Multi-index integrated assessment and analysis of town-sewage treatment priorities in China

Water quality is one of the most serious problems of environment and national sustainable development strategy now facing China. After hard work over the last several decades, urban-sewage treatment in China is now relatively well developed. It now affords mainly higher levels of sewage collection and treatment, as well as pollution-load control. The characteristic rapid urbanization now occurring in China is still increasing and developing dramatically, and involves large numbers of people. However, in towns, sewage treatment infrastructure is inadequate, and a high percentage of the sewage generated there is not effectively collected and treated. The sewage and pollution load of such towns have become the most important reason for environmental water problems in China. To understand the priorities of sewage treatment in such towns, and their spatial distribution in China, we conducted two nationwide investigations of water use and sewage discharge in towns. Based on the integrated analytic hierarchy process (AHP), assessment indices and a framework of town-sewage treatment priorities in China were constructed. Then, we assessed and analyzed the priorities of towns regarding three aspects of sewage treatment: environmental stress, economic capability, and infrastructure. The results showed that the southeast coastal areas and north China had higher demand for sewage treatment than other areas. The demand in eastern and western areas had obvious differences in spatial distribution, but had nearly no differences within those areas. The towns having the greatest demand for high-priority sewage treatment were concentrated in regions with high economic capability and intense water resource utilization.     

Physicochemical properties of non-living water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and lesser duckweed (Lemna minor) and their influence on the As(V) adsorption processes

Eichhornia crassipes (Ec) and Lemna minor (Lm) are aquatic plants. They are considered as weeds of the water and approach being a scourge in many parts of the world, choking waterways and hindering transport upon them. At the same time they are known to readily remove heavy metal ions from water. This paper considers the use of non-living plants as novel and inexpensive biosorbent for the removal of As(V) from watersheds. In the first place they were conditioned and characterised to determine their physicochemical and surface properties and in the second place their adsorption properties for As(V) from aqueous solution were evaluated considering the toxicity of this metalloid in the environment. It describes the methodology to prepare the non-living biomasses; the physicochemical characterisation by SEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA analyses and surface characterisation of Ec and Lm by specific surface, hydration kinetic, point of zero charge determination by mass titration, active site density and XPS analysis are described. Both studied biomasses were found to be potential bio-sorbents for arsenic ions from aqueous solution. According to their efficiency to remove arsenic, they can be used in a very low cost metalloid ions removal system.     

The impact of enhanced ammonium sulphate inputs exceeding critical load on calluna vulgaris /peat soil microcosms

Ammonium sulphate at six concentrations in simulated precipitation has been applied weekly over two years to Calluna vulgaris growing in peat soil. The nitrogen deposition treatments were chosen to embrace and exceed critical load. The growth and composition of the Calluna and the changes over time in the chemistry of the peat soil and its soil solution were monitored. In spite of significant increases in foliar nitrogen concentration in new shoots, especially in the first year, growth did not increase significantly in response to nitrogen treatment. Several factors could be contributing to the lack of significant growth response. (1) Increasing ammonium input significantly acidified the soil solution, which could adversely effect growth directly. (2) Foliar calcium concentration was reduced significantly in both years by the ammonium sulphate treatments, and more calcium was undoubtedly lost from the rooting zone at higher nitrogen inputs. (3) Foliar phosphate declined significantly between the first and second year, so lack of growth response might also reflect a phosphorus limitation. There was a distinctly visible darkening of the leaves in response to increasing ammonium applications, especially for the first year's growth, and the chlorophyll a and b concentrations in leaves from new growth at the three highest nitrogen treatments were significantly (at P <0.05) higher than those for the control. The pigment concentrations fell markedly by the end of the second season, and treatment effects were much less consistent. It is suggested that pigment analysis therefore probably has little diagnostic value for assessing damage from pollutant nitrogen effects.     

不同类型表面活性剂对三氯乙烯的增溶作用

考察不同类型的表面活性剂对三氯乙烯(TCE)的增溶作用.选用阴离子型十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)、非离子型聚氧乙烯辛基苯酚醚(TX100)、阳离子型十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)及生物表面活性剂鼠李糖脂和脂肽,研究表面活性剂对三氯乙烯的增溶能力.结果表明,5种表面活性剂浓度在临界胶束浓度(CMC)以上时,TCE在水相中的表观溶解度随表面活性剂浓度的增大而线性增大.质量增溶比(WSR)和摩尔增溶比(MSR)为鼠李糖脂>脂肽>CTAB>TX100>SDS.在各表面活性剂溶液中,所用的各表面活性剂质量浓度顺序为SDS#TX100=CTAB#鼠李糖脂=脂肽,两种生物表面活性剂的质量浓度仅为SDS的1%,但生物表面活性剂对TCE的饱和增溶容量有更好的提高效果.因此,相比之下,生物表面活性剂对TCE的增溶能力较强,其中以鼠李糖脂为最佳,而在化学合成表面活性剂中阳离子表面活性剂CTAB增溶TCE的效果最优.     

