Measurement of the vertical profile of atmospheric SO2 during the heating period in Beijing on days of high air pollution

This paper reports altitude-resolved concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and particulate matter up to 10 microns in diameter (PM₁₀) in the planetary boundary layer of major urban centers during extreme pollution episodes. The concentration of SO₂ was observed continuously from November 24, 2004, to December 4, 2004, in Beijing during the heating period. Fluorescence SO₂ analyzers were used to measure the atmospheric SO₂ concentrations. Four SO₂ analyzers were placed at 4 different levels (8 m, 47 m, 120 m, and 280 m) of the 325-m high meteorological observation tower of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences. A maximal SO₂ concentration of 172.3 ppb was measured during this pollution episode, and SO₂ concentration increased with altitude and reached its maximal value at ～50 m. The study also analyzed the meteorological situation before, during, and after the pollution episode.     

A validated 2-D diffusion–advection model for prediction of drift from ground boom sprayers

Correct field drift prediction is a key element in environmental risk assessment of spraying applications. A reduced order drift prediction model based on the diffusion–advection equation is presented. It allows fast assessment of the drift potential of specific ground boom applications under specific environmental wind conditions that obey the logarithmic wind profile. The model was calibrated based on simulations with a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. Validation of both models against 38 carefully conducted field experiments is successfully performed for distances up to 20 m from the field edge, for spraying on flat pasture land. The reduced order model succeeded in correct drift predictions for different nozzle types, wind velocities, boom heights and spray pressures. It used 4 parameters representing the physical aspects of the drift cloud; the height of the cloud at the field edge, the mass flux crossing the field edge, the settling velocity of the droplets and the turbulence. For the parameter set and range considered, it is demonstrated for the first time that the effect of the droplet diameter distribution of the different nozzle types on the amount of deposition spray drift can be evaluated by a single parameter, i.e., the volume fraction of droplets with a diameter smaller than 191 μm. The reduced order model can be solved more than 4 orders of magnitude faster than the comprehensive CFD model.     

新型TCAS吸附树脂对水中Cd2+的吸附去除研究

通过静态吸附试验,研究一种由超分子受体化合物磺化硫杂杯芳烃（TCAS）与树脂结合的产物——新型TCAS吸附树脂对重金属Cd²⁺的吸附去除性能,并初步探讨了吸附机理。试验研究结果表明,TCAS吸附树脂对Cd²⁺的饱和吸附量为14.45 mg/g。当温度为20℃,0.5 g TCAS吸附树脂对10 mL浓度为5 mg/L的Cd²⁺溶液吸附60 min时, Cd²⁺的去除率可达到99%以上。pH值是影响TCAS吸附树脂吸附效果的重要因素,在pH=5～9时,Cd²⁺的去除率随着pH值的升高而增大。在试验范围内,TCAS吸附树脂对Cd²⁺吸附符合Freundlich方程。吸附在TCAS吸附树脂上的Cd²⁺可洗脱回收,TCAS吸附树脂也可再生利用。 TCAS吸附树脂对重金属Cd²⁺的吸附机理主要归因于TCAS对Cd²⁺的络合作用。     

脂肪酰基氨基酸对矿物润滑油生物降解性的影响研究

通过生物降解试验研究了N-月桂酰基谷氨酸、N-月桂酰基甘氨酸、N-月桂酰基丙氨酸和N-油酰基甘氨酸4种脂肪酰基氨基酸对HVI 350矿物润滑油生物降解性的影响,采用高倍电子显微镜分析了生物降解过程中微生物数量和形态变化。结果表明,在矿物润滑油中添加少量脂肪酰基氨基酸后,矿物润滑油的生物降解性能明显改善,且生物降解过程中微生物数量增多、形态发生变化,这可能是脂肪酰基氨基酸增加了微生物的营养,且具有表面活性,有利于细胞的吸收,从而促进了矿物润滑油生物降解。     

1，4-二氯苯降解菌的分离及其降解特性研究

从某污水处理曝气池的活性污泥中分离出一株能够以1,4-二氯苯为唯一碳源和能源生长的菌株DEB-1,通过形态特征和生理生化试验初步鉴定为黄杆菌属（Flavobacterium sp.）。实验结果表明,该菌株最适降解温度为32℃、最适降解pH为7.8,24 h对100 mg/L的1,4-二氯苯的降解率达94.5%。菌株DEB-1的降解谱较广,对5种氯苯类物质具有较高的降解率。并进一步研究了DEB-1的1,4-二氯苯降解酶粗酶液的性质,其最适反应温度和pH分别为30℃和8.5。对处理含氯代芳香化合物的有机废水具有一定的意义。     

Characterization of aluminium-based water treatment residual for potential phosphorus removal in engineered wetlands

Aluminium-based water treatment residual (Al-WTR) is the most widely generated residual from water treatment facilities worldwide. It is regarded as a by-product of no reuse potential and landfilled. This study assessed Al-WTR as potential phosphate-removing substrate in engineered wetlands. Results indicate specific surface area ranged from 28.0 m² g⁻¹ to 41.4 m² g⁻¹. X-ray Diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopes all indicate Al-WTR is mainly composed of amorphous aluminium which influences its phosphorus (P) adsorption capacity. The pH and electrical conductivity ranged from 5.9 to 6.0 and 0.104 dS m⁻¹ to 0.140 dS m⁻¹ respectively, showing that it should support plant growth. Batch tests showed adsorption maxima of 31.9 mg P g⁻¹ and significant P removal was achieved in column tests. Overall, results showed that Al-WTR can be used for P removal in engineered wetlands and it carries the benefits of reuse of a by-product that promotes sustainability.     

Survey of heavy metal pollution and assessment of agricultural soil in Yangzhong district, Jiangsu Province, China

We investigated concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Ni, and Cr in samples of soil, cereal, and vegetables from Yangzhong district, China. Compared to subsoils, the sampled topsoils are enriched in Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As. High levels of Cd and Hg are observed in most agricultural soils. Concentrations of Cr and Ni show little spatial variation, and high Cu, Pb, and Zn contents correspond well to areas of urban development. High As contents are primarily recorded at the two ends of the sampled alluvion. The contents of Cd, Hg, and total organic carbon (TOC) increase gradually to maximum values in the upper parts of soil profiles, while Cr and Ni occur in low concentrations within sampled profiles. As, Pb, Cu, and Zn show patterns of slight enrichment within the surface layer. Compared to data obtained in 1990, Cd and Hg show increased concentrations in 2005; this is attributed to the long-term use of agrochemicals. Cr and Ni contents remained steady over this interval because they are derived from the weathering of parent material and subsequent pedogenesis. The measured As, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents show slight increases over time due to atmospheric deposition of material sourced from urban anthropogenic activity. Low concentrations of heavy metals are recorded in vegetables and cereals because the subalkaline environment of the soil limits their mobility. Although the heavy metal concentrations measured in this study do not pose a serious health risk, they do affect the quality of agricultural products.     

Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soil in Tianjin, China

Principal component analysis and multiple linear regression were applied to apportion sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface soils of Tianjin, China based on the measured PAH concentrations of 188 surface soil samples. Four principal components were identified representing coal combustion, petroleum, coke oven plus biomass burning, and chemical industry discharge, respectively. The contributions of major sources were quantified as 41% from coal, 20% from petroleum, and 39% from coking and biomass, which are compatible with PAH emissions estimated based on fuel consumption and emission factors. When the study area was divided into three zones with distinctive differences in soil PAH concentration and profile, different source features were unveiled. For the industrialized Tanggu-Hangu zone, the major contributors were cooking (43%), coal (37%) and vehicle exhaust (20%). In rural area, however, in addition to the three main sources, biomass burning was also important (13%). In urban-suburban zone, incineration accounted for one fourth of the total.     

Effects of potassium alkalis and sodium alkalis on the dechlorination of o-chlorophenol in supercritical water

Effects of potassium alkalis and sodium alkalis on the dechlorination of o-chlorophenol (o-CP) in supercritical water (SCW) were studied in this paper under the conditions of 450 degrees C and 25 MPa. Experimental results indicated that the dechlorination of o-CP can be accelerated significantly by all alkalis investigated. The dechlorination of o-CP proceeded mainly via two pathways: hydrodechlorination and hydrolysis. Both of the two pathways can be promoted by alkalis, and the dechlorination of o-CP can be accelerated by both the cations and hydroxide ion dissociated from alkalis. The overall dechlorination of o-CP can be accelerated by cations via promoting the hydrodechlorination pathway, while, hydroxide ion via promoting the hydrolysis pathway. In addition, the hydrodechlorination can be accelerated faster by sodium alkalis than that by potassium ones, while, the hydrolysis can be promoted faster by potassium alkalis. This difference may be caused by the different charge density between potassium ion and sodium ion, and the different solubility and dissociation constant between potassium alkalis and sodium alkalis in SCW. Dechlorination of o-CP with addition of alkalis prior to supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) process not only can avoid the reactor corrosion caused by the generated hydrochloric acid in direct SCWO of o-CP, but also can reduce the formation of toxic chlorinated byproducts compared with direct SCWO process or SCWO of o-CP with addition of alkali.     

Transport of Sr2+ and SrEDTA2- in partially-saturated and heterogeneous sediments

Strontium-90 has migrated deep into the unsaturated subsurface beneath leaking storage tanks in the Waste Management Areas (WMA) at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hanford Reservation. Faster than expected transport of contaminants in the vadose zone is typically attributed to either physical hydrologic processes such as development of preferential flow pathways, or to geochemical processes such as the formation of stable, anionic complexes with organic chelates, e.g., ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The goal of this paper is to determine whether hydrological processes in the Hanford sediments can influence the geochemistry of the system and hence control transport of Sr(2+) and SrEDTA(2-). The study used batch isotherms, saturated packed column experiments, and an unsaturated transport experiment in an undisturbed core. Isotherms and repacked column experiments suggested that the SrEDTA(2-) complex was unstable in the presence of Hanford sediments, resulting in dissociation and transport of Sr(2+) as a divalent cation. A decrease in sorption with increasing solid:solution ratio for Sr(2+) and SrEDTA(2-) suggested mineral dissolution resulted in competition for sorption sites and the formation of stable aqueous complexes. This was confirmed by detection of MgEDTA(2-), MnEDTA(2-), PbEDTA(2-), and unidentified Sr and Ca complexes. Displacement of Sr(2+) through a partially-saturated undisturbed core resulted in less retardation and more irreversible sorption than was observed in the saturated repacked columns, and model results suggested a significant reservoir (49%) of immobile water was present during transport through the heterogeneous layered sediments. The undisturbed core was subsequently disassembled along distinct bedding planes and subjected to sequential extractions. Strontium was unequally distributed between carbonates (49%), ion exchange sites (37%), and the oxide (14%) fraction. An inverse relationship between mass wetness and Sr suggested that sandy sediments of low water content constituted the immobile flow regime. Our results suggested that the sequestration of Sr(2+) in partially-saturated, heterogeneous sediments was most likely due to the formation of immobile water in drier regions having low hydraulic conductivities.