Bacterial community changes during fir needle litter decomposition in an alpine forest in eastern Tibetan Plateau

Bacterial community plays an important role in litter decomposition. Although the changes of bacterial community as litter decomposition proceeding can be regulated by frozen temperature and changed litter quality in cold regimes, little information has been available on. Therefore, the structure and diversity of the bacterial community in Minjiang fir (Abies faxoniana) needle litter were measured in an alpine forest in eastern Tibetan Plateau. The litter samples were sampled at the onset of the freezing stage, the deep freezing stage, the thawing stage, the early growing season and the late growing season from December 2010 to November 2011. The methods of real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) coupled with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used. The copy numbers of bacterial 16S rDNA in the fir needle litter changed significantly as litter decomposition proceeding. The abundance of bacterial 16S rDNA was significantly lower at the deep freezing stage but highest at the thawing stage. A large number of bands were observed on the DGGE gel; the intensities and distances of the bands were significantly different among the samples at different stages; the indexes of bacterial diversity at the onset of the freezing and deep freezing stages were lower than them at the other stages. All of the bacterial sequences were affiliated with six distinct classes and an unknown group. Redundancy analysis indicated that moisture, mass loss and the release of litter elements (e.g., C, N, P) exerted obvious influences over the bacterial communities.     

Comparative study of photovoltaic technologies based on performance,cost and space requirement: Strategy for selection and application

The module performance is an important consideration for selecting PV technologies for electricity production, as well as the economic aspect. Also, PV energy yield under varying environmental conditions is largely dependent on the type of technology used. Therefore, this article presents a comparative analysis of different PV modules, of the same power, namely, monocrystalline, polycrystalline, amorphous silicon and hybrid, based on performance, cost and space requirement. The performance is evaluated in terms of module power output, yield, capture losses, fill factor and efficiency, according to the IEC 61724 standards, using Gwako, Nigeria as a case study. A novel technique called Fundamental PV Module Performance Analysis is used to analyze and compare the performance of the PV modules. The performance of a single module is then employed to calculate the overall performance of a PV array designed for a small off-grid house, and a suitable module is determined amongst the modules under study. Results provide insights into the behaviors of the different technologies with the environmental factors of the location, which have an impact on their power and kWh/kW outputs and the efficiency. This knowledge, coupled with the understanding of the constraints of cost and the module space requirements would be useful to researchers, engineers, installers etc. in Nigeria, for planning and developing photovoltaic electric systems for off-grid applications.     

Nonmethane Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air of Hazy and Normal Days in Foshan, South China

A first study of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) on hazy and normal days was performed in Foshan for providing deep insight into the local deteriorating air quality. Ethane, propane, i-pentane, ethene, propene, ethyne, benzene, and toluene were eight most abundant compounds, accounting for 71%-85% of total NMHCs. Most hydrocarbons showed much higher levels on hazy days than normal days together with hydrocarbon/ethyne ratios and diurnal variations, indicating hazy days are more dominated by vehicular emission. Correlation coefficients (R(2)) of ethane, propane, ethane, propene, benzene, and total NMHCs with ethyne were 0.62-0.83, indicating these compounds are mainly related to vehicular emission. R(2) analysis indicated that solvent usage is responsible for toluene and other aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., ethylbezene). Benzene/toluene (B/T) ratio was 0.44±0.23 during whole sampling periods, again indicating vehicular emission is the dominant source. Lower B/T ratio (0.30±0.14) on hazy days than that (0.58±0.21) on normal days suggested that solvent usage emitted toluene.     

Pharmaceutical removal in tropical subsurface flow constructed wetlands at varying hydraulic loading rates

