stainless steel, and glass vessels were similar. Stainless steel was superior to nickel, aluminum, and the Teflon® polymers as a material for an in situ, on-line purging system for the cone penetrometer.     

Characteristic Study of Ambient Air Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM) Concentrations During Rainy and Non-Rainy Periods at a Traffic Site in Taiwan

This investigation studied the concentrations of ambient air total gaseous mercury (TGM) during the rainy periods at the Hung-Kuang traffic sampling site in central Taiwan from May 26 to June 16, 2014. The results were compared with those of a previous study for ambient air TGM during non-rainy daytime and nighttime periods at the Hung-Kuang traffic sampling site, which was conducted during March 21 to July 20, 2012. The observed mean concentration of ambient air TGM was 1.16 ng/m³ during the rainy periods at the Hung-Kuang traffic sampling site. The mean ambient air TGM concentrations were higher in the non-rainy sampling period in daytime than in the rainy sampling period from this study. The mean ratio of non-rainy sampling period in daytime to that of rainy sampling period for ambient air TGM were 3.15. Furthermore, the mean ambient air TGM concentrations were higher in the non-rainy sampling period in nighttime in than in the rainy sampling period for this study. The mean rations for non-rainy sampling period in nighttime to that of the rainy sampling period for ambient air TGM were 2.70. The results obtained in this study also revealed that the ambient air TGM concentrations during the rainy period had the lowest concentrations when compared with the other sampling sites in other world regions.     

Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Water,Sediment, and Fish of the Songhua River,China

This study examined residual concentrations and associated ecological risks of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) hexa- chlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) in water, sediment, and fish of the Songhua River in Zhaoyuan County, China. In June 2012, 10 water, 10 sediment, and 20 fish samples were collected. Residual concentrations of ΣHCH and ΣDDT ranged from 10.0–35.59 ng L^?1 (mean 28.03 ± 11.66 ng L^?1) and 5.12–39.66 ng L^?1 (mean 32.36 ± 11.58 ng L^?1) for water. Residual concentrations of ΣHCH and ΣDDT ranged from 0.52–3.00 ng g^?1 (mean 2.04 ± 0.73 ng g^?1) and 0.34–3.41 ng g^?1 (mean 2.38 ± 0.92 ng g^?1) for sediment. The ratios of α-HCH/γ-HCH were close to 1 at the majority of sampling points, indicating considerable new pollution from the use of lindane. The ratios of p,p′-DDE + p,p′-DDD/ΣDDT were less than 0.5, indicating recent inputs from DDT impurities in dicofol. All HCH and DDT isomers except for p,p′-DDD were detected in fish tissue samples, but the associated ecological risks were estimated to be below levels of concern. The study revealed a historical usage of OCPs in the Zhaoyuan section of the Songhua River and new OCP from the use of lindane and dicofol.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in household dust near diesel transport routes

A river-dredging project has been undertaken in Nantou, Taiwan. A large number of diesel vehicles carrying gravel and sand shuttle back and forth on the main roads. Ten stations along major thoroughfares were selected as the exposure sites for testing, while a small village located about 9 km from a main traffic route was selected as the control site. Levels of household dust loading at the exposure sites (60.3 mg/m²) were significantly higher than those at the control site (38.2 mg/m²). The loading (μg/m²) of t-PAHs (total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in the household dust at the exposure sites was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than was the case at the control site. The diagnostic ratios of PAHs showed that diesel emissions were the dominant source of PAHs at the exposure sites. The lack of a significant correlation between the concentrations of Fe and t-PAHs suggested that the t-PAHs in household dust might come from diverse sources. However, a significant correlation (P = 0.003) between the concentrations of Mo and t-PAHs implied that the most of the t-PAHs in the household dust might have resulted from diesel emissions. The lifetime cancer risks of BaP_eq from household dust exposure were markedly higher than those resulting from inhalation exposure.     

