An investigation on the potential of metal recovery from the municipal waste incinerator in Taiwan

This study aimed to identify distribution of metals and to estimate the amount of these metals that can be potentially recovered from incineration residues. First, the partitioning behavior of Cr, Cu, Fe, Cd, Al, Zn, and Pb in bottom ash and fly ash was investigated in one large municipal waste incinerator in Taiwan. In addition, the material flow analysis (MFA) method was used to estimate the material flux of metals within incinerator plant, and to calculate the amount of metal recovery. According to the findings of this study, six metals (Fe, Al, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Pb) concentrated in bottom ash mostly, while Cd existed primarily in fly ash. The weight percentages of Fe (4.49%), Al (5.24%), Cu (1.29%), Zn (2.21%), and Pb (0.58%) in incinerator ash are high, and even higher than the compositions of natural minerals. Finally, the amount of Cr, Cu, Fe, Cd, Al, Zn and Pb that can be potentially recovered from incineration residues will reach 2.69 x 10(2), 1.46 x 10(4), 4.91 x 10(4), 6.92 x 10(1), 5.10 x 10(4), 1.85 x 10(4) and 4.66 x 10(3) ton/yr, respectively.     

Encapsulation behaviors of metals in slags containing various amorphous volume fractions

In this study, a melting process with addition of SiO2 was applied to treat incinerator fly ash. To describe the encapsulation behaviors of metals quantitatively, the amorphous volume fraction (AVF) of slags was initially determined. Vitrification appeared to reduce the mobility of Cr, Cu, Mn, and Ni instead of significantly immobilizing Cd, Pb, and Zn. It was verified that SiO2 enhanced the formation of an amorphous glassy structure. With the increase of SiO2, the crystalline phases would gradually diminish and transform into a higher silica-connected species. During the formation of slag matrix, Al, Ca, and Mg could modify the glass network, and consequently the encapsulation behaviors of these species would noticeably affect the chemical stability of slags. Significant immobilization of crust metals could be achieved only when a more compact and interconnected amorphous glass network was formed. Hence, it indicated that a higher AVF silica-based slag had a better potential to resist acid attack. In conclusion, for environmental protection, it is important to investigate the correlation between the encapsulation behaviors of metals and the crystalline characteristics of slag structure.     

Emergency response plan for boiler explosion with toxic chemical releases at Nan-Kung industrial park in central Taiwan

A large amount of hazardous materials and equipment has been extensively employed to produce useful chemicals for our daily lives, but many serious accidents, such as fires, explosions, toxic releases, and so on, that harm human beings and impact the environment have occurred during preparation, operation, and transportation of these chemicals. On 17 May 2007, a toxic release from a boiler explosion in a chemical firm triggered a large amount of xylene (7 ton), isopropanol (8 ton), phosphorus trichloride (44.7 ton), and dimethyl formamide (DMF) (1.37 ton) to be released to the atmosphere with total damages of 2000 m² level ground. Through concerted efforts from the Yunlin Emergency Response Information Center (YERIC), sponsored by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of Taiwan and other government sectors, this accident was eventually well controlled after 37 h with 107 people being involved in the rescue action. This study could be applied to lessen the degree of hazard for relevant accidents with an emergency response plan (ERP), and, via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and photo ionization detector (PID) the toxic concentrations of airborne chemicals that occurred in the industrial area could be analyzed.     

Compressed air-assisted solvent extraction (CASX) for metal removal

A novel process, compressed air-assisted solvent extraction (CASX), was developed to generate micro-sized solvent-coated air bubbles (MSAB) for metal extraction. Through pressurization of solvent with compressed air followed by releasing air-oversaturated solvent into metal-containing wastewater, MSAB were generated instantaneously. The enormous surface area of MSAB makes extraction process extremely fast and achieves very high aqueous/solvent weight ratio (A/S ratio). CASX process completely removed Cr(VI) from acidic electroplating wastewater under A/S ratio of 115 and extraction time of less than 10s. When synthetic wastewater containing Cd(II) of 50mgl(-1) was treated, A/S ratios of higher than 714 and 1190 could be achieved using solvent with extractant/diluent weight ratio of 1:1 and 5:1, respectively. Also, MSAB have very different physical properties, such as size and density, compared to the emulsified solvent droplets, making separation and recovery of solvent from treated effluent very easy.     

Measurement of Particulate Bound Mercury,Gaseous Elemental Mercury,and Reactive Gaseous Mercury Concentrations by Using an Ambient Air Mercury Collection System

In this investigation, the concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and particulate bound mercury (PBM) in ambient air were measured at the Hung Kuang (traffic) sampling site during September 27 to October 6, 2014. An ambient air mercury collection system (AAMCS) was utilized to measure simultaneously PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations in ambient air. The results thus obtained demonstrate that the mean concentrations of PBM, GEM, and RGM were 38.57 ± 11.4 (pg/m³), 17.67 ± 5.56 (ng/m³) and 10.78 ± 2.8 (pg/m³), respectively, at this traffic-sampling site. The mean GEM/PBM and GEM/RGM concentration ratios were 458 and 1639, respectively. The results obtained herein demonstrate that AAMCS can be utilized to collect three phases of mercury simultaneously. The mean PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations herein were compared with others found in Asia, America, Europe and Antarctica. The mean PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations were found to be lowest in Asia and Antarctica. The mean PBM concentration in Europe was approximately eight times that in this investigation. The mean GEM and RGM concentrations in this study were 1.21 and 170 times those found in the United States.     