Determining the fate of emerging organic contaminants in an aquatic ecosystem is important for developing constructed wetlands (CWs) treatment technology. Experiments were carried out in subsurface flow CWs in Singapore to evaluate the fate and transport of eight pharmaceutical compounds. The CW system included three parallel horizontal subsurface flow CWs and three parallel unplanted beds fed continuously with synthetic wastewater at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The findings of the tests at 2-6 d HRTs showed that the pharmaceuticals could be categorized as (i) efficiently removed compounds with removal higher than 85% (ketoprofen and salicylic acid); (ii) moderately removed compounds with removal efficiencies between 50% and 85% (naproxen, ibuprofen and caffeine); and (iii) poorly removed compounds with efficiency rate lower than 50% (carbamazepine, diclofenac, and clofibric acid). Except for carbamazepine and salicylic acid, removal efficiencies of the selected pharmaceuticals showed significant (p<0.05) enhancement in planted beds as compared to the unplanted beds. Removal of caffeine, ketoprofen and clofibric acid were found to follow first order decay kinetics with decay constants higher in the planted beds than the unplanted beds. Correlations between pharmaceutical removal efficiencies and log K(ow) were not significant (p>0.05), implying that their removal is not well related to the compound's hydrophobicity.     

生物活性炭填料反应器处理含盐水体的硝化性能

以颗粒活性炭为填料,采用盐度梯度两步驯化法构建含盐水体生物滤器硝化功能,研究了生物滤器稳定后水力停留时间(hydraulic retention time,HRT)、进水氨氮负荷和CODMn/N等对反应器硝化性能的影响。结果表明,25～27℃,盐度30的含盐水体生物滤器硝化功能构建需73 d,其中淡水生物滤器硝化功能构建需28 d,淡水驯化为盐度15的生物滤器需19 d,盐度15驯化为盐度30的生物滤器需26 d;实验条件下生物活性炭填料反应器中生物量达到146～742.1 nmolP/g-BAC;调节进水氨氮浓度2 mg/L左右时,最佳HRT为1 h,氨氮去除率达到84.98%,相应的氨氧化菌和硝酸菌氧吸收速率(oxygen uptake rate,OUR)分别为2.091和1.948 mg O2/(g-BAC.h);HRT为1 h时,随着进水氨氮负荷的加大,氨氮去除率逐渐降低,当进水氨氮负荷由0.12增加到0.48 g-N/(kg-BAC.d)时,氨氮去除率由84.98%降低到41.68%,同时氨氧化菌OUR由2.091降低到0.625 mg O2/(g-BAC.h);随着CODMn/N的升高,氨氮去除率下降,CODMn/N从1～8时,氨氮去除率由84.98%降低到53.64%,CODMn去除率却逐渐增加,由40.86%增加到93.59%,异养菌OUR随着CODMn/N升高呈上升趋势,最大达到0.914 mg O2/(g-BAC.h)。     

聚驱污水含聚量对污水处理设备的影响

JZ9-3油田含聚采油污水粘度高、稳定性强,严重影响到现场污水处理流程和设备的运行。为解决这一问题,通过对JZ9-3油田污水处理流程和单元设备的模拟,进行了现场3种净水剂和不同含聚量的含油污水对斜管除油器、气浮选器和过滤器的影响研究。阳离子型净水剂BHQ-203和ICA的除油效果较阴离子型净水剂BHQ-08的除油效果好,能起吸附电中和及架桥作用,斜管除油器处理不同含聚含油污水后其含油量由263.2 mg/L下降到20.73 mg/L,气浮选器的除油率9%～34%,过滤器在进水含油较低(<50 mg/L)的情况下,起到强化除油的作用;含聚量增加,过滤后悬浮物量呈下降趋势,过滤困难,含聚量达到一定值(>600 mg/L)后无法分析悬浮物量;斜管除油器、气浮选器和过滤器出口水样的ζ电位值在-22.5～-42 mV,随含聚量的增加而变小,污水稳定性增加。研究结果用以指导现场工艺设备的改造。     

UV/Fenton氧化处理PVA溶液

为了对PVA(聚乙烯醇)溶液中PVA去除进行研究,采用UV/Fenton氧化技术氧化处理PVA溶液。探究了UV/Fenton氧化PVA溶液的影响因素,主要研究了反应时间、初始p H、H2O2/COD和H2O2/Fe2+,获得了各个因素对PVA溶液COD去除率的影响规律以及PVA溶液经处理后的B/C(BOD5/COD)变化规律。实验表明,随着H2O2/COD投加比的增加,COD去除率不断增加,B/C呈现先增加后减少的现象;随初始p H的增加,COD去除率以及B/C均呈现先增加后减少的现象;随着H2O2/Fe2+不断增加,COD去除率以及B/C均呈现先增加后减少的现象;随反应时间的增加,COD去除率以及B/C均增加之后趋于稳定。当H2O2/COD=1.5,p H=4,H2O2/Fe2+物质的量之比为10,T=30 min时COD去除率效果比较好,经过处理之后溶液的B/C由0.1增至0.6,可生化性提高,为后续生物处理创造条件。     

