改性活性炭对水中铬离子(Ⅵ)的吸附性能

为了研究改性前后活性炭对水中铬离子(Ⅵ)的吸附效果,以磷酸活性炭(PAC)为原料,用10%硝酸改性得到硝酸改性活性炭(N-PAC)及直接蒸发法载铁改性得到载铁活性炭(Fe-PAC)。通过静态吸附研究表明,改性后活性炭对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附率有较大提高。在常温、自然pH条件下,0.2 g活性炭处理50 mL浓度为100 mg/L的含Cr(Ⅵ)溶液,N-PAC和Fe-PAC对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附率分别为79.21%和90.59%,都高于原PAC对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附率49.58%。pH从2.2升高到11.92,Fe-PAC对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附率从99.86%降低到14.77%,N-PAC则从99.86%降低到3.23%,PAC从97.05%降低到2.53%。温度从25℃升高到70℃,3种活性炭对Cr(Ⅵ)吸附率都有较大提高,都增加到98%以上。且吸附过程较符合Langmuir等温吸附模型。     

高铝粉煤灰提取氧化铝后硅钙渣用作水泥混合材

为了使高铝粉煤灰提取氧化铝后所产生的硅钙渣被大量的用作水泥混合材,通过水泥强度、水化放热和干缩性实验研究了原状硅钙渣和脱碱硅钙渣对水泥强度和稳定性的影响。结果表明,当硅钙渣掺量达30%时,硅钙渣水泥强度仍可满足P·C 32.5水泥要求。且随硅钙渣掺入量的增加,水泥早期水化放热速率增加的同时水泥累计水化放热量和干缩率还会显著降低。与原状硅钙渣相比,在同等掺量的情况下,脱碱硅钙渣更有利于保持水泥强度,降低其水化热和改善干缩性。     

Acute and chronic toxicity of organophosphate monocrotophos to Daphnia magna

The acute and chronic toxicity of monocrotophos (MCP), the binary joint toxicity of MCP and bifenthrin (BF), and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) to Daphnia magna (D. magna) was evaluated. The 24 h-median effective concentration (24 h-EC₅₀) and 48 h-median lethal concentration (48 h-LC₅₀) of MCP towards D. magna were 161 and 388 μ g/L, respectively. In addition, the lowest-observed effective concentration (LOEC) and non-observed effective concentration (NOEC) of MCP to D. magna were 10 and 5 μ g/L, respectively. Furthermore, the chronic value (ChV) of MCP against D. magna was 7 μ g/L and the acute chronic ratio (ACR) was 55. The number of offspring per female and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) were identified as the parameters that were most sensitive to MCP. In addition, toxic unit (TU) analysis was employed to evaluate the joint toxicities. The calculated TU_mix values of binary equitoxic mixtures of MCP + BF and MCP + SDBS were 1.47 and 1.63, respectively, which suggests that both equitoxic mixtures exert a limited antagonistic effect. The results of this study revealed that the toxic threshold of MCP towards D. magna is higher than its reported highest residue (4 μ g/L) in the ordinary aquatic environment, and that concurrent exposure to BF or SDBS may exert a slight antagonistic effect.     

The Effects of Hypoxia on Sediment Nitrogen Cycling in the Baltic Sea

Primary production in the eutrophic Baltic Sea is limited by nitrogen availability; hence denitrification (natural transformation of nitrate to gaseous N₂) in the sediments is crucial in mitigating the effects of eutrophication. This study shows that dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) process, where nitrogen is not removed but instead recycled in the system, dominates nitrate reduction in low oxygen conditions (O₂ <110 μM), which have been persistent in the central Gulf of Finland during the past decade. The nitrogen removal rates measured in this study show that nitrogen removal has decreased in the Gulf of Finland compared to rates measured in mid-1990s and the decrease is most likely caused by the increased bottom water hypoxia.     

Arctic Tipping Points: Governance in Turbulent Times

Interacting forces of climate change and globalization are transforming the Arctic. Triggered by a non-linear shift in sea ice, this transformation has unleashed mounting interest in opportunities to exploit the region’s natural resources as well as growing concern about environmental, economic, and political issues associated with such efforts. This article addresses the implications of this transformation for governance, identifies limitations of existing arrangements, and explores changes needed to meet new demands. It advocates the development of an Arctic regime complex featuring flexibility across issues and adaptability over time along with an enhanced role for the Arctic Council both in conducting policy-relevant assessments and in promoting synergy in interactions among the elements of the emerging Arctic regime complex. The emphasis throughout is on maximizing the fit between the socioecological features of the Arctic and the character of the governance arrangements needed to steer the Arctic toward a sustainable future.     

Bio-Ethanol Production from Non-Food Parts of Cassava (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Manihot esculenta</Emphasis> Crantz)

Global climate issues and a looming energy crisis put agriculture under pressure in Sub-Saharan Africa. Climate adaptation measures must entail sustainable development benefits, and growing crops for food as well as energy may be a solution, removing people from hunger and poverty without compromising the environment. The present study investigated the feasibility of using non-food parts of cassava for energy production and the promising results revealed that at least 28% of peels and stems comprise dry matter, and 10 g feedstock yields >8.5 g sugar, which in turn produced >60% ethanol, with pH ≈ 2.85, 74-84% light transmittance and a conductivity of 368 mV, indicating a potential use of cassava feedstock for ethanol production. Thus, harnessing cassava for food as well as ethanol production is deemed feasible. Such a system would, however, require supportive policies to acquire a balance between food security and fuel.     

Conversion of Concentrated Solar Thermal Energy into Chemical Energy

When a concentrated solar beam is irradiated to the ceramics such as Ni-ferrite, the high-energy flux in the range of 1500–2500 kW/m² is absorbed by an excess Frenkel defect formation. This non-equilibrium state defect is generated not by heating at a low heating-rate (30 K/min), but by irradiating high flux energy of concentrated solar beam rapidly at a high heating rate (200 K/min). The defect can be spontaneously converted to chemical energy of a cation-excess spinel structure (reduced-oxide form) at the temperature around 1773 K. Thus, the O₂ releasing reaction (α-O₂ releasing reaction) proceeds in two-steps; (1) high flux energy of concentrated solar beam absorption by formation of the non-equilibrium Frenkel defect and (2) the O₂ gas formation from the O^2? in the Frenkel defect even in air atmosphere. The 2nd step proceeds without the solar radiation. We may say that the 1st step is light reaction, and 2nd step, dark reaction, just like in photosynthesis process.     

Spectroscopic Analysis of NIR-Dye Sensitization in Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells

The photovoltaic conversion efficiency for near-infrared (NIR) sunlight is improved successfully by dye sensitization of bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells, in which the active layer was prepared by a ternary blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene), a fullerene derivative (1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)propyl-1-phenyl-[6,6]-methanofullerene), and an NIR dye, silicon phthalocyanine bis(trihexylsilyl oxide). The mechanism of the NIR-dye sensitization is studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.