庐山植物园11种植物的根际土壤氮磷有效性和酶活性

通过比较不同种源植物的土壤理化性质与生物学活性的差异及根际效应,探讨不同种源植物对庐山酸性山地土壤的环境适应性。在庐山植物园内选择引种多年的11种不同种源的常绿树种,在生长季节中采集根际土和非根际土,测定有机碳含量、碱解氮及有效磷含量、脲酶和酸性磷酸酶活性,并分析各树种根际土壤氮磷养分及酶活性的根际效应。结果表明,（1）不同树种之间的根际土壤酸性磷酸酶（P〈0.01）、有效磷（P〈0.05）和碱解氮（P〈0.01）存在明显差异,而脲酶没有差异。（2）根际与非根际土壤氮磷有效性和酶活性表现出不同的特征,大部分树种根际土壤有效磷及酸性磷酸酶存在一定的根际效应（R/S〉1）,例如红花木莲Manglietia insignis、桂南木莲Manglietia chingii及云南拟单性木兰Parakmeria yunnanensis的根际与非根际土壤有效磷含量存在显著差异（P〈0.05）,红花木莲、桂南木莲、巴东木莲Manglietia patungensis、红茴香Illicium henryi及红皮糙果茶Camellia crapnelliana与乡土树种云锦杜鹃Rhododendron fortunei根际与非根际土壤酸性磷酸酶存在显著差异（P〈0.05）。但是,根际与非根际土壤碱解氮和脲酶差异不明显,有的甚至出现脲酶的根际负效应（R/S〈1）,如巴东木莲和红花木莲等树种根际土壤低于非根际土壤（P〈0.05）。（3）不同种源树种影响下的土壤有效磷和酸性磷酸酶的根际效应（R/S比值）明显,原产西南地区的树种如桂南木莲、云南拟单性木兰和巴东木莲与华南地区的红花木莲、红茴香等土壤有效磷的根际效应（R/S〉1.5）比原产华东亚热带地区的深山含笑Michelia maudiae和云锦杜鹃更明显,相应的酸性磷酸酶的根际效应也较高。土壤脲酶和碱解氮的根际效应却不明显。（4）土壤有机碳与碱解氮、有效磷和酸性磷酸酶存在显著正相关关系（P〈0.01）,土壤碱解氮与有效磷（P〈0.01）和酸性磷酸酶（P〈0.05）具显著正相关关系,酸性磷酸酶与pH值（P〈0.05）显著负相关,说明根际土壤有机物质的积累对根际微区的理化环境及根际土壤养分活性具有重要影响。     

The effect of preparation conditions of Pt/Al2O3 on its catalytic performance for the H2-SCR in the presence of oxygen

Selective catalytic reduction of NO _x by H₂ in the presence of oxygen has been investigated over Pt/ Al₂O₃ catalysts pre-treated under different conditions. Catalyst preparation conditions exert significant influence on the catalytic performance, and the catalyst pre-treated by H₂ or H₂ then followed by O₂ is much more active than that pre-treated by air. The higher surface area and the presence of metallic Pt over Pt/Al₂O₃ pre-treated by H₂ or pretreated by H₂ then followed by O₂ can contribute to the formation of NO₂, which then promotes the reaction to proceed at low temperatures.     