中国193个城市规划区土壤微量元素污染与健康风险

随着城市化进程的加快,城市表层土壤微量元素含量发生了不同程度的变化,城市土壤污染所引发的环境问题进一步凸显.为了系统研究我国31个省（自治区、直辖市）193个地级以上城市规划区表层土壤13种微量元素的含量特征、污染水平和暴露风险,利用地累积指数（I_geo）和综合污染指数（IPI）对土壤微量元素的污染水平进行了评价,采用美国环保署（USEPA）推荐的健康风险评估方法量化了居民暴露于城市土壤的健康风险.研究结果显示：城市规划区表层土壤As、Be、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Se、Tl、V和Zn等13个元素含量中位值分别是9.25、2.14、0.174、12.4、68.4、28.2、0.095、27.7、31.1、0.29、0.61、82.7和82.2 mg·kg^-1,相比于城市土壤背景值,Cd、Hg和Se是含量变化比较显著的元素.I_geo值表明城市规划区表层土壤污染最严重的是Hg,其次是Se和Cd,污染程度介于无污染至中度污染之间,其他元素无污染.综合污染指数IPI_N显示：全国有22个城市规划区土壤已达到重度污染,16个城市达到中度污染,湖南省株洲市是全国土壤污染最严重的城市.健康风险评估结果表明：郴州市、黄石市、株洲市、湘潭市和龙岩市等5个城市规划区土壤暴露对未成年人具有潜在非致癌风险,其中土壤Pb摄入是引发风险的主要因素.建议在综合污染已达中度到重度污染的城市开展详查,摸清土壤污染状况及污染地块分布,建立污染地块清单和优先管控名录,实施污染调控和修复治理.     

未来升温1.5℃与2.0℃背景下中国水稻产量可能变化趋势

基于ISI-MIP的5个气候模式在4种RCP情景下模拟输出未来气候数据,筛选未来升温1.5℃和2.0℃的情景数据,依托CERES-Rice水稻模型,模拟升温1.5℃和2.0℃的背景下中国各区水稻产量变化趋势,综合分析未来气候变化特征与水稻产量之间的关系。结果表明:在1.5℃和2.0℃升温背景下,中国平均温度相对于基准时段分别升高1.19℃和1.87℃,平均降水量相对于基准时段分别增加3.07%和6.17%。1.5℃升温背景下中国水稻单产平均减幅7.49%,减产面积占水稻种植总面积的68.6%,严重减产面积占水稻种植总面积的10.3%,其中华南双季稻区单产减幅最大,而东北单季稻区单产增幅最大;2.0℃升温背景下中国水稻单产平均减幅12.02%,减产面积占水稻种植总面积的70.6%,严重减产面积占水稻种植总面积的18.7%,其中华南双季稻区单产减幅仍然最大,而西北单季稻区单产增幅最大。     

基于粗集理论的海洋数据质量检验方案多属性决策法

针对大规模复杂、不确定的海洋数据,决策者如何选择适合的数据质量检验方案是制约其快速应用的重要问题之一。本文将粗集理论引入海洋数据质量检验方案的优化选择过程中,对不同方案的残差与接收概率进行离散处理并求出泛化值。计算不同属性对决策属性的依赖度,进而确定每种条件属性的权重,最终优化海洋数据质量检验方案,以供决策者进行选择。最后通过对某海域监测站点的海洋数据进行实验,验证了方法的可行性。     

Tail loss compromises immunity in the many-lined skink, Eutropis multifasciata

Tail autotomy incurs energetic costs, and thus, a trade-off in resource allocation may lead to compromised immunity in lizards. We tested the hypothesis that tailless lizards will favor constitutive innate immunity responses over an energetically costly inflammatory response. The influence of fasting and colorful ornamentation was also investigated. We experimentally induced tail autotomy in the lizard Eutropis multifasciata and found that inflammation was suppressed by tail loss, but not further affected by fasting; the suppressive effect of colorful ornamentation was manifested only in males, but not in females. Constitutive innate immunity was not affected by any of these factors. As expected, only costly inflammation was compromised, and a less expensive constitutive innate immunity might be favored as a competent first-line defense during energetically demanding periods. After considering conventional trade-offs among tail regeneration and reproduction, further extending these studies to incorporate disease risk and how this influences escape responses to predators and future reproduction would make worthwhile studies.     

固定化条件对苯系物细胞传感器检测效果的影响

利用海藻酸钠作为包埋剂对苯系物细胞传感器Pseudomonas fluorescens A506(pTS)进行固定化处理,并对细胞浓度、固定化时间、投加量等检测因素进行了优化.固定化后的细胞与游离细胞对苯系污染物的检测效果进行对比.经过2 h固定化处理的细胞传感器,在检测时间1.5～6.0 h内,信号上升速度为游离细胞的2.26倍,信号最大值为游离细胞的2.23倍.固定化处理后的细胞生长缓慢,且浓度远低于游离细胞,说明了固定化处理后的单位细胞信号强度增加.同时,细胞浓度随着固定化时间的延长而降低.在影响因素方面,细胞浓度和固定化时间对于检测信号的影响较大.固定化后,对高浓度的苯系污染物有着更快的信号响应.