Leaching of mecoprop and dichlorprop in calcareous soil. Effect of the exogen organic matter addition in this process

Abstract

Leaching studies of mecorprop (R,S)‐2‐(4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy)propanoic acid, and dichlorprop, (R,S)‐2‐(4‐chloro‐2,4‐dichlorophenoxy) propanoic acid, under saturated conditions were conducted in unamended and amended soil columns. The purpose of the study was to investigate the leaching of these herbicides in three type of soils and the exogen organic matter effect on this process. The leaching patterns could be related to variation in the soil texture and diffusion processes of the herbicides into micropores within the walls of conducting pore. The leaching rate in the amended soil columns decreased with the addition of organic matter. The breakthrough curves (BTC) of these herbicides in the leachates of the amended soil columns were wider and more diffused than the BTC obtained for the corresponding unamended soil. The theoretical BTC overestimated the pore volume required for the displacement of these pesticides from the soil column. This may be due to the differences in the adsorption process between the bacth and soil columns methods     

A Cumulative Energy Demand indicator (CED), life cycle based,for industrial waste management decision making

Life cycle thinking is a good approach to be used for environmental decision-support, although the complexity of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies sometimes prevents their wide use. The purpose of this paper is to show how LCA methodology can be simplified to be more useful for certain applications.In order to improve waste management in Catalonia (Spain), a Cumulative Energy Demand indicator (LCA-based) has been used to obtain four mathematical models to help the government in the decision of preventing or allowing a specific waste from going out of the borders. The conceptual equations and all the subsequent developments and assumptions made to obtain the simplified models are presented.One of the four models is discussed in detail, presenting the final simplified equation to be subsequently used by the government in decision making.The resulting model has been found to be scientifically robust, simple to implement and, above all, fulfilling its purpose: the limitation of waste transport out of Catalonia unless the waste recovery operations are significantly better and justify this transport.     

From waste hot-pot oil as carbon precursor to development of recyclable attapulgite/carbon composites for wastewater treatment

The utilization of waste products as valuable materials was a technical imperative for waste management. In this study, the cost-effective attapulgite/carbon(APT/C) composite was developed for wastewater treatment using waste hot-pot oil as a carbon precursor through a facile one-step calcination process. The APT/C composite prepared at 300°C exhibited the excellent adsorption capacity and rapid equilibrium rate over a broad p H range for the removal of various pollutants. More importantly, the removal ratios of the composites toward Methyl Violet and tetracycline still remained 77.6% and 60.2% of the initial adsorption capacity after ten adsorption–regeneration cycles via a facile thermal regeneration strategy, respectively.Beyond all doubt, this research provided a feasible and economical way for the sustainable utilization of waste hot-pot oil in wastewater treatment, achieving the concept of disposal waste with waste and recycling.     

Chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling: an advanced biomass combustion technology to avoid CO2 emissions

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Bioenergy with carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (BECCS) technologies represent an interesting option to reach negative carbon...     

上海沙田湖养殖区及周边水体中氟喹诺酮类抗性基因的分布特征及其与环境因子关系

集约化水产养殖区常被认为是水体抗生素和抗性基因的主要潜在来源,然而对其该类水体中抗生素和抗性基因污染情况的研究仍相对匮乏.本文以上海市沙田湖养殖区及周边水体为调查对象,利用宏基因组学高通量测序技术,于2020年9月对水体中的氟喹诺酮类抗生素(fluoroquinolones,FQs)和氟喹诺酮类抗性基因(fluoroquinolones antibiotic resistance genes,FQs-ARGs)的种类和丰度进行了调查,并利用多元统计分析方法研究了水体理化因子和FQs对FQs-ARGs的影响.结果表明,沙田湖养殖区及周边水体共检测出5类耐药机制、共46种FQs-ARGs,其中各水体共有基因为44种.抗性基因mfd和patA在养殖水体和周边水体中均为优势抗性基因,抗生素抗性基因变异或突变为优势耐药机制.养殖水体和周边河湖水体、不同养殖品种水体之间FQs-ARGs的平均丰度无显著差异(P＞0.05).偏冗余分析(pRDA)表明,除了诺氟沙星和环丙沙星2种抗生素外,水体电导率(Spc)、总磷(TP)、总氮(TN)、氨氮(NH4+-N)、溶解氧(DO)、pH和叶绿素a(Chl-a)等环境因子是影响水体中FQs-ARGs组成与分布的关键性因子,且非抗生素因子的总贡献率远高于抗生素.     