珠江口水、沉积物及生物体As含量分布特征及生态风险评价

于2008年2、5、8及11月对珠江口进行了水、沉积物和生物体As含量的调查,分析其分布特征以及进行生态评价。结果表明：珠江口水体中As含量平均值为2.88μg·L-1,符合一类海水水质标准;其中,11月份显著高于其它3个月份(P <0.05)。全年珠江口水体八个河口在地域分布上As平均含量由高到低依次为：虎门、鸡啼门、磨刀门、崖门、洪沥门、蕉门、横门、虎跳门。表层沉积物As含量平均值为38.73 mg·kg-1,沉积物中As含量均超过海洋沉积物质量一类标准,但均未超三类标准。结果显示,表层沉积物横门含量最高,为(70.5±2.0) mg·kg-1,显著高于其它7个口门(P <0.05),而其它7个口门差异不显著。各口门含量从大到小依次为横门、洪沥门、鸡啼门、虎门、崖门、磨刀门、虎跳门、蕉门。表层沉积物地质累积指数评价结果与潜在生态风险系数评价结果一致,横门为中等污染水平,其余站点均为低污染水平。采集代表性生物样品,其中11种鱼类As平均含量为0.587 mg·kg-1,部分受检鱼类超出水产品中有毒有害物质限量要求,超标率为37.8%,肉食性鱼类平均含量要略低于杂食性鱼类,但不同食性和不同生活水层的鱼类As含量差异不显著(P >0.05)。受检生物样品虾的含量为0.314 mg·kg-1,符合水产品中有毒有害物质限量要求。与历年比较发现珠江口水、沉积物和生物体中As含量有上升的趋势,与其它河口相比较发现珠江口As污染在对比的河口和海湾中受污染程度较高。     

Removal of sulfadiazine from aqueous solution on kaolinite

The adsorption of sulfadiazine onto kaolinite clay as an alternative adsorbent was examined in aqueous solution, hnpacts of the contact time, pH, temperature, ionic strength and coexistent surfactants on the adsorption process were evaluated. The pH significantly influenced the adsorption process, with adsorption being promoted at lower pH due to the cation exchange mechanism. Decreasing ionic strength in the solution was favorable for adsorption, and the addition of cationic and anionic surfactants had negative effects on the adsorption capacity of sulfadiazine on kaolinite. Kinetic experiments showed that the adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium adsorption was well described by both Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich （DR） models. According to the DR model, the adsorption mechanism was determined by cationic exchange and weak physical forces. The thermodynamic study showed that sulfadiazine adsorption onto kaolinite was a sponta- neous and endothermic reaction.     

Natal dispersal in two mice species with contrasting social systems

We compared the natal dispersal behaviour of two mice species under laboratory conditions. Natal dispersal is a movement of an animal from its birthplace to its breeding area. This behaviour is known to be influenced by the mating system. In polygamous species, males are more likely to disperse, while in most of the monogamous species, both sexes disperse. Our subjects, the house mouse (Mus musculus) and the mound-building mouse (Mus spicilegus) are two sympatric species of the genus Mus. Both are native in Hungary, but they differ in their habitat type mating system and overwintering strategy. The house mouse is a polygynous species and adapted to human environment, known for mature and reproduce early. On the contrary, the mound-building mice are monogamous, and they inhabit extensively used agricultural fields, where they spend the unfavourable winter period in nest chambers under mounds, which they construct from soil and plant material. Successful overwintering for this species demands delayed maturity and reduced dispersion during the winter. Our results showed that the natal dispersal of these two species differ; both sexes of the mound-building mice dispersed later than the house mice, where a difference between sexes also occurs; house mice males dispersed earlier than females. The mound-building mice showed no sexual dimorphism in this behaviour.     

Genotype variations in accumulation of cadmium and lead in celery (Apium graveolens L.) and screening for low Cd and Pb accumulative cultivars

To help reduce risks of heavy metal pollution, two pot experiments were conducted to investigate the variations, transfer potential, and stability of Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) accumulations in celery (Apium graveolens L.) and to screen for low Cd and Pb accumulative cultivars. The maximum differences in shoot Cd concentration were 4.7-fold under low-Cd exposure and 3.3-fold under high-Cd exposure. These genotype variations in Cd accumulation are sufficiently large to help reduce Cd contamination risk in soil by using the Low-Cd-Accumulative genotypes. Cd accumulation of the Low-Cd-Accumulative genotypes is significantly positive correlated with Pb accumulation. Evidence obtained proves that Cd and Pb accumulations in celery are stable and genotype-dependent at the cultivar level. The presence of high-Pb contamination in soil promoted Cd accumulation in shoots of celery. Celery is considered a species with high risks in Cd pollution and low risks in Pb pollution. Among the tested cultivars, cv. Shuanggangkangbing (SGKB) had the lowest shoot Cd and Pb accumulating abilities, and thus is the most important material for breeding of pollution-safe cultivars (PSCs) to minimize Cd and Pb accumulations in celery.