近20年来鄱阳湖流域泛滥平原沉积物微量元素含量与污染变化

查明鄱阳湖流域微量元素的污染状况、识别其潜在来源并评估生态风险,对制定保护流域生态系统的有效策略至关重要.为了全面了解鄱阳湖流域5条主要支流泛滥平原沉积物中Cd、Hg、Pb、As、Cu、Zn、Cr、Ni、Mn、Sb、W和Sn等12种微量元素间隔近20 a的含量、污染水平和生态风险的时空变化状况,采用富集因子（EF）和修正综合污染指数（MPI）评价了微量元素的污染水平,应用潜在生态风险因子（E_r）和修正生态风险指数（MRI）量化了微量元素引发的生态风险,并对污染水平显著变化区域的污染源进行了分析和探讨.研究结果显示,近20年来,鄱阳湖流域泛滥平原沉积物中Cd、Zn、Mn、W和Pb含量分别升高了134%、26%、41%、25%和8%,Hg、As、Cr、Ni、Sb和Sn含量分别降低了35%、15%、22%、10%、14%和13%,Cu含量无明显变化;饶河、赣江和信江流域的Cd含量分别升高了331%、151%和107%,抚河、赣江和修水流域的Hg含量分别降低了87%、41%和40%;其污染变化主要表现为Cd污染加剧和Hg污染降级,整个赣江流域Cd污染升级至中度和中度-重度,饶河乐安江Cd污染升级至重度,抚河流域Hg污染降至无或轻微;Cd污染加剧导致综合污染升级,极度和重度污染点位比例由17%升至33%;极高生态风险点位的比例由11%升至22%,其高MRI贡献率元素由Hg变为Cd,源于Hg污染的极高生态风险点降至中等生态风险.鄱阳湖流域泛滥平原沉积物中微量元素的显著污染变化主要源于矿产开发与冶炼、工业和农业生产等人为活动.研究成果可为河流污染防治和流域生态系统的优化管理提供科学依据.     

中国193个城市规划区土壤微量元素污染与健康风险

随着城市化进程的加快,城市表层土壤微量元素含量发生了不同程度的变化,城市土壤污染所引发的环境问题进一步凸显.为了系统研究我国31个省(自治区、直辖市)193个地级以上城市规划区表层土壤13种微量元素的含量特征、污染水平和暴露风险,利用地累积指数(I_geo)和综合污染指数(IPI)对土壤微量元素的污染水平进行了评价,采用美国环保署(USEPA)推荐的健康风险评估方法量化了居民暴露于城市土壤的健康风险.研究结果显示:城市规划区表层土壤As、Be、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Se、Tl、V和Zn等13个元素含量中位值分别是9.25、 2.14、 0.174、 12.4、 68.4、 28.2、 0.095、 27.7、 31.1、 0.29、 0.61、 82.7和82.2 mg·kg^-1,相比于城市土壤背景值,Cd、Hg和Se是含量变化比较显著的元素.I_geo值表明城市规划区表层土壤污染最严重的是Hg,其次是Se和Cd,污染程度介于无污染至中度污染之间,其他元素无污染.综合污染指数IPI_N...     

基于乡镇尺度的西南重金属高背景区土壤重金属生态风险评价

西南地区土壤重金属具有天然的高背景属性,在重金属高背景区开展生态风险评价和识别重金属潜在来源具有重要意义.以往工作主要以区域尺度的调查工作为主,调查精度难以满足空间规划和自然资源管理的需求,迫切需要在乡镇尺度上进行生态风险评价.云南省宣威市热水镇是典型的碳酸盐岩覆盖区,重金属来源复杂,潜在生态风险较高.本文在热水镇采集土壤表层样品(0～20 cm)1 092件,分析表层土壤中8种重金属(Cd、 Cr、 As、 Hg、 Pb、 Cu、 Zn和Ni)含量,采用统计学、地理信息系统、地累积指数、生态风险指数和正定矩阵因子分析模型(PMF)等方法开展生态风险评价和重金属源解析.研究发现,土壤中重金属Cd、 Cr、 Cu、 Hg、 Ni和Zn含量平均值和中位数均超过云南省土壤背景值,Cd、 Cr、 Cu和Ni平均含量均超过《土壤环境质量农用地土壤污染风险管控标准》(GB 15618-2018)规定的筛选值.地累积指数结果表明,研究区表层土壤污染最严重的是Cu,其次是Cr和Cd.土壤重金属Cr、 As、 Pb、 Cu、 Zn和Ni多以残渣态存在,多来自于地质背景,生物有效性较低,Hg的潜在有效组分...     

