Landfill leachate treatment by immediate one-step lime precipitation,carbonation, and phytoremediation fine-tuning

The high pollutant load of sanitary landfill leachates poses a huge challenge in the search for efficient and environment friendly solutions for their treatment. The objective of this work was to study an integrated solution of environmentally friendly technologies — immediate one-step lime precipitation (IOSLP), carbonation (CB), and phytoremediation (Phyt) — to treat a sanitary landfill leachate. In the leachate sample treatment by IOSLP, the influence of CaO concentration (18.2–33.3 g_CaO L^?1) and stirring time (2–60 min) on the sludge sedimentability and pollutant removal was studied. Organic load and ammonia nitrogen (AN) removal increases with CaO added, as well as sludge volume. Stirring time has a small influence on organic load and AN removal, presenting a minimum for sludge volume. Thus, the best operational conditions were chosen as 27.6 g_CaO L^?1, and 40-min stirring time, with 64% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. Sludge humidity was 2.1%, making dewatering needless. IOSLP supernatant was submitted to CB by atmospheric CO₂, and 100% removals in AN and hardness were attained. Effluents from IOSLP and IOSLP?+?CB were utilized in Phyt tests, with Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty). The best COD removal (37%) during Phyt was attained for the samples treated by IOSLP?+?CB.

     

土壤重金属污染的酶学诊断——紫色土中的镉、铜、铅、砷对水稻根系过氧化物酶的影响

通过四川酸性紫色土、中性紫色土,石灰性紫色土中不同浓度的Cd、Cu、Pb、As对水稻根系过氧化物酶的影响研究,揭示了过氧化物酶受抑制与产生抗性的过程.在低浓度时,上述元素对过氧化物酶的影响能反映土壤类型影响的差别.确定了三种紫色土中Cd、Cu、Pb、As的临界浓度.     

Processes in informal end-processing of e-waste generated from personal computers in Vietnam

Informal treatment of e-waste plays an important role in many countries which have no or weak formal waste management structures. One of the challenges for assessing informal e-waste recycling technologies is to identify their disadvantages and potential technology improvement. The analysis of informal recycling processes starts with a balance of input and output materials for each of the processes. Main obstacles are the fact that in most cases, mixed or variety materials serve as input and, secondly by nature, the informal sector does not systematically measure and monitor the process. This study presents the processes and available data for informal e-waste recycling of desktop personal computer as it consists of components made of plastic and many metals within the Vietnamese context. To identify the most relevant processes, critical flows and technology gap, two scenarios are compared: (1) current situation in which recycling activities are taken in recycling craft villages and (2) appropriately selected BAT. The selected materials from e-waste cover a wide range of recycling processes and technologies: Printed Circuit Board treatment, metal (ferrous metal, aluminum and copper) and plastic recycling.

     

Unusual arsenic speciation in sea anemones

Nine species of sea anemones (Anthopleura asiatica, Actinia equina, Actinodendron arboreum, Phymanthus loligo, Entacmaea actinostoloides, Stichodactyla gigantea, S. haddoni, S. mertensii and Metridium senile) contained arsenic in the range of 1.6-7.0microg As g(-1) (wet mass basis). Irrespective of the species, water-soluble arsenic compounds accounted for more than 80% of the total arsenic. Analysis of water-soluble arsenic compounds by LC/ESI-MS revealed that four arsenicals, arsenobetaine (AB), trimethylarsoniopropionate, arsenocholine (AC) and tetramethylarsonium ion (TEMA), are contained in most species but arsenate, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid and trimethylarsine oxide are absent in all species. Interestingly, compositional patterns of the four arsenicals greatly differed from species to species. Only three species (S. gigantea, S. haddoni and M. senile) contained AB at the highest proportions, similar to the majority of marine animals. However, the remaining six species showed unusual compositional patterns of arsenic compounds; AC was most predominant in A. arboreum and P. loligo and TEMA in A. asiatica, A. equina, E. actinostoloides and S. mertensii. On the whole, high proportions (24.6-87.1% of the water-soluble arsenic) of TEMA appear to be a peculiar characteristic of many species of sea anemones. Thus, sea anemones are an important animal group in the arsenic cycling, especially in that they may be donors of TEMA to predators.     

Integrated Environmental Assessment of the Mid-Atlantic Region with Analytical Network Process

A decision analysis method for integrating environmental indicators was developed. This was a combination of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Analytic Network Process (ANP). Being able to take into account the interdependency among variables, the method was capable of ranking ecosystems in terms of environmental conditions and suggesting cumulative impacts across a large region. Using data on land cover, population, roads, streams, air pollution, and topography of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States, we were able to point out areas which were in relatively poor condition and/or vulnerable to future deterioration regarding various environmental aspects. The method offered an easy and comprehensive way to combine the strengths of conventional multivariate statistics (PCA) and decision-making science tool (ANP) for integrated environmental assessment.     

A dental stool with chest support reduces lower back muscle activation

Activation of back musculature during work tasks leads to fatigue and potential injury. This is especially prevalent in dentists who perform much of their work from a seated position. We examined the use of an ergonomic dental stool with mid-sternum chest support for reducing lower back muscle activation. Electromyography of lower back extensors was assessed from 30 dental students for 20?s during three conditions in random order: (a) sitting upright at 90° of hip flexion on a standard stool, (b) leaning forward at 80° of hip flexion on a standard stool, and (c) leaning forward at 80° of hip flexion while sitting on an ergonomic stool. Muscular activity of the back extensors was reduced when using the ergonomic stool compared to the standard stool, by 33–50% (p?相似文献   

Current scenario and challenges of plastic pollution in Bangladesh: a focus on farmlands and terrestrial ecosystems

● A global snapshot of plastic waste generation and disposal is analysed. ● Effect of plastic pollution on environment and terrestrial ecosystem is reviewed. ● Ecotoxicity and food security from plastic pollution is discussed. Plastic is considered one of the most indispensable commodities in our daily life. At the end of life, the huge ever-growing pile of plastic waste (PW) causes serious concerns for our environment, including agricultural farmlands, groundwater quality, marine and land ecosystems, food toxicity and human health hazards. Lack of proper infrastructure, financial backup, and technological advancement turn this hazardous waste plastic management into a serious threat to developing countries, especially for Bangladesh. A comprehensive review of PW generation and its consequences on environment in both global and Bangladesh contexts is presented. The dispersion routes of PW from different sources in different forms (microplastic, macroplastic, nanoplastic) and its adverse effect on agriculture, marine life and terrestrial ecosystems are illustrated in this work. The key challenges to mitigate PW pollution and tackle down the climate change issue is discussed in this work. Moreover, way forward toward the design and implementation of proper PW management strategies are highlighted in this study.     

An assessment of potential responses of Melaleuca genus to global climate change

The genus Melaleuca consists of around 260 species covering over eight million hectares (including native and introduced species) and distributed mostly in Australia, but also occurring in South-East Asia, the Southern United States and the Caribbean. Melaleuca populations predominantly occur in wetland or/and coastal ecosystems where they have been significantly affected by climate change. This paper assesses the potential responses of the Melaleuca genus to climate change, based on the synthesis of worldwide published data. The main findings include: (i) that the Melaleuca genus has a rich species diversity, and significant phenotypic diversity in a variety of ecosystems; (ii) they demonstrate significant local adaptation to harsh conditions; and (iii) the fossil records and taxon biology indicate the evolution of the Melaleuca genus began around 38 million years ago and they have survived several significant climatic alterations, particularly a shift towards cooler and drier climates that has occurred over this period. These findings show that the Melaleuca genus is highly resilient and adaptable and based on this, this paper argues that Melaleuca can adapt to climate change through Wright’s ‘migrational adaptation’, and can be managed to achieve sustainable benefits.     

Application of UV-activated persulfate and peroxymonosulfate processes for the degradation of 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene in different water matrices

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The presence of a large number of micropollutants in the environment, including priority and emerging substances, poses a significant risk to surface...