外秦淮河底泥污染及疏浚效果

外秦淮河是南京市一条重要的城市景观行洪河道,多年来受工业及生活污水影响,内源污染严重.为充分了解外秦淮河底泥污染特征,为疏浚提供决策依据,对河道上、中和下游典型断面底泥界面微环境以及营养物含量进行调查,采用有机指数法和污染指数法对底泥污染状况进行评估,同时根据污染物垂向分布特征模拟清淤对底泥内源释放削减的影响.结果表明,上中下游底泥界面以上DO均值分别为4.62、 3.25和3.41mg·L^-1,且分别在4.4、 3.5和5.5 mm处消耗殆尽,是典型的城市河道污染特征体现.调查河段表层底泥的ω(TN)、ω(TP)和ω(OM)均值分别为1 734mg·kg^-1、 1 337 mg·kg^-1和4.82%,底泥TN和OM的有机污染指数均值为0.48,处于尚清洁水平,TP的单项污染指数均值为3.18,处于重度污染水平.模拟30 cm清淤深度结果表明,底泥SRP和Fe²⁺的释放速率较清淤前分别削减42%～82%和88%～96%,而NH⁺₄-N的释放速率却较清淤前有...     

Going beyond the rhetoric: system-wide changes in universities for sustainable societies

In October 2008, the 5th Environmental Management for Sustainable Universities (EMSU) international conference was held in Barcelona, Spain. It dealt with the need to rethink how our higher educational institutions are facing sustainability. This special issue has been primarily derived from contributions to that conference. This issue builds upon related academic international publications, which have analysed how to use the critical position of universities to accelerate their pace of working to help to make the transition to truly SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES!This issue focus is on the ‘softer’ issues, such as changes in values, attitudes, motivations, as well as in curricula, societal interactions and assessments of the impacts of research. Insights derived from the interplay of the ‘softer’ issues with the ‘harder’ issues are empowering academic leaders to effectively use leverage points to make changes in operations, courses, curricula, and research. Those changes are being designed to help their students and faculty build resilient and sustainable societies within the context of climate change, the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).The overall systems approach presented by Stephens and Graham provides a structured framework to systematize change for sustainability in higher education, by stressing on the one hand the need for “learning to learn” and on the other hand by integrating leadership and cultural aspects. The “niche” level they propose for innovative interactions between practitioners such as EMSU is exemplary developed by all of the other documents in this special issue. To highlight some of the key elements of the articles in this issue, there are proposals for new educational methods based in sustainability science, a set of inspirational criteria for SD research activities, new course ranking and assessment methods and results of psychological studies that provide evidence that participatory approaches are the most effective way to change values within university members in order to facilitate the development and sharing of new sustainability norms.     

Three Different Topics for Bioremediation Application on Soils and Waters Contaminated with Aromatic Compounds, by Using Immobilized Bacteria

Molecular techniques and modelling are presented as powerful tools required in the performance of efficient soil and water bioremediation systems. An Escherichia coli CC118-D strain was constructed by inserting the Klebsiella pneumoniae hpa B gene, coding for the unstable 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate 2,3-dioxygenase, into its chromosome. When the constructed strain was immobilized, both enzyme stability and viability increased along the studied period, in absence of antibiotic. We proposed this strategy as an approach to overcoming plasmid instability and to enhance enzyme activity and stability, avoiding antibiotic utilization. A model was developed to understand and predict the behaviour of bacteria and pollutants in a bioreactor system, considering: fluid dynamics, molecular/cellular scale processes and biofilm formation.