Stabilization of residues obtained from the treatment of laboratory waste: Part 2--transformation of plasma vitrified slag into composites

The Sustainable Environment Research Center of National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan has set up a treatment plant to dispose of laboratory waste. In the treatment process, the residue from the incineration system and the physical and chemical system is vitrified by a plasma melting system. Part 1 of this study described the treatment path of metals during vitrification. In Part 2, plasma vitrified slag is reused by using a molding technology. Unsaturated polyester resin and glass fiber were used as the molding material and additive, respectively, in the molding process. With an appropriate mixing ratio of unsaturated polyester resin, glass fiber, and slag, the physical properties of composites improved, and the ultimate tensile strength reached 17.6 MPa. However, an excess amount of slag reduced the strength and even retarded the production of composites. Differential thermal analysis and the water bathing test results show that the composite decomposed at 80 degrees C and that it vaporized at 187 degrees C. Although the unsaturated polyester resin decomposed, the metal encapsulated in the slag did not leach out. The results show that the reuse of slag using molding technology should be taken into consideration.     

Role of sodium ions in the vitrification process: Glass matrix modification,slag structure depolymerization,and influence of metal immobilization

This study investigates the role of Na ions, a common flux, in the vitrification process. Artificial glass systems composed of Al₂O₃, CaO, and SiO₂ with various Na concentrations were melted at 1450 °C. The specimens were cooled by air cooling and water quenching and the metal mobility was evaluated using a sequential extraction procedure. The X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy observations showed that Na ions governed the air-cooled slag’s structure. Na ions initially depolymerized CaSiO₃-linked chains into CaSiO₃ chains, and further cut them into shorter and nonuniform ones, making the slag structure amorphous. With even more Na ions, CaSiO₃ chains were divided into single SiO₄ tetrahedrons and formed Na-related crystals (Na₂Ca₃Si₂O₈ and NaAlSiO₄). The phase distributions of Al, Cr, Cu Mn, and Ni showed that Na has a positive effect on the immobilization of heavy metals at suitable concentrations, but a negative effect when in excess amounts.

Implications:Vitrification has been widely used to treat hazardous materials. The Na-bearing additives were often used as a flux to improve the melting process. This study described the role of Na played in the vitrification process. The Na ions acted as glass modifier and depolymerize the chain structure of slag. With adequate addition amount of Na ions, the immobilization of heavy metals was improved. The results provided much information about the crystalline phase variation, metal mobility, and surface characteristics while Na serves as a flux.     

Preparation and Properties of Poly (Lactic Acid) Nanocomposites Filled with Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

This work prepared poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) composites using a solution blend method, and investigated the influence of the physical properties of PLA/SWCNTs composites. In order to enhanced interfacial interactions between PLA and SWCNTs, the purified SWCNTs were given functionalisation treatments with a nitric acid/sulfuric acid mixture. These acid-treated SWCNTs (A-SWCNTs) were then grafted with 3-isocyanatopropyl triethoxysilane (A-SWCNTs-Si). When these functionalized SWCNTs were used to fill the PLA matrix, the fractured surface of composite does not present the pullout phenomenon. The dimensional stability obviously increased by a factor of approximately 72. The storage modulus was also significantly improved. The surface resistivity of the PLA/SWCNTs composites decreased from 1 × 10¹⁶ to 2.22 × 10⁴ Ω/cm².