Reactions of compost-derived humic substances with lead, copper, cadmium, and zinc

Thermodynamic stability constants of the formation of complexes from the reactions of humic substances with various metals are usually used as parameters to judge the reactivities of both humic substances and metals. However, in calculating the thermodynamic stability constants, complicated processes for the acquisition of activities of components in reactions are absolutely inevitable. In this study, we investigated the average conditional concentration quotients of the complexes formed from the reaction of metals with humic substances and the relations of these quotients to thermodynamic stability constants. The characterized humic substances including HA (MW>1,000), FA (MW>1,000), and FA (MW<1,000) extracted from a swine compost were prepared to react with Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn at 25 degrees C and at pH 4.00 and 6.50. Reactions of HA (MW>1,000), FA (MW>1,000), and FA (MW<1,000) with the four metals were carried out at 1:0.1, 1:0.5, 1:1, 1:5, and 1:10 ligand:metal stoichiometry. The concentrations of the free ions of Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn in the reaction systems of metal-HA suspensions and metal-FA solutions were measured by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The sequence of the average conditional concentration quotients of the formed complexes from the reaction of humic substances with metals was FA(MW<1,000)>FA(MW>1,000)>HA(MW>1,000), showing the relative reactivities of the fractions of swine compost-derived humic substances. The sequence of reacting metals with humic substances was Pb>Cu>Cd>Zn, which is in good agreement with the sequence reported by judging the thermodynamic stability constants. The average conditional concentration quotients of the formed complexes from the reaction of humic substances with metals were thus useful parameters that can be directly related to thermodynamic stability constants and other parameters.     

Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Asia: a review from 1999 to 2004

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in both gaseous and particulate phases. These compounds are considered to be atmospheric contaminants and are human carcinogens. Many studies have monitored atmospheric particulate and gaseous phases of PAH in Asia over the past 5 years. This work compares and discusses different sample collection, pretreatment and analytical methods. The main PAH sources are traffic exhausts (AcPy, FL, Flu, PA, Pyr, CHR, BeP) and industrial emissions (BaP, BaA, PER, BeP, COR, CYC). PAH concentrations are highest in areas of traffic, followed by the urban sites, and lowest in rural sites. Meteorological conditions, such as temperature, wind speed and humidity, strongly affect PAH concentrations at all sampling sites. This work elucidates the characteristics, sources and distribution, and the healthy impacts of atmospheric PAH species in Asia.     

Prediction for energy content of Taiwan municipal solid waste using multilayer perceptron neural networks

In the past decade, the treatment amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) by incineration has increased significantly in Taiwan. By year 2008, approximately 70% of the total MSW generated will be incinerated. The energy content (usually expressed by lower heating value [LHV]) of MSW is an important parameter for the selection of incinerator capacity. In this work, wastes from 55 sampling sites, including villages, towns, cities, and remote islands in the Taiwan area, were sampled and analyzed once a season from April 2002 to March 2003 to determine the waste characteristics. The LHV of MSW in Taiwan was predicted by the multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural networks model using the input parameters of elemental analysis and dry- or wet-base physical compositions. Although all three of the models predicted LHV values rather accurately, the elemental analysis model provided the most accurate prediction of LHV values. Additionally, the wet-base physical composition model was the easiest and most economical. Therefore, the waste treatment operators can choose the more appropriate analysis method considering situations themselves, such as time, equipment, technology, and cost.     

Assessment of control strategies for reducing volatile organic compound emissions from the polyvinyl chloride wallpaper production industry in Taiwan

This study attempts to assess the effectiveness of control strategies for reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emission from the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wallpaper production industry. In Taiwan, methyl ethyl ketone, TOL, and cyclohexanone have comprised the major content of solvents, accounting for approximately 113,000 t/yr to avoid excessive viscosity of plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and to increase facility in working. Emissions of these VOCs from solvents have caused serious odor and worse air quality problems. In this study, 80 stacks in five factories were tested to evaluate emission characteristics at each VOC source. After examining the VOC concentrations in the flue gases and contents, the VOC emission rate before treatment and from fugitive sources was 93,000 and 800 t/yr, respectively. In this study, the semiwet electrostatic precipitator is recommended for use as cost-effective control equipment.     

自然权利的批判与辩护

环境伦理的突出功能表现在对人与自然关系的调整上。从法学视角切入．以“权利”作为分析文本．论述了人类中心主义与非人类中心主义在“自然权利”上的理论分歧．人类中心主义者从权利的一人性、权利义务的不对等性、主张自然权利的非现实性以及自然权利的不可操作性四个方面对自然的权利提出了批判．而非人类中心主义者指出权利撅念的在不断地扩展．人类中心主义不可能完全解决好人与自然的关系,自然权利存在着转化为在法律上具有可操作性的可能．并且自然权利理论已在法律实践领域拓展．对自然的权利进行了辩护。由此提出了“非人类中心主义”、“自然的权利”的环境伦理定位。     

利用百合(Lilium davidii)根尖细胞的微核细胞率作为环境监测指标的探讨

首次报道了利用百合根尖细胞微核细胞率作为环境监测指标的可行性和优越性。实验证明,百合根尖比蚕豆根尖细胞的微核细胞率更敏感。     

管道截面对氢气/空气预混爆炸影响的实验研究

为研究管道截面对氢气/空气预混火焰形状与传播速度的影响,选用三个长度都为1m而截面尺寸不同的方形管道进行实验。实验结果表明,在截面为80mm×80mm的管道中,四种氢气浓度下预混火焰都发展形成了郁金香火焰。火焰传播速度呈现上升,下降,再上升的波动。在截面为100mm×100mm和150mm×150mm的管道中,只有在氢气浓度20%下形成郁金香火焰,并且传播速度也出现上述的波动。而在氢气浓度25%,30%,40%下,预混火焰都呈指尖形传至管口,未出现郁金香火焰,传播速度都是不断上升。三个管道对比中,截面为100mm×100mm的管道内火焰平均传播速度最快,且压力波第一峰值最大。     

A comparison of required coefficient of friction for both feet in level walking

The required coefficient of friction (RCOF) is one of the critical elements in determining whether a slip incident might occur. Most researchers, when measuring RCOF, do not differentiate between the two feet of the same participant under the same walking condition. Results from a recent study (Chang et al., 2010) indicated that the stochastic distributions of the RCOF of both feet were different in 76% of the cases. Using the previous data (Chang et al., 2010), this paper presents a comparison of the RCOF for both feet of 50 participants under four level walking conditions resulting from two footwear types and two walking speeds using a t-test, commonly used by safety professionals to compare two pools of data. The current results indicated that 78% of the RCOF data showed a statistically significant difference between the RCOF from two feet for the same participant under each walking condition. The results of the logistic regression analysis used to identify factors that contributed to the outcome of the t-test indicated that the walking speed was the only factor with a statistical significance (p = 0.044).     

Impacts of emissions and meteorological changes on China’s ozone pollution in the warm seasons of 2013 and 2017

O₃ increment is mainly caused by changes in meteorology rather than emissions. Emission reduction is effective to reduce O₃ nationwide, especially in summer. Strengthened NO_x controls are necessary to meet the ambient O₃ standard. We have quantified the impacts of anthropogenic emissions reductions caused by the Air Pollution Control Action Plan and changes in meteorological fields between 2013 and 2017 on the warm-season O₃ concentration in China using a regional 3D chemical transport model. We found that the impact on daily maximum eight-hour (MDA8) O₃ concentration by the meteorological variation that mostly increased O₃ was greater than that from emission reduction, which decreased O₃. Specifically, the control measures implemented since 2013 in China have reduced SO₂, NO_x, PM_2.5, and VOC emissions by 33%, 25%, 30%, and 4% in 2017, while NH₃ emissions have increased by 7%. The changes in anthropogenic emissions lowered MDA8 O₃ by 0.4–3.7 ppb (0.8%–7.6%, varying by region and month), although MDA8 O₃ was increased slightly in some urban areas (i.e. North China) at the beginning/end of warm seasons. Relative to 2013, the average 2 m temperature in 2017 shows increments in North, North-east, East, and South China (0.34℃–0.83℃) and decreases in Central China (0.24℃). The average solar radiation shows increments in North, North-east, and South China (7.0–9.7 w/m²) and decreases in Central, South-west, and North-west China (4.7–10.3 w/m²). The meteorological differences significantly change MDA8 O₃ by -3.5–8.5 ppb (-8.2%–18.8%) with large temporal variations. The average MDA8 O₃ was slightly increased in North, North-east, East, and South China. The response surface model suggests that the O₃ formation regime transfers from NO_x-saturated in April to NO_x-limited in July on average in China.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of PCP-Na by a novel nano-PbO2 anode: degradation mechanism and toxicity assessment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims at investigating the electrocatalytic oxidation of sodium pentachlorophenate (PCP-Na) using a novel nano-PbO2 powder anode. The...