基质结构对潜流人工湿地氮磷降解规律的影响

构建单层结构及多层结构水平潜流人工湿地小试实验系统,对城市污水处理厂尾水进行深度处理,研究基质结构对人工湿地床体中氮、磷沿程变化规律的影响。实验结果表明,单层基质结构人工湿地氮、磷的降解主要集中在深度为50~85 cm之间的床体表层,底层区域(0~50 cm)浓度变化不显著;多层结构人工湿地床体中氮、磷的降解由进水口到出水口呈较为规律的推流变化,与单层结构系统相比,污染物降解主要发生区域有所扩大,集中在深度为40~85 cm的床体表层,且床体底层0~40 cm氮磷降解同样存在,只是降解速率略有降低。按照填料渗透系数进行多层填充的设计方式能够显著提升潜流人工湿地对污染物的净化性能,单层结构人工湿地系统对氨氮和总磷的平均去除率分别为40.1%和52.9%,而多层结构的平均去除率则为60.4%和73.1%。     

Assessment of plant-driven uptake and translocation of clofibric acid by Scirpus validus

Pharmaceutical compounds are now considered as emerging contaminants of environmental concern. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the uptake and translocation of clofibric acid (CA) by the macrophyte Scirpus validus growing hydroponically. A set of the three replicates was established for each exposure time and for each CA concentration. Plants were grown in 4 L vessels (four plants per vessel corresponding to the three exposure period studies, i.e., 7, 14, 18, and 21 days) which contained an aerated modified Hoagland nutrient solution that was spiked with CA at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg?L^?1. At each exposure period, CA concentration was measured in the nutrient solutions. A sea sand disruption method was employed for the extraction of CA from plant tissues. The determination of the pharmaceutical concentration was carried out using solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by chromatographic analysis. The quantification of CA concentrations in both nutrient solutions (after SPE) and plant tissues (after extraction) was conducted by chromatographic analysis. CA concentrations of 5.4–26.8 μg?g^?1 (fresh weight) were detected in the roots and 7.2–34.6 μg?g^?1 (fresh weight) in the shoots after 21 days. Mass balance calculations showed that S. validus uptake alone accounted for a significant contribution (6–13 % for the roots and 22–49 % for the shoots) of the total loss of CA. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) based on fresh weight for the roots ranged from 6.6 to 23.2, while values for the shoots ranged from 9.5 to 32.1. All the BAFs for the shoots were greater than those in the roots, implying that CA has greater tendency to be translocated to the shoots, rather than the roots of S. validus. All the shoot-to-root concentration ratios were more than 1, denoting that the shoots of S. validus do preferentially accumulate CA. We demonstrated that CA can be actively taken up, subsequently translocated and accumulated by aboveground tissues of S. validus. Since S. validus could account for the removal of 28–62 % of the total mass loss of CA from the system, such phytoremediation technology has great potential for the removal of pharmaceuticals such as CA from inflowing waters.     

Integrating urban ecosystem sustainability assessment into policy-making: insights from the Gold Coast City

This paper introduces a policy-making support tool called ‘Micro-level Urban-ecosystem Sustainability IndeX (MUSIX)’. The index serves as a sustainability assessment model that monitors six aspects of urban ecosystems – hydrology, ecology, pollution, location, design, and efficiency – based on parcel-scale indicators. This index is applied in a case study investigation in the Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia. The outcomes reveal that there are major environmental problems caused by increased impervious surfaces from growing urban development in the study area. The findings suggest that increased impervious surfaces are linked to increased surface runoff, car dependency, transport-related pollution, poor public transport accessibility, and unsustainable built environment. This paper presents how the MUSIX outputs can be used to guide policy-making through the evaluation of existing policies.