Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and dibenzofuran (PCDF) isomer patterns from municipal waste combustion: formation mechanism fingerprints

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and dibenzofuran (PCDF) byproducts can be formed in combustion systems by a variety of mechanisms. While total PCDD/F emissions and, to a lesser extent, homologue distributions from incinerators have been found to vary widely depending on combustion conditions, PCDD/F isomer distributions do not. Formation mechanisms can be grouped into two general categories: condensation of precursors, such as chlorinated phenols, and formation from particulate carbon, termed de novo synthesis. In addition to these mechanisms, chlorination and dechlorination reactions may affect isomer patterns. In this work, isomer patterns from field and laboratory municipal waste combustion samples are compared with computed thermodynamic distributions and those from the following experimental investigations: both gas-phase and metal-catalyzed condensation of chlorinated phenols, chlorination of dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran, and dechlorination of octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and octachlorodibenzofuran. PCDD/F isomer patterns produced by different formation mechanisms in controlled experiments are distinct and robust, largely unaffected by combustion conditions. PCDD isomer patterns from municipal waste combustion are most similar to those produced by CuCl(2)-catalyzed phenol condensation from 10 chlorinated phenols. PCDF isomer patterns are most similar to those produced by chlorination and dechlorination.     

Assessments of natural and anthropogenic influences on water chemistry in the upper Nakdong River,South Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate what sources principally affect the chemical compositions in the catchment of the upper Nakdong River, South Korea where bedrock mostly consists of silicates as a natural factor. From October 7^th to 9^th, 2015, thirty-three water samples were collected, including samples from tributaries which run alongside mines. We analyzed the major anions, cations, trace elements and water isotopes of the samples and the analyzed data are divided into four groups by principle component analysis (PCA). We determined that most of the water samples are influenced by water-rock interactions when we consider the PCA results and the chemical weathering equation line. However, six samples have excess concentrations of sulfate and plot below the equation line. These samples were mostly from streams beside a zinc-cadmium smelter, which was also consistent with the PCA results. Samples near populated area could also be separated into a group via domestic pollution. Based on the PCA and chemical results, the chemical compositions of the river can be affected by two anthropogenic inputs: mine wastes and domestic contaminants.     

The impact of heavy metal pollution gradients in sediments on benthic macrofauna at population and community levels

The effect of sediment pollution on benthos was investigated in the vicinity of a large sewage treatment outflow at Incheon North Harbor, Korea. Animal size, vertical distribution and standard community parameters were analyzed along a 3 km transect line (n = 7). Univariate parameters showed a general trend of increasing species diversity with increasing distance from the pollution source. Multi-dimensional scaling analysis led to the clear separation of 3 locational groups, supporting gradient-dependent faunal composition. The innermost location was dominated by small sub-surface dwellers while the outer locations by large mid to deep burrowers. Looking for the size-frequency distribution, most abundance species (Heteromastus filiformis) showed the presence of larger size animals with increasing proximity to the pollution source. Meanwhile, species-specific vertical distributions, regardless of the pollution gradient, indicated that such shifts were due to species replacement resulting from a higher tolerance to pollutants over some species.     

Effects of driving conditions on diesel exhaust particulates

Four driving conditions were examined to characterize how speeds and loads of a medium-duty diesel engine affect resultant diesel exhaust particulates (DEPs) in terms of number concentrations (< or =400 nm), size distribution, persistent free radicals, elemental carbon (EC), and organic carbon (OC). At the medium engine load (60%), DEPs surged in number concentrations at around 40-70 nm, whereas DEPs from the full engine load (100%) showed a distinctive bimodal distribution with a large population of 30-50 nm and 100-400 nm. Under the full engine load, engine speeds insignificantly affected resultant DEP number concentrations. When the engine load decreased from 100% to the medium level (60%), DEPs of ultrafine size and 100-400 nm decreased at least 1.4 times (from 5.6 x 10(8) to 4 x 10(8) #/cm3) and more than 3 times (from 2.7 x 10(8) to 0.8 x 10(8) #/cm3), respectively. The same reduction in the engine load significantly decreased persistent free radicals in DEPs up to approximately 30 times (from 123 x 10(16) to 4 x 10(16) #spin/g). Decreasing the engine load from 100 to 60% also concurrently reduced both EC and OC in total DEPs around 2 times, from 27.3 to 13.9 mg/m3, and from 17.6 to 9.2 mg/m3, respectively. For DEPs smaller than 1 microm, under the full engine load, EC and OC consistently peaked at 170-330 nm under an engine speed of 1800 rpm or 94-170 nm under an engine speed of 3000 rpm, reflecting processes of nucleation, cluster-cluster agglomeration, and condensation. Decreasing the engine load from 100 to 60% reduced EC and OC in DEPs (smaller than 1 microm) at least 3 times (0.6 to 0.2 mg/m3) and 2 times (0.4 to 0.2 mg/m3), respectively. Taken together, decreasing the full engine load to a medium (60%) level effectively reduced the number concentrations (< or =400 nm), persistent free radicals, EC, and OC of total DEPs, as well as the concentration of EC and OC in ultrafine and accumulation-mode DEPs.     

Photodegradation of alachlor with the TiO(2) film immobilised on the glass tube in aqueous solution

Alachlor photodegradation was performed using TiO(2), which was synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. The thickness of a TiO(2) film immobilised by a 5-time dip-coating was 174 nm and the average diameter of TiO(2) particles was about 10-15 nm in SEM images. The crystal structure of a TiO(2) film calcinated at 300 degrees C for 1 h was observed as a typical anatase type. The stability of a TiO(2) film by a modified sol-gel method was 4% better than TiO(2) by a typical sol-gel method.The removal rate of alachlor with both Fe(3+) and UV radiation in the absence of TiO(2) was 0.28 mg/l/h in 10 h and the removal rate of alachlor with Fe(3+)/UV in the presence of TiO(2) was 0.32 g/l/h, which was higher by 14% than that with Fe(3+)/UV system. TOC concentration during the alachlor degradation with both TiO(2) and UV radiation in the absence of added Fe(3+) decreased from 100%, through 81% and 51%, to 44% with time elapses of 4, 8, and 10 h, respectively, while TOC concentration with both added Fe(3+) and UV radiation in the absence of TiO(2) decreased from 100% to 70% in 10 h.     

Installation of platform screen doors and their impact on indoor air quality: Seoul subway trains

In this study, variations of particulate matter (PM) concentrations in subway trains following installation of platform screen doors (PSDs) in the Seoul subway system were investigated. PM samples were collected in the trains on subway lines 1–8 before and after installation of PSDs. It was found that the mean PM₁₀ concentration in the trains after PSDs installation increased significantly by 29.9% compared to that before installation. In particular, the increase of PM₁₀ in line 6 was the highest at 103%. When the relationship between PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 was compared, coefficients of determination (r²) before and after PSDs installations were 0.696 and 0.169, respectively. This suggests that air mixing between the platform and the tunnel after PSDs installation was extremely restricted. In addition, the indoor/outdoor PM₁₀ ratio following PSDs installation increased from 1.32 to 2.97 relative to the period with no installed PSDs. Furthermore, this study revealed that PM levels in subway trains increased significantly after all underground PSDs were put in use. Several potential factors were examined that could result in this PM increase, such as train ventilation systems, operational conditions, passenger volume, subway depth, and the length of underground segments.

ImplicationsPM₁₀ concentrations inside the subway trains increased after PSDs installation. This indicates that air quality in trains was very seriously impacted by PSDs. PM₁₀ levels were also influenced by the tunnel depth and length of the underground segments. To prevent the adverse effect on human health by PM₁₀ emitted from the tunnel, an applicable ventilation system to reduce PM₁₀ is required inside trains and